PEACE IS THE GOAL
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the problem:
My name is Mitchell and I’m a 19-year-old student/soccer player from Wisconsin. I started Peace Is The Goal as a goodwill initiative in October 2006 when I was 13 years old. This ongoing initiative aims to make the world a better place to live in by spreading the message of peace and giving through “the world’s game”, soccer.
Many kids in the world have little, if anything. They are desperately looking for something positive to do. They love the sport of soccer, but many don’t even have real equipment to play the game. Rocks, plastic bottles or garbage are often used as balls.
vital stats:
people impacted:
13,500people involved:
1why it's important:
It began with a car drive from Milwaukee to Fort Atkinson. During that trip, I detailed to my dad my desire to make a difference in the world.
I developed the concept for Peace Is The Goal, as well as its name. I followed that up by earning the initial seed money for my initiative. I made money by refereeing several soccer games each weekend and providing babysitting services at night. I set up meetings with local sporting goods distributors and brokered deals with them to purchase soccer equipment.
I developed Peace Is The Goal Web sites through great sites such as DoSomething.org. Ever since then, I have found worthy causes and contacted point people at those entities. I pick, pack and ship the equipment and ensure that the supplies make it to their proper destination.
Peace Is The Goal aims to make the world a better place to live by spreading the message of peace and giving through “the world’s game”, soccer. I created Peace Is The Goal to give needy kids soccer equipment (balls, cleats, goalie gloves, shinguards, pumps, storage, uniforms), give them something positive to do, give them hope and give them a smile.
Note: Peace Is The Goal was recently featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. Read the article by clicking on the link: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/preps/34942514.html
the plan of action:
Over the initiative’s first 65 months, I have completed 127 projects which have delivered more than 2,900 pieces of soccer equipment (worth more than $35,000) to orphanages, schools, missions, churches, agencies and individuals that house, shelter, educate and provide direction to kids in 69 countries. These kids live in dire conditions in nations such as Afghanistan, Argentina, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Krygyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Siberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United States.
Peace Is The Goal projects to date include:
November 2006: Institution Universe school in Ouanaminthe, Haiti
Items donated: 36 soccer balls, 6 large soccer ball storage bags, 6 soccer pumps
February 2007: La Vega Christian School in La Vega, the Dominican Republic
Items donated: 6 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer pumps, 1 youth instruction trainer
March 2007: G.O. Ministries and G.O. Ministries Sports Outreach serving in Santiago, the Dominican Republic; Batey Nueve, the Dominican Republic; and Ouanaminthe, Haiti
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 2 soccer pumps
April 2007: Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas project in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
Items donated: 5 soccer balls, 1 soccer pump
April 2007: Maison Fortune Orphanage in Hinche, Haiti
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
May 2007: Ball for All project aiding children in Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump, 2 pairs of soccer cleats
June 2007: Soccer for Life project aiding children in Honduras
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
July 2007: World Vision project aiding children in Africa
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 soccer pump
July 2007: Project aiding children in Ecuador
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 2 soccer pumps
August 2007: Institution Univers school in Ouanaminthe, Haiti
Items donated: 8 soccer balls
August 2007: Guadalