Athletes For CARE Announces First Executive Director: Anna Valent

Jacksonville, FL, August 14, 2018 /AxisWire/ Athletes for CARE (A4C), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a community where athletes can find support and raise awareness about the many challenges they face, announced today that it has hired Anna Valent as its first Executive Director.
Created for athletes by athletes, A4C aims to improve the lives of athletes by offering a variety of services and educational programs designed to help them overcome many of the issues they may be struggling with, such as depression or chronic pain, as well as help them find opportunity and a sense of purpose outside of sports. Outside of offering assistance, A4C also funds, commissions, and supports research that will directly benefit athletes; such as alternative medicine/therapies and equipment safety.
“I think it was extremely important for Athletes for CARE to hire an executive director that not only has the proper credentials but that has the passion to take this organization to the next level,” said Riley Cote, co-founder of Athletes for CARE and retired NHL player. “Athletes for CARE has garnered a ton of momentum and adding a professional like Anna Valent will help us break through and be a leader in this game changing market.”
“I am excited to join this passionate team working for the future of all retired professional athletes. I look forward to helping grow and develop this organization to create a community where athletes can find support, opportunity, and purpose in life after a career in sports,” said Valent. “Athletes at this level face unique challenges. They are still young and need a new career and a new outlet for their intense drive toward achieving goals. We are here to be their new team, help them navigate options for long-term pain management, and help them find a new passion and career.”
A formerly world-ranked distance swimmer; Ms. Valent graduated with honors from the University of Florida with degrees in both Psychology and Public Relations. Prior to being named as Executive Director for A4C, Ms. Valent was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at the national direct sales firm Wine Decadence, where she built the company’s foundational operating structure, managed expenses, and cost-effective strategies, and helped the company grow into one of the leading wine direct sales companies in the country.
“The founding principle of Athletes for CARE is by athletes and for athletes.  In order to stay true to that fundamental value, A4C needed a dynamic leader who not only understood how to manage and grow a non-profit organization, but one who also had the life experience of being an elite athlete,” said Ryan Kingsbury, Co-Founder of Athletes for CARE. “The organization is so fortunate to have found that leader in Anna Valent.  Her extensive experience in the non-profit sector, coupled with her background as a world-class athlete made her the ideal candidate to serve as Executive Director of Athletes for CARE.”
About Athletes for CARE
Athletes for CARE (A4C) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a community where athletes can find support, opportunity, and purpose in life after a career in sports. A4C was founded by a group of pro athletes who are uniting as one voice to advocate for research, education, and compassion when addressing critical health issues facing athletes and the public at large. For more information, please visit athletesforcare.org.
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KCSA Strategic Communications
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