The trustees for The William E. Simon Olympic Endowment for the Support of Athletes have awarded a total of $61,000 (£37,000) in grants to the group.

Established in 1998 with a gift of $1 million (£611,000) from its namesake, it provides funds to supplement athlete's training and competition expenses.

Since the programme's inception, trustees have awarded $600,000 (£367,000) to 125 athletes.

The 2011 Olympic hopeful recipients are: Keshia Baker (track and field), Grace Boutot (biathlon), Valerie Brown (track and field), Kelsie Chaudoin (rowing), Jayson Grant (taekwondo), Kelly Gunther (speed skating), Mikayla Magee (gymnastics), Jimmy Moody (fencing), Ibtihaj Muhammad (fencing), John Orozco (gymnastics) and Alexis Page (gymnastics).

The 2011 Paralympic hopeful recipients are: Zena Cole (track and field), Michael Hughes (swimming), Daniel Rizzieri (track and field), Ileana Rodriguez (swimming), Joseph Underwood (swimming), Daphne Wright (track and field) and Kristen Messer (track and field).

William E. Simon, who died in 2000, is considered one the greatest United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Presidents of all time and served his four-year term in office from 1981 until 1985.

He held several additional titles during his tenure with the USOC, including board member and treasurer, and in 1964 spearheaded a USOC national fundraising campaign.

Simon also received the Silver Award of the Olympic Order from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1985 and was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 1991.

Grants from the Simon Endowment are awarded annually.

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