Dear Friend:

I am writing to share some exciting information about the progress that we are making in the fight against AIDS in Africa. As we prepare to enter our sixth year of operation, I am extremely excited about our growing impact and the upcoming opportunities for GRS to further prevent the spread of this deadly disease.

Through your contribution and the support of many other individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors, Grassroot Soccer is proud to report the following accomplishments:

• Since 2003, over 40,000 youth have graduated from the GRS program having participated in up to nineteen different interactive group activities designed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of social support related to HIV/AIDS. Each month, hundreds of additional youth participate in this curriculum and our reach into new communities continues to expand considerably.
• GRS operates flagship sites in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, with the GRS curriculum also being offered through partnerships in Liberia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, and Lesotho. The flexibility of GRS’ business model allows for either directly delivering the curriculum through our own staff or for training staff in local organizations ( i.e. schools) to deliver the program themselves with GRS staff offering ongoing support and assistance.
• In 2006, a study of the GRS curriculum was conducted and published in a peer-reviewed medical journal through a generous grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This publication, as well as a positive prior program evaluation by the Children’s Health Council, has confirmed the quality and credibility of our work and has contributed to securing funding for growth from a number of local and U.S.-based sources.
• Twelve recent college graduates are currently participating in the third successful year of our Field Intern program. This program places interested volunteers, most of whom have played college-level soccer, in a flagship location for 9-12 months to provide a wide range of tasks on behalf of the organization. Much of the successful growth of operations has been as a result of these enthusiastic and committed young people and their partnership with our outstanding African-based staff.

As Grassroot Soccer enters its next phase of evolution, we are very excited about planned improvements to organizational infrastructure, curriculum evaluation , and partnership development. Furthermore, as soccer enthusiasts across the continents begin preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Grassroot Soccer is seeking to leverage this forum to give global voice to our work. Please consider supporting us again at this time as we are enormously grateful for and in need of your generosity; $100 graduates 4 kids from the program! Please mail your contribution to: Grassroot Soccer, 2456 Christian Street, Suite 102, White River Junction, VT 05001, or, if you prefer, donate online at www.grassrootsoccer.org.

Many thanks for your interest and support in preventing the spread of AIDS through the power of soccer.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Clark, M.D.
Founder and CEO, Grassroot Soccer

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 2nd, 2007 at 3:59 pm .