Benefiting Children In South Africa

June is finally here and I am rejoicing about the start of 2010 FIFA South Africa World Cup this summer! I am also enjoying serving as the public relations intern for the philanthropic charity organization, Little Feet (LF) as well this summer.

So what is Little Feet all about?

Little Feet is a social enterprise that gives underprivileged children the chance to play “the Beautiful Game” by providing them with new, high-quality soccer balls. Founded upon the “one for one” model, it donates a ball to a needy child for each one sold through its website, www.littlefeet.com. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the Little Feet Foundation has proudly shared its passion for soccer with disadvantaged children and schools since its inception in March 2006, reaching thousands of children in over 40 countries worldwide.


I had the privilege to be introduced to LF by our GCSU soccer coach, Juan Pablo Favero. Our GCSU soccer program partners with LF using LF balls as our team practice balls.

I've experienced first hand the impact of LF’s global mission; I had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua last summer to distribute LF balls to the local soccer league there. LF allows players like myself to have a globally social responsible perspective and it also provides players an understanding of the true value of giving back to the community.


After soccer championships are won, it is not the scores that are remembered years later, but always the relationships formed and the passions shared for this “beautiful game” we play. LF is about making a difference in people’s lives by promoting peace through soccer and giving hope worldwide.


Little Feet has always set “Big Goals” and Trevor Slavick, co-founder of the organization, is launching a LF Soccer Ball Partnership Program. I have already begun contacting various soccer organizations to get involved with this effort.

In addition, I have been working on contacting both local and national media requesting media support to help spread the word about the launch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup U.S. Men’s National Team Supporter Shirt.

For every shirt sold, Little Feet has pledged to donate a soccer ball to an underprivileged child in South Africa during the World Cup.

This internship has been so rewarding in that I am seeing the global impact it is having everyday and I am understanding more and more why companies and organizations do pro-bono work and donate to charities and philanthropies. I truly do light up when I talk about LF and I am eager to see them grow and expand this summer as I put my public relations skills to work.

A soccer teammate will be traveling to Guyana on July 10-17th. She will be at a children's home and running a soccer clinic there and distrubuting LF balls. Another acquaintance is taking LF balls to Schools for Niger, Africa. These are just two examples of the kind of impact I am talking about.

I recently read a press release that the Atlanta Beat Soccer Foundation and Chick-fil-A have joined forces to donate gently used soccer gear to the Schools of Niger, Africa in the Donate Your Gear program. Drop locations include all 12 Atlanta Beat home games in addition to 20 additional drop zones at local Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout Georgia.

Items collected for the schools of Niger, Africa include:
Clothing
Cleats
Balls
Equipment
Coaches gear
Water bottles


Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post, and please if you have any questions feel free to contact me.


Cheers,


Kara Teresi
Public Relations Intern
Little Feet/Big Goals
Peace through soccer
kara@littlefeet.com
(813) 335-7096
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/little-feet?trk=copro_tab
http://www.facebook.com/LittleFeetSports

Women’s Leadership Symposium

GCSU Women's Soccer Team pictured with Keynote Speaker
Pictured from left: Wendell Staton,Cecile Reynaud, Ada Bazin, Germaine McAuley, Awista Ayub, Joeleen Akin, Jennifer Graham and Kara Teresi

Georgia College & State University Department of Athletics and the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity's Women’s Resource Center held the first-ever Women’s Leadership Symposium Monday, March 15 in Magnolia Ballroom. The symposium featured six guest speakers including keynote speaker Awista Ayub, author of However Tall the Mountain, who discussed, “The Role of Sports for Women In Afghanistan.” Here is my personal story about the impact of Awista Ayub’s book. “I came across Awista Ayub on the littlefeet_com twitter page. Our GCSU soccer team partners with Little Feet, a non-profit organization that sends soccer balls to underprivileged children worldwide. Ayub has been a long time supporter of Little Feet sending soccer balls to children in Afghanistan. I clicked on a link that sent me to Ayub’s website, www.awistaayub.com. Instantly, I was captivated by her books cover that read, A Dream, Eight Girls & A Journey Home with an image of an Afghan woman holding a soccer ball above her head. Khaled Hosseni, author of The Kite Runner, gave a quote on the books cover that read, “These young afghan women are pioneers. Their story is one of resilience and courage. This book is a testament to the power of hope and the will to dream in a country where so many dreams have been cut short”. I purchased the book immediately and received it in the mail shortly there after; I read it during our long soccer bus rides and finished the book towards the end of our season. Our team was playing at home for conference game against University North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP) on October 21. It was this particular night when the book came full circle for me. I was standing on our soccer field with my teammates facing towards the Flag as it waved in the wind with the sounds of the national anthem playing behind us. I began to cry. In her book, Awista gives an image of these Afghan girls standing in Ghazi Stadium, where they had once witnessed the Taliban brutally murder many Afghans on this same field. It was right there in that stadium, on that field, where these girls would eventually play soccer and represent their country. I was filled with emotions of how blessed I was to be playing this game of soccer, and living in a country with freedom and liberties. I have never felt more privileged to play the game of soccer than in that moment. We won our game that night, and it sparked a passion within me to e-mail Awista Ayub and share how her book had changed my perspective.” Little did I know, that sending this e-mail would be the beginning of something greater than I had could have ever imagined. Over 60 participants attended the symposium, including 25 high school students. President Dorothy Leland gave a warm welcome and introduction for participants, and spoke of the progress women have made in Georgia College’s history and inspired future leaders to continue in this progress by leading with character and integrity. The symposium ended with Awista Ayub’s keynote address that included a 10-minute ESPN documentary from these courageous young women and their experiences playing soccer in Afghanistan. Below are some participant responses when asked to respond to the question, “What is one thing they will take away from attending this symposium?”

“To be a positive influence in others lives.”

“That I can do something worthwhile.”

“ The desire/goal to form a mentoring program at our school.”

“To get out there and not settle for the least, but to always try and never give up.”

“Appreciation of my personal freedoms.”

“How a small idea can make a huge difference.”

With the valuable impact of this Women’s Leadership Symposium for students, Georgia College hopes to make this a tradition for years to come.

GCSU Women's Leadership Symposium

www.gcsubobcats.com/wlshome
Registration Deadline is Wednesday March 10.

Sponsored by GCSU Athletics and OIED Women's Resource Center the Women's Leadership Symposium will be held
on Monday March 15 in Magnolia Ballroom from 8:00a.m. - 2:00p.m.

The symposium will feature 6 guest speakers. Including keynote speaker, author, Awista Ayub. Ms. Ayub's book, "However Tall the Mountain" is available in GCSU Bookstore, it will also be available at the event and there will be a book signing too.

Leadership topics of discussion include mentoring, community involvement, diversity and much more! There is a $10 registration fee that includes participant breakfast and lunch.

The keynote speaker, Awista Ayub, Author, "However Tall the Mountain" will be presenting at 1 p.m. on the topic of "Role of Sports For Women In Afghanistan" Check out her website at www.awistaayub.com