Football For Life

Recently, I had the great pleasure of volunteering for a charity called Football for Life. Located in the heart of Hong Kong, Football for Life was founded Phillipe Bru in 2006, when the growing number of underprivileged children in Hong Kong sparked his initiative to change the desperate situation.  Bru was able to successfully merge his passion for the game and his calling to help by creating an alternative experience for children through football.  Since the organizations start, it has been dedicated to bettering the lives of underprivileged children through the sport of football.

Currently, the organization is working with over 10 organizations including Hong Kong Children & Youth Services, Hong Kong Federation for Youth Group, Christian Action, the Boys and Girls Clubs Association, HK Society for Protection of Children, Social Welfare Dpt, ISS, Evangel Children & the Neighbourhood Advice Action Council.

The growing organization has attracted world class footballers such as Didier Six and HK movie star, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai. Many more Football for Life Ambassadors have since joined the cause and the organization has continually shown its impact on the Hong Kong Community.

Football for Life-  It has become a phrase I have really grown to appreciate.  Football for Life represents an enthusiasm for the game of football we all love and enjoy, while directing all of it’s passion towards a very important cause. It reveals the need to pay attention to lives outside of our own, and shows us that football can be a celebration of life by sharing its joys with those less privileged. Football for Life Stands for more than just an organization that provides a place for kids to play, it provides hope, inspiration, and motivation for those who are passionate about the game and the lives of those around them.

To learn more about Football for Life, please visit their website at www.footballforlife.org

The Spirrs Team is a Proud Supporter of Football for Life and their efforts in promoting quality experiences for underpriviledged children through the power of FOOTBALL.

Kick-Off Poverty: Hong Kong’s Road to Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

“73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.”

Just several days after landing in Hong Kong I was able to catch a glimpse of a very special annual fund raising tournament held in the heart of Hong Kong. Located at the famous McPherson Playground in Mong Kok where intense small-sided concrete soccer matches have been brewing for generations, the competition and start studded celebrity matches were played throughout the afternoon heat for one a common cause.

The Kick-Off Poverty Campaign is a “4-a-side soccer fund raising tournament to support the HK Contingent to join the Milan 2009 HWC and other related training programmes. For it’s charity game, it attracts quite a number of Teams from the social service sector and the business community to donate HK$15,000 for a team to participate. Players also gain public support through the street soccer events. Players’ social image, self-competence and self-esteem are then rebuilt and enhanced.”

The Homeless World Cup (HWC) is an event of the International Network of Street Papers. It creates chances for people in crisis situations through social programmes and by selling their own newspaper directly on the streets. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, use of football as a trigger to inspire and energize people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It is a 4-a-side street soccer event, which is fast and entertaining. The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 18 national teams. 6 years on 56 nations were united for Melbourne 2008, which included the first Women’s Cup.

The impact is consistently significant year on year with 73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.The Game is now on the road to Milan 2009 on 6-13 September.

To find out more about the Homeless World Cup 2009 in Milan visit http://www.homelessworldcup.org

Click Kick-Off Poverty for more on Hong Kong’s HWC Team Campaign.

Chinatown Charity Showdown

Here’s the Upcoming event in Chinatown NYC.  It is something you can not miss.  NBA stars amoung the best footballers in the world, playing for a cause that goes beyond super stardom. Organized by  two very special Organizations, the events highlights the joining of foundation missions to better give back to the world’s children. Both the Claudio reyna Foundation and the Steve Nash Foundation will come together in the star studded event to raise money to aid the growing support of their foundation work around the world.

Press Release:

Chinatown NYC June 24, 2009- NBA stars. Soccer’s best. An urban field. A sweet 8-a-side game of futbol in the middle of a city benefiting children’s programs on three continents.Steve brings his passion play back to NYC and this year to Vancouver in this innovative match that any sports fan will love. Showcasing athletes from two sports, Showdown is the beautiful game at its most creative. With international rosters including Steve Nash, Thierry Henry, Yao Ming, Claudio Reyna, Tony Parker, Adrian Mutu, Grant Hill, Giovanni van Brockhurst, Raja Bell, Ivan Cordoba, Baron Davis, Javier Zanetti and Chris Bosh the Showdowns are events not to be missed! Set amongst a sea of concrete, the Park is an oasis in an urban jungle. In 2008, fans of all ages crowded the pitch to watch Thierry Henry, Salomon Kalou and soccer greats match skills against Steve, Jason Kidd, and other NBA stars.The Showdown is a free-to-the-public event. See you there!

