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Iga Świątek’s $1M+ mental health and war relief crusade reaches new milestone as prize money pledges transform thousands of lives
Iga Świątek’s $1M+ mental health and war relief crusade reaches new milestone as prize money pledges transform thousands of lives (Chinatopix Via AP)
Polish tennis star Iga Świątek has donated more than 1 million Polish złoty towards mental health projects for children and young people, while her charity work has also raised millions for Ukrainian children affected by war. Her efforts include donating tournament prize money, auctioning tennis equipment and organising a charity event that raised 2.5 million złoty. Since 2021, Świątek has used her success on court to support causes beyond tennis, with a focus on mental health, children’s medical care and help for families facing difficult circumstances.
How did Iga Świątek turn her mental health advocacy into direct financial support?
For Iga Świątek, mental health has been an important part of her tennis career. She has spoken publicly about working with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz and the value of getting professional support. Their work together became more widely known after Świątek won the 2020 French Open, when she was just 19.Instead of keeping the subject limited to her own experience, Świątek began using her platform to encourage others to seek help when they need it. Her first major public donation for mental health came in October 2021, around World Mental Health Day, which falls on October 10 each year.After beating Veronika Kudermetova in the third round of the Indian Wells tournament on October 10, 2021, Świątek announced that she would donate $50,000 from her prize money to a mental health charity. The idea came to her during the match, according to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).The following year, she made another pledge after losing the final of the Ostrava Open to Barbora Krejčíková on October 9, 2022. Świątek said she would donate her prize money to Polish non-profit organisations supporting mental health. She wanted to use the occasion to remind people that asking for psychological help is normal and that those with the means to do so can help others.Her support also reached children through UNICEF Poland. In October 2023, Świątek donated 300,000 Polish złoty to help the organisation support children’s mental health in Poland and around the world. The donation was intended to help children and young people who need psychological support.UNICEF Poland reported the donation on October 12, 2023. In 2024, Świątek continued the effort with another donation of 200,000 złoty to UNICEF Poland for programmes supporting the mental health of children and teenagers. These contributions show that her work in this area has continued beyond a single tournament or annual campaign.
How did Iga Świątek raise 2.5 million złoty for Ukrainian children?
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Świątek began showing her support for the country during tennis matches. She wore a Ukrainian ribbon on her cap, drawing attention to the war as she continued competing on the WTA Tour.She then decided to organise a charity tennis event to turn that support into financial help. On July 23, 2022, she hosted Iga Świątek and Friends for Ukraine at Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland. The event brought together tennis players and sports figures to raise money for children and teenagers affected by the war.Former Polish tennis star Agnieszka Radwańska came out of retirement to take part. Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina served as the event’s chair umpire, while Polish junior player Martyn Pawelski also played. Former Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko attended as a special guest.The event attracted around 15,000 fans and raised 2.5 million Polish złoty through ticket sales, merchandise and charity auctions. The money went towards helping children and young people affected by the war.The funds were directed through three organisations: the Elina Svitolina Foundation, United24 and UNICEF Poland. The support was intended to help children facing the effects of the conflict, including those displaced from their homes.Explaining why she wanted to organise the event, Świątek said: “I know that social memory is short, so we wanted to remind the world that the war is not over,” Świątek reflected at the conclusion of the event. “Sport has an incredible power to connect people and achieve tangible good when used wisely.”The event also led to further fundraising efforts. In January 2023, Świątek and UNICEF Poland launched charity auctions featuring tennis memorabilia and limited-edition clothing. The money raised was intended to support Ukrainian children who had fled the war. The initiative allowed her to continue helping families long after the Kraków event had ended.
How did Iga Świątek use her Grand Slam memorabilia to fund children’s healthcare?
Świątek has also raised money by putting valuable pieces of her tennis career up for auction. Her signed rackets, tournament outfits and other personal items have attracted strong interest from fans who want to own a piece of sporting history while supporting charitable causes.One of her notable fundraising efforts involved the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, known in Poland as WOŚP. The organisation raises money for medical equipment and treatment, including care for children in public hospitals.In 2021, Świątek donated the racket she used to win her first French Open title in 2020. It sold for 131,300 złoty, with the money supporting the charity’s work to improve medical care for children.She followed that with another donation in 2022, offering a racket from her Italian Open victory along with a training session. The package sold for 189,100 złoty.Her 2023 auction drew even more attention. Świątek offered a signed racket she had used to win the 2022 French Open and US Open, along with tickets to a match at the 2023 French Open and a chance to meet her. The package sold for 300,300 złoty.That year’s WOŚP fundraising campaign focused on fighting sepsis, a potentially life-threatening response to infection. The money raised helped fund equipment used to identify and treat the condition.Świątek also supported a separate charity auction organised by Polish motorsport figures in 2023. Her racket from her French Open victory that year sold for 250,000 złoty, with the funds going towards support for children injured in road accidents.These efforts show how she has used her success in tennis to attract donations for children’s healthcare. Rather than relying only on direct payments, she has given supporters a way to take part in fundraising through items linked to her biggest sporting achievements.
How does Iga Świątek support young people beyond tennis and medical care?
Świątek’s charitable work also includes efforts to raise awareness about mental health and encourage young people to develop interests outside their screens.Her public comments about working with a sports psychologist have helped bring attention to a subject that athletes do not always discuss openly. By speaking about the role of psychological support in her career, she has encouraged people to see it as a normal part of looking after themselves rather than something to consider only during a crisis.Her work with UNICEF Poland has also given this message a practical side. The organisation’s programmes aim to help children and teenagers who need mental health support, including those dealing with difficult experiences.The money donated by Świątek has supported a wider effort to make psychological care more accessible. Her contributions in 2023 and 2024 show that children’s mental health has remained a priority in her charitable work.There is also a focus on helping young people learn and grow through education. However, claims that a formal #ReadWithIga campaign funded libraries and school reading packs could not be independently confirmed through the reliable sources reviewed for this article.
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Those details should not be presented as established facts without further evidence.What is clear is that Świątek has backed several causes through direct donations, public fundraising events and charity auctions. Her work has reached children affected by war, young people who need mental health support and patients who depend on better medical equipment.For Świątek, these efforts offer another way to use her position in sport. Her tournament results have brought her international recognition, but her charitable work has also helped direct money towards people who need support away from the tennis court.
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