FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 13, 2003
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The White House - Office of the Press Secretary
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US Soccer Community Answering Call to Aid Children in Iraq |
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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.”
President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to
foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through
the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the
call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to
protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion
around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA
Freedom Corps at
www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.
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