For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 13, 2003
U.S. Soccer Community Answering Call to Aid Children in Iraq
USA Freedom Corps
Today, the USA Freedom Corps announced that it will be working with
some of the largest youth-serving organizations in the country such as
America's Promise, Camp Fire USA, YMCA of the USA, and Youth Service
America to help American youth find ways they can share hope with
children in Iraq through an effort of the U.S. soccer community to send
them soccer equipment.
Background
Through the leadership of Major League Soccer (MLS), the
U.S. soccer community is offering soccer balls and equipment to Iraqi
youth. Prior to the war, Iraqi children had only limited access to the
sports opportunities and equipment that American youth enjoy. During
the massive rebuilding and humanitarian effort underway in Iraq, this
effort shares some extra hope and compassion with young people in Iraq
from their friends in the United States. MLS has already collected
more than 60,000 soccer balls bound for Baghdad from its teams,
ownership, fans, and equipment suppliers.
As a next step in the effort to help Iraqi youth, the U.S. Soccer
Foundation has established a fund that allows Americans to contribute
to the purchase of basic soccer equipment for soccer and youth clubs
and schools in Iraq. The fund will accept contributions from
individuals and groups, but is particularly intended to give American
young people an opportunity to collect, earn, or save money to help
youth in Iraq. Information on the fund will be available at
www.ussoccerfoundation.org.
The President's Greeting
Last week President Bush shared a greeting
with soccer fans recognizing the efforts of the U.S. soccer community
to answer the President's call to serve others by reaching out to the
children of Iraq. The greeting aired in connection with the grand
opening of the U.S. national training center for amateur, national and
professional soccer, and will be broadcast again in all MLS stadiums
this weekend. The following are excerpts:
"I am proud that each day, life is getting better for the people of
Iraq. Through the hard work of engineers, government and industry
experts, members of our Armed Forces, and humanitarian aid workers from
America and the international community, we are helping to make life
there freer, more peaceful, and more prosperous. I want to thank
America's soccer community for its generosity and leadership, for
giving our children a way to offer hope and decency to the children of
Iraq, and for helping to show the people of Iraq the true heart of
America."
"Every American child can find a way to participate in this or
another effort to help Iraqi youth. Share money you have saved. Go
out and earn a dollar, or collect from your community. Through your
generosity, the children of Iraq will see the love and compassion of
America knows no age, ethnic, or geographic limit."
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