This is a FREE event, so show your support.  Here’s a Run Down of the day.

• 9:00 am                                              Venue Opens: NYC Parks Kids Clinic #1
• 10:00 am                                            Street Festival Opens : NYC Parks Kids Clinic #2
• 11:00 am                                             NYC Parks Kids Clinic #3
• 1:30 pm                                               Reyna Academy – Warm-Up
• 2:00 pm                                               Reyna Academy – Match
• 4:00 pm                                               Showdown Pro Players – Arrive
• 5:00 pm                                               Showdown– 1st Half
• 5:30 – 5:45 pm                                 Showdown- Half-Time
• 5:45 – 6:15 pm                                  Showdown – 2nd Half
• 6:30 pm - 7pm                                  Block Party

Please Visit the Claudio Reyna Foundation’s New Website and the Steve Nash Foundation’s Homepage for more information on helping the global youth develope through the sports and education. For more Information on the Soccer Showdown, go the event’s official site: Soccer Showdown NYC.

This years Showdown:

The Spirrs Team is a Proud Supporter of the Claudio Reyna Foundation and the Steve Nash Foundation.

Siyanakekela:We Care

Siyanakekel: We care.

The organizations name speaks for itself “Siyanakekela,” Zulu for “We Care.”  Located in the heart of the Umlazi township on the East Coast of Durban, South Africa, the small yet significant organization raises through crime and poverty to aid the hunger of Aids/HIV inflicted children. 

The Spirrs Team is a Proud Supporter of Siyanankekela. Stayed posted on the lastest news from our team about the upcoming Non-Profit Organization that will be create in the continung efforts of supporting Siyanakekela and international foundations and charities alike.

 

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South Africa:We Care

While spending several months in South Africa, I had the most amazing oppurtunity to help a very special organization.  The organizations name speaks for itself “Siyanakekela,” Zulu for “We Care.”  Located in the heart of the Umlazi township on the East Coast of Durban, South Africa, the small yet significant organization raises through crime and poverty to aid the hunger of Aids/HIV inflicted children. 

Working closely with Cooper Browning, an American amassador of goodwill for the organization, I had the chance to experience the hardships and triumphs of such a remarkable foundation.  Browning, a US student with independant studies of Nutrition and Aids/HIV, discovered the organization while persuing her degree at Global College.  She worked alongside the organization for 4 months. In her quest to expand the organization’ s mission to relieve hunger, upon her return to America, shes has since brought the cause to international attention. 

Browning will soon work to develope a US non-profit oragnization that will aid Siyanakekela and her sister organizations.  The Spirrs Team will work closely with its progress. We are proud supporters of Siyanakekela and Cooper Browning in their efforts to end hunger amoung the growing Aids Orphans population in Umlazi, South Africa. 

Please stayed tuned for more posted on the developing organization and my life changing experince.

For more information on Siyanakekela click here.

Claudio Reyna Foundation: Joining Urban Youth from Across the River

Sunday May 31, 2009 marked the first ever Claudio Reyna Foundation Brooklyn Vs Newark Season Wrap-up Game. All were welcome, as players, parents, coaches, fans and family gathered at St. Benedicts Prep in New Jersey to witness this fruitful game between the Brooklyn and Newark teams. The game culminates and highlights the hard work of the inner city youth hand selected to be apart of such a special program. In the Fall of 2008, Claudio Reyna started his foundation in hopes to create a Soccer Acadecy that would do more that just give children a place to play. The Academy welcomed young players from Brooklyn, NY and Newark, NJ to take part in this educational development program that exceeds the lines of the playing field. As founder Claudio Reyna describes, the mission is to “motivate and support underpriviledge youth around the globe by providing positive experiences through education, commnity involvement, and sport that grow healthy bodies, minds and spirits.” This game represented a full year of player, parent and coaching support and committment to creating this vision.

