She wears many hats, but Tracy never loses sight of her most important role as a concerned global citizen and active special representative to the United Nations.

In 2005 Tracy Mattes was appointed special representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization ST-EP Foundation. The ST-EP name stands for Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty. ST-EP was created to harness the developmental power of tourism in the fight against world poverty. Its origins and activities are both intimately tied to the UN's Millennium Development Goals, which include the objective of halving extreme poverty by 2015. ST- EP is especially focused on people living on less than a dollar a day. The targets are the world's least developed countries, especially those in Africa, along with developing states in general.

The same dedication and determination that garnered Tracy a place among the world's best athletes is reflected in her efforts for UNWTO ST-EP. Tracy helped spearhead the first global conference of Sport and Tourism which was held in Monte Carlo on September 9th 2005 to decide on effective joint measures towards sustainability and poverty alleviation by forging greater partnerships among the entities of Tourism and Sports. These two industries are among the worlds largest and have emerged as instruments of employment generation, poverty reduction and sustainable human development. Tracy rallied support from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and many Olympic heroes and high ranking members of the International Olympic Committee to offer their support for the cause of finding sustainable solutions to poverty alleviation.

UNTWO Secretary General Francisco Frangielli, Ambassador Dho Young Shim, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Monaco's Director of Tourism

Angela Van Wright, Judy Churchill, Francesco Frangielli, Tracy Mattes and Carol Davis

Tracy Mattes and Sergey Bubka

Ambassador Dho Young Shim acquiring signatures

Joel Bouzou with the Nigerian Ambassador Kingsley Sunny Ebenyi

IOC member Irena Szewinska, Tracy Mattes and Chairmane Crooks

As a result of its overwhelming success, a second follow up conference took place just a few months later at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. Once again, UN representatives, heads of state and dignitaries gathered to create plans of concrete action and build upon the plans they laid in Monaco. The conference took place at the Visa Olympians Reunion Center.

Tom Shepard, Vice Presidnet of Visa Global Sponorships welcomes Ambassador Dho Young Shim and Tracy Mattes
to the Visa Olympians Reunion Center in Torino to host the 2nd Global Conference on Sport & Tourism (click to enlarge)
 

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco

Tracy Mattes, Dr. Marc Daniel Gutekundst, HSH Prince Albert II, Amadou Dia Ba

Tracy Mattes, Donatella de Filippo, Angela Van Wright and Carol Davis

Michel Bouquier, Ambassador Dho Young Shim and Visa Vice President Tom Shepard

Over the past two years ST-EP has approved seven new sustainable tourism projects aimed at eliminating poverty in some of the world's poorest countries.

1. Village Action for Sustainable Tourism (VAST) - Zambia
2. Kartong Community-based and Ecotourism Project - The Gambia
3. Ban Kandone and Ban Tahine Village-based Tourism Development Handicraft, Home stay and Small-scale Infrastructure - Lao PDR
4. Pangani-Saadani Coastal Protection -Tanzania
5. Community-based Lodges Training Program - Mozambique
6. Community-based Ecotourism in the Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area -Madagascar
7. Establishing linkages between Garifunas's small business and the Bahia de Tela "Los Micos Beach & Golf Resort" - Honduras

Tracy is now focusing on fundraising and raising awarness for ST-EP's lastest intiative Thank You Small Library. ST-EP Believes Education is the key to breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. The ST-EP Foundation has brought the Thank You Small Library initiative to people living in the developing world. A Thank You Small Library is a place where children and adults can study and read. Meanwhile, bread and refreshments are given to the children to encourage them to visit the library and use its resources. Whether its used for homework or causal reading, the Thank You Small Library is a safe and fun environment for all ages to gather and enjoy.

From January 30th to February 5th, 2008, UNWTO ST-EP Foundation launched eight Thank You Small Libraries in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Prime Minister His Excellency Meles Zenawi welcomed the efforts made by the Foundation. Six of the libraries are located in Addis Ababa and two more in the communities of Dire-Dawa and Shinile in the country's eastern region.

Each of the eight libraries were given 1000 brand new books, as well as bookshelves, desks, chairs, and first aid kits purchased and made locally. Solar energy devices were also installed where electricity is unavailable along with Korean traditional popcorn makers to provide snacks for the children. The same type of popcorn makers fed Korean children when Korea was a Least Developed Country.

Tracy's personal comments on how she happened to become a UN Special Represetnative and the impact it has made in her own life.

