Soccer for Hope is a non-profit organization founded by Oliver Wyss, a professional soccer player and survivor of aplastic anemia. Soccer for Hope has been driven by Oliver's goal to give back to the people who saved his life while raising awareness in the soccer community to the needs of children with life threatening diseases. In 2005, Oliver's young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This difficult experience has honed Oliver's vision for Soccer for Hope to include focus on cancer research for children. Since 1999, Soccer for Hope has progressed from Oliver's vision of an annual local event in Southern California to an explosive charity program reaching thousands of people nationwide.
Soccer for Hope receives funding through corporate sponsorship and participation fees for Soccer for Hope camps, clinics and Inspirational Walks. These events include an annual camp in Southern California and nationwide clinics such as those sponsored by MLS teams and the Hyundai Cup World Soccer Open. During these events children have an opportunity to learn soccer from skilled professionals who share Oliver's commitment to helping needy children. The kids at the camps also are made aware of the challenges that less fortunate children face and leave with the knowledge that they are helping children with life threatening diseases. The funds are used for cancer research and to help children who need treatment that they could otherwise not afford. We believe that everyone comes out of these events a better person with a heightened appreciation of their gift of health.
Soccer for Hope provides more than just funding. It provides a smile for children in the hospital who receive a visit from a soccer star. It provides awareness to the community around how they can help to make children's lives better. It provides healthy athletes with an understanding of how fortunate they are to have their health and the difficulties that other children live with. It even provides soccer equipment to orphans in Africa. It provides hope to children with life threatening diseases. And it provides corporations, MLS teams and other soccer organizations a vehicle to give back to the community through a soccer related activity that benefits everyone involved. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the US and touches more young people's lives than any other sport. It is the perfect vehicle to bring hope to all of our children.
Hyundai is a proud sponsor of various Soccer for Hope events. In 2007, Hyundai will sponsor the Soccer for Hope Camp at the World Cup Center in Mission Viejo, CA from August 13 - 17, 2007. Hyundai also sponsors the Soccer for Hope Inspiration Walk on August 17, 2007as part of the camp. Please visit the Soccer for Hope website at www.soccerforhope for more details on these events.
The Hyundai Soccer World Championships - a five-on-five amateur soccer tournament in which local teams of men ages 18 and older had an opportunity to compete at an international level for the Hyundai Cup title. The tournament is played in support of Soccer for Hope. All the teams participating in the tournament make a donation to Soccer for Hope.
In 2006 Soccer for Hope clinics ran in conjunction with the Hyundai Cup. Almost 1000 kids participated in the 2006 clinic as part of the Hyundai Cup. Celebrity guests from Major League Soccer (MLS) teams and Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) alumni joined Soccer for Hope staff to provide quality training and lots of excitement.
The photo above was take at the National Finals at Disney Wide World of Soccer Complex in Orlando, Florida. The US Champion team competed at the Hyundai Soccer World Championship tournament as part of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
In 2006 Soccer for Hope reached a new level by donating to an organization called Ministry of Hope based in Malawi Africa. They are a community-based response for meeting the physical and spiritual needs of orphaned children providing hope as they minister to them. They are primarily committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. However, they also work with widows, the disabled, and the destitute, by ministering to their physical needs and in the process, helping them find the true and everlasting HOPE. Their current projects include a Crisis Nursery, Feeding Centers, Educational Support, a Widows program and Evangelism & Discipleship. Soccer for Hope was pleased to donate shirts, soccer balls, and other fun giveaways that were sponsored by Hyundai. The children were so thrilled to get some new soccer balls and new gear sent over from America.
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