With the sun over head and not a cloud in site, the small turf field presented a nice hot surface for the 8v8 match. Each team dressed in their bright, bold jersey baring TEAM Brooklyn and TEAM Newark, were ready and eager to play. Anxious players and excited parents lined the field. As everyone gathered for the opening words from Claudio Reyna, smell of hot dogs and hamburgers filled the air. He explained the significant gesture of Jersey trading, how it is done all over the world and how especially important it was in the joining of two teams. The player representative of TEAM Brooklyn and TEAN Newark, shook hands and traded sign Jerseys, and the teams were ready to go.

To the surprise of many, as the players moved onto, their teams were divided. Team Brooklyn spilt and Team Newark separated. Before both team could realize, there were two evenly matched teams. Players stood side-by-side with new teammates from across the river. With one goal in mind, the lines of Brooklyn and Newark began to fade and game began. The coaches took the field and everyone was involved. The flare, character and personalities of the inner city kid displayed “fun” to the fullest. The sound of laughter and cheering combined with excitement of the game couldn’t depict a better sunday afternoon.

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A few word from Claudio on the day, “So nice to see the parents, kids, friends and guests enjoy the afternoon. Having the kids get to meet each other from the two Academies was my personal highlight.
They exchanged jerseys before the game and in keeping with the spirit of the afternoon were only concerned about getting to know each other and not so much on who was winning the game. We decided to mix the kids up so they can play with kids from the other Academy and I believe this made the game much more relaxing for the kids. I want to thank everyone for their work today and throughout the past year in making this happen. This is just the beginning and with continued hard work we will make an impact on more families in the future.”

For more information on the Claudio Reyna Foundation please visit www.claudioreynafoundation.org

Spirrs team is a Proud Supporter of the Claudio Reyna Foundation.

Spirrs Supports Hollywood Unites for Haiti

Spirrs Coverage of the Inaugural Setanta Cup.

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Press Release:

Setanta Sports, a leading broadcaster of Barclays Premier League soccer in the US and Official Sports Channel of the Field House at Chelsea Piers, announced today that it will be hosting the first annual “Setanta Cup” to celebrate its roll-out into the New York area. This all-day soccer festival will feature tournaments for youth (U-10 to U-14) and adult teams, with proceeds from team registration fees, merchandise sales and raffles going to the nonprofit organization, Hollywood Unites for Haiti and the Chelsea Piers Scholarship Fund.

The day featured a star-studded exhibition match, presenting the world-famous soccer club, Hollywood United Football Club. HUFC’s famed dazzling line-up included:

Anthony LaPaglia (“Without a Trace”), Brandon Routh (“Superman”), Jimmy Jean-Louis (“Heroes”), Steve Jones (“Sex Pistols”), Youri Djorkaeff and Frank LeBoeuf (Former French Players and 1998 FIFA World Cup Winners), Gilles Marini (“Sex and the City”), Ethan Zohn (Co-founder Grassroot Soccer and “Survivor Africa” Winner), Costas Mandylor (“Saw”), Donal Logue (“Life”), Richard Gough (Glasgow Rangers, Scottish International), and Marc Consuelos (World Renown Actor).

But the real highlight of the day was the nonprofit organization all this publicity aimed to promoted, and that was the Hollywood Unites for Haiti Organization, who’s missions is to promote sports and cultural activities for the underprivileged youth of Haiti.

What HUFH’s founder Jimmy Jean-Louis had to say about the event, “Haiti has suffered many set many setbacks in its rich history and yet the Haitian people have never lost the character to face adversity with creativity, resilience and community.  Events like the Setanta Cup raise money that will help brighten their hearts and minds of kids and encourage them to build confidence, competence and community.”

To learn more about Hollywood Unites for Haiti, Click Here.