It seems like awhile ago that we were in New York for the Ethan Zohn chairty event. We headed back to LA after the event, but Ethan kept heading south to DC to complete his 550 mile journey using the “power of soccer” to fight against HIV / AIDS.
WASHINGTON, D.C. | NORWICH, VT (December 1, 2008)—Grassroot Soccer, the nonprofit organization that uses the “power of soccer” in the fight against HIV/AIDS, celebrates the culmination of the Grassroot Soccer UNITED Dribble, this afternoon, World AIDS Day, on the National Mall. Organization co-founder Ethan Zohn (winner, Survivor: Africa), flanked by D.C.-area celebrity athletes and youth soccer players, will take a last lap, from the Thomas Jefferson National Memorial to Franklin D Roosevelt Memorial Park, ending an extraordinary campaign that has stretched 3 months and 550 miles, raised $150,000 for Grassroot Soccer and its HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum, and inspired countless numbers of kids to take action against the disease at home and in other parts of the world. The last lap will be touched off by a press conference, during which the Dribblewill be commended by the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Grassroot Soccer UNITED Dribble, which took Ethan and his team through the main streets and back roads of Providence,New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia,Baltimore and the many townships in between, saw dozens of youth clinics, school appearances, and rallies, as well as a celebrity soccer match with the likes of Hollywood United FC players Anthony LaPaglia, Brandon Routh and Gilles Marini, and pro players from the U.S. and around the world, like Alexi Lalas and Youri Djorkaeff. After a knee injury sustained during a fundraising match in New York City , Ethan called on celebrity friends to help out once more, with World Series MVP Philadelphia Philly Cole Hamels subbing in and leading local youth on a Dribble leg in the City of Brotherly Love . Soccer stars Ben Olsen of D.C. United and Rebecca Moros of Washington Freedom step in to accompany Ethan on the last lap and get the ball across the finish line.
“This has been one of the most inspiring events of my life, and Grassroot Soccer and I are extraordinarily grateful to the thousands who came out and supported us along the way, and the sponsors and partners who have been there since the very beginning,” says Grassroot Soccer co-founder Ethan Zohn, who started the organization in 2002. “But this is just the beginning; we encourage everyone around the world who’s joined us to dribble on—to continue spreading the word about HIV/AIDS and prevention.”
The Grassroot Soccer UNITED Dribble is part of a year-long initiative to get kids around the world to join the Grassroot Soccer “team” and get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa . By summer 2009, the ten Grassroot Soccer UNITED “players” who have raised the most money for the effort earn a trip to South Africa to play at the FIFA Football for Hope Center alongside their teammates—African kids whose lives they’ve helped. In all, Grassroot Soccer UNITED hopes to raise $1 million for the cause.
If you are in the DC area head out to support and join today’s festivities.
