| Greetings! |
As always, thank you to all of our supporters who continue to send us soccer balls and thank you to the brave members of our Armed Forces who distribute the balls to Iraqi and Afghani children.
We firmly believe that providing children with the ability to play is fundamental to improving their lives and to helping rebuild their society and culture while also helping the military to accomplish their missions. |
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From the Front Lines |
LTC Mike Shinners was recently quoted in the blog "Larry Kirwan of Black 47" concerning his mission in Iraq as well as the field work he does that includes distributing Kick For Nick soccer balls. Following is a quote from the article about Mike:
"...Mike ( LTC shinners) is a student of soccer - the beautiful game - and along with his military comrades he believes that sports is a human right , as essential as electricity..... They feel that a culture unable to provide such service is not intrinsically stable, and unstable cultures tend to breed insurgency and violence.
They have been aided in their mission by London based group FC Unity and the Kick for Nick Foundation, a CT based organization set up by the family of Pvt. Nick Madaras to give out soccer balls, as a way of breaking down cultural barriers.
All are convinced that on-field competition can sow seeds of unity in the soccer mad, but highly sectarian and ethnically mixed communities, of Iraq. Get Shia, Sunni, Christian, Turkemen, and Kurdish children kicking a ball around a pitch and they'll ultimately learn to respect each other."
(read more...) |
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High School Students Collect Balls for Kick For Nick |
Wilton High School Peervention joined with American Legion Post 86 in collecting soccer balls for Kick for Nick.
Peervention is a program designed to equip students with the ability to assist and support other peers in an effort to prevent the following: school disorientation, academic issues' depression, eating disorders, family distress, alcohol, drug abuse and community issues.
"Socks for Soldiers" is another Peervention program. They have collected over 800 pairs of white tube socks for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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