July 2012
Kick For Nick Soccer Ball
Greetings!
Although we have not been in contact recently, please know that our efforts for Kick For Nick are continuing.  Our outreach has recently been expanding beyond Afghanistan; we are now sending balls to our troops in the Philippines, Tajikistan & Tanzania. We have also sent some to Liberia through the Brother's Brother Foundation & to Jamaica to support orphanages & schools in memory of Stephanie Crispinelli, a relief worker who perished in the Haiti earthquake.
    

In addition to soccer balls, we now also receive quite a few basketballs from local communities. Some are sent to our troops for their recreation & others are sent to the Tillie's Touch Foundation in East Syracuse, NY which supplies sporting equipment to underprivileged children in the area.

 

In honor of Nick and in memory of his love for soccer and for children, the soccer balls you help to send continue to brighten the lives of children around the world. This newsletter features photos and excerpts from letters we have received and would like to share with you.  Thank you for your ongoing support. 

 

 

Kick For Nick and Major League Soccer

 

ON MEMORIAL DAY 2012, MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ( MLS) DISPLAYED THIS LOGO ON THE LARGE VIDEO BOARDS IN EVERY MLS STADIUM -- THEIR OFFER TO DO THIS WAS A VERY NICE SURPRISE

 

A letter from GySgt Anstey, Philippines

 

I wanted to inform you I have recieved several more packages in the mail, I am quite frankly overwhelmed by the generosity of you and all the contributors. We are making final coordination in order to conduct soccer clinics on eastern Jolo Island, along with some other educational venues and a food drive included. As soon as we do I will be sending you pictures. The soccer clinic/tournament was in danger of being canceled completely until we recieved your packages. Now the local community is in full swing organizing a whole new one. 

Colorado Students Design T-Shirt to Support KFN

 

 

TO PROMOTE THEIR SOCCER BALL COLLECTION, STUDENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CLASS

AT WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL, (WINDSOR, CO), CREATED THIS T-SHIRT -  THE STUDENTS DESIGNED THE ARTWORK THEMSELVES & A TEACHER PROPOSED THE SAYING.

 

An Email from Jim Jeffrey, a Civilian Who Did 3 Tours in Iraq and is now on to Afghanistan

 

7-10-12 

Another great story. I know firsthand how much good the gift of a soccer ball can do. I will always remember the smiles on the faces of the kids and adults alike when we would pass the balls out in the desert villages we visited.

 

Our Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Battalion Combat Team we traveled with were certain that passing out Nick's soccer balls contributed to the decision many of the villagers made to stop shooting at us. What an amazing impact KFN has made.

 

I have started applying for jobs back in Afghanistan recently, so hopefully you'll have another point of contact to distribute more goodwill. [...] 

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   Soccer Balls & Goal Nets for Afghanistan - a Letter & Photos from Branden Deschaine of the US Navy

[...] Thank you so much for all of your efforts in getting, not just the nets, but everything you've sent thus far. You've amazingly, turned an unimaginable personal tragedy into a triumph and ray of hope and joy for so many people, almost none of whom you will ever meet. I gave some of the local nationals who work on this base soccer balls to give to their children and a few of them almost came to tears because they can barely afford to bring home food and to bring something home that is relatively expensive, and be a hero to their children was just an amazing feeling for them. One of them, Ahmed is his name, was so proud, that he took photos of his boys with the balls and paid a friend with a computer to photoshop in a nice background. [...] 

 

 

 

[This} truly is a huge deal and, in my humble opinion, the best way to win the hearts and minds of the people. I believe you've saved many lives with this program. 

                            ---

Branden made a special request for a pair of 8x24 goal nets when he realized that an Afghan soldier was establishing a youth soccer clinic on the field which also served as their heli-pad. The goal posts were there but they had no way to get goal nets - we were able to find some & send them.

  


Thank you for your support and if you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward it using the button below. 
 
Sincerely,
Bill & Shalini Madaras
Kick For Nick