Tracy's interest and involvement in the United Nations missions began after her second trip to Africa, where she acquired Malaria during her stay. Malaria is the most important parasitic disease in the world. It kills 3,000 children every day and more than one million each year. The majority of these deaths occur among children under five years of age and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. These communities often have limited access to primary health care and to simple and effective preventive tools such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets. In addition, they are less likely to have access to basic information regarding the disease and how to avoid it.

"When I was in Africa I acquired Malaria. It was one of the scariest times of my life. But I was lucky to have many people scrambling to get me the proper medical care. To them, I was an American sports star and I was considered a priority. I was taken to a medical center hours away, and given medical care.

"While to this day, I am very grateful and happy to have received this care and attention, it really made me realize, the millions of people that don't get any attention. After it was all said and done, and I was well on my way to recovery, I actually felt very guilty. I thought if I wouldn't have been an American athlete, if I was just a villager who lived out in those rural areas, no one would have come to my rescue. For millions of people, there is no Calvary coming in to help them when they get sick. There is no one coming even when they are dying. I thought to myself, if my status here could help save me, then I certainly can use it to help others. It was the first time I realized how people who are in the public eye, in any capacity, big or small, be it athletes, music artists, movie stars, etc,, they can really use that status to create attention, to raise funds, to bring awareness to these causes and to help to these people and really it is our responsibility to do that."

Experiencing the disease first hand and witnessing the enormous challenges that vulnerable groups, particularly those living in especially poor and hard to reach communities, face was a life-altering experience for Tracy, who decided to use her talents to aid their cause. In 2005, she was named a UN Special Representative. As a UNWTO ST-EP representative, Tracy uses her notoriety and talents to generate funding and awareness about the plight of extreme poverty and the conditions under which millions of people live.

"I have been very fortunate that my athletic career has taken me all over the world. I had these incredible opportunities, I started to travel and realized there was so much I was unaware of. There is so much you don't learn in school and you don't see on the news every day. You go to these places and your eyes are really opened as to what life's really about and what people are really going through.

"I wanted to learn more and I wanted to understand more. I have always respected and admired initiatives of the United Nations. I have a brother who spent 3 years in the United States Peace Corps in Gabon and Congo, and the stories he has are incredible. The fact that the good works of a few people can make such an incredible impact on the lives of others really touched me. I've done a lot of volunteer work to support various causes especially dealing with children and education because I have a passionate belief that education is the key to solving many problems, but I wanted to do more. While working on my MBA part of a group project was to research, write and publish a paper on Global Poverty. [Tracy wrote the introduction and the section of Goal 2, Achieving Universal primary education.]

"I was shocked at the statistics. I wanted to understand how this problem had reached the dire levels where more than half of the world's population is living in these conditions, and what's worse is the statistics on young people. Half of the world's population is under the age of 25, and 90% of them live in developing countries. That means we have an entire generation growing up without hope and we really need to do something fast. When people don't have hope and they think oh well they are going to die anyway of either, parasites from no clean water, AIDS, warfare, etc.. they become perfect candidates for militia and terrorist groups. Look at what's happening in Sudan, Darfur, Rawanda, we have to act. I realize no one can change the world overnight, but if we get enough people to care, and we get enough people doing even small things to help, I believe we can shift this path we are on, but it will take an enormous effort on behalf of all people to lend a hand in some capacity. There are so many ways to participate in becoming part of the solution.

"I tried to educate myself on the issues and make myself aware of the opportunities to try to make a difference. But nothing impacts you more than actually witnessing the conditions in which so many people are living.

"We have so much here and we are so blessed in our lives, and I think so many people don't realize that. I think if everyone had a chance to spend just one week over in parts of Africa and see people working 18 hours a day for one dollar, not have access to clean water, not have food daily and not have any access to health care meaning they have to watch their children or parents die. If people could go and spend one week over there, I tell you, they will come back with a totally different opinion of how bad their problems are here.

"You realize how lucky you are to have your health, access to clean water, and food every day, all the things we take for granted. When you see people living without these things, when you have the unique opportunity to see life from a completely different point of view, it changes your life and your priorities. Some things that seemed so important before, suddenly seem so insignificant by comparison. These kids are survivors and fighters. They deserve every chance for an education and to basic necessities of life. They deserve a chance at hope in a better future. My definition of hero has changed completely. These people are my heroes. I will make it a priority to do my part, even if it's a small part, to help make a difference."