Saturday, June 3rd, 2006
Operation: Soccer Balls (video)
Watch this clip from ABC 7, KGO-TV in the Bay Area, CA about a group of kids and an Army soldier who are taking collections and holding a bake sale to purchase soccer balls for Iraqis.
Calling it “Operation Soccer Ball” this motivated group looks to raise a ton of money today and tomorrow through their bake sale. Kevin Ferguson, the Army soldier involved in this project, served as the inspiration for these seventh graders at his alma mater, St. Martin, back in the Bay Area. Currently stationed in Iraq, Ferguson thought he would just enlist family and friends to pony up for the soccer ball drive. Instead, he got the whole St. Martin seventh grade to get involved. Best of luck to team St. Martin!
I thought this was a timely story in light of the soccer World Cup tournament that will consume most of the globe for the next few weeks. Games begin this Friday (June 9). Team USA plays the Czech Republic on Monday, June 12; Italia on Saturday, June 17; and Ghana on Thursday, June 22. The World Cup is being hosted by Deutchland.
With the universal appeal of soccer / football, is it any wonder that groups have sprouted up touting the sport as a means toward achieving world peace? Makes complete sense to me.
Check out these groups kicking it for peace:
Play Soccer Make Peace!
This group organizes soccer tournaments around the world as a means to promote peace. This is a project of the World Association of Non-Gorvernmental Organizations (WANGO).
Soccer Moms for Peace
This is a small group of, well, soccer moms in Colorado who raises money to “support nonviolent, humanitarian solutions to global problems, provide peace education in the United States or elsewhere, or promote nonviolence as a means of social change.”
Soccer for Peace
“Soccer for Peace is a non-profit organization aiming to unite children of war-torn nations in their shared love of soccer. Based in New York City, the organization is entirely volunteer run with no affiliation; political, religious or otherwise.”
Some other stories about soccer balls for Iraqis:
America Supports You: KiXX Soccer Team Ensures Iraqi Children Have a Ball
A Day In Iraq (blog)
Soldiers Deliver Good Will