Tara Lipinski

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When Tara Lipinski descended the medal podium after winning the 1998 Winter Olympic ladies' figure skating gold, her life was forever changed. A few months later, home from Nagano and far removed from the triple Salchows and dazzling spins that had earned her the victory, she realized she was in a position to change the lives of others.

"After the Olympics, my mom and I were looking through organizations and charities so I could give back," Lipinski says. "I felt so lucky growing up with such a great family, and it was the perfect time for me to be able to do charitable work."

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) offered a cause she could relate to. Even though Lipinski didn't belong to a club as a youngster growing up in Sugar Land, Texas, she was touched by the organization's mission: to provide a safe haven after school and on weekends for kids to learn and grow. "I realized that my parents were the most important part of my growing up and who I am," she says. "I just felt that for kids who are missing this, Boys and Girls Clubs are a place where they can go and have fun and make friends."

Since aligning herself with the organization, Lipinski has shown the kind of dedication and energy you would expect from someone who trained most of her life to become, at 15, the youngest Winter Olympic individual champion in any sport. When she travels to different cities, she visits clubs and chats with kids, answers their questions and plays games. She gives a short talk: "Always dream, no matter what it is," she tells them. "Keep dreaming, and everything is possible."

Lipinski has also helped kids learn to skate and gives away tickets to her show, Stars on Ice. B&GCA features Lipinski in its public service announcements, and she even donated her earnings from an appearance on Wheel of Fortune. "I won, I was so excited!" she says. Obviously, the competitive spirit burns just as strongly as ever.

Kurt Aschermann, senior vice president of marketing and communications for B&GCA, says kids simply adore Lipinski. "The first place we went with Tara was the South Bronx. I was worrying that the kids weren't going to know who this person is," he says. "Was I ever surprised. They mobbed her. They loved her. I actually worried for her safety at the end of the session."

In addition to supporting B&GCA, Lipinski takes time to visit children's hospitals and campaign for tobacco-free kids. She's a natural role model for young people. At 19, she's not much older than many B&GCA members. (And at 5´1", she's not much taller.)

Above all, she tries to keep her message to kids positive. "Instead of being like adults who are always nagging, 'You have to do this, you have to do that,' I hope maybe they can see that I loved something, I always dreamed, I worked hard at it, and it came. Hopefully they can apply that to their lives, too."

It's a new goal for her, and one that's every bit as important as winning a gold medal.-Sarah Lorge

For more information or to make a contribution, write Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 1230 West Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, call (800) 854-CLUB or visit www.bgca.org.