Igniting Olympic and Paralympic Dreams: Triathlon Donors Unite to Elevate ’28

The path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be defined by bold vision and even bolder belief. At the USA Triathlon Foundation, that belief has come alive through two transformative donors — John Cassimatis and the Leff Family Foundation — whose personal journeys in the sport are inspiring and impactful.

Cassimatis, a lifelong runner-turned-triathlete, and Todd and Cynthia Leff, who discovered the sport later in life, share a belief in the power of triathlon to transform lives. Together, their partnership has become a force for change within the USA Triathlon Foundation. 

In 2022, through the Leff Family Foundation and Cassimatis’s own leadership and philanthropy, they united to launch USA Kids Tri in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, a groundbreaking initiative introducing children to the joy, discipline, and confidence of swim, bike, and run. What began as a shared commitment to youth participation has grown into a deeper mission: ensuring that the next generation — and the nation’s best — have every opportunity to thrive.

Today, Cassimatis and the Leffs stand shoulder-to-shoulder in that mission, leading with a transformative investment in Elevate ’28, USA Triathlon Foundation’s campaign to propel U.S. Olympic and Paralympic triathletes toward success on home soil at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games. Their leadership gifts underscore an ambitious effort to transform training, racing, and talent development in the critical years ahead.

That vision includes elite training camps in Los Angeles, expanded racing opportunities across the U.S., a bold new approach to talent identification, and enhanced training environments for developing athletes. Together, these initiatives will not only give athletes the tools to win medals but also showcase triathlon to the masses as an aspirational, lifelong sport — born here in the U.S.

For Cassimatis and the Leff Family, this isn’t just about medals. It’s about belief — belief in athletes, belief in community, and belief in the power of sport to inspire a nation. Their partnership and philanthropy reflect a shared vision: that the Los Angeles 2028 Games are not an endpoint, but a catalyst — a moment to reimagine what triathlon can mean for the next generation of athletes and communities across the nation.

Learn how you can join the movement and, together, Elevate ’28.

The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. With its mission to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike and run, the Foundation serves to generate a greater impact on the multisport community through charitable giveback and grants that advance the Foundation’s three pillars: (1) Encourage youth participation; (2) Inspire pathways to access and inclusion; and (3) Ignite Olympic/Paralympic dreams. Since the Foundation was established in 2014, it has impacted the lives of thousands by providing grants to organizations and individuals in pursuit of its mission and pillars to create a healthier United States through triathlon. To learn more about the Foundation and get involved, please visit usatriathlonfoundation.org.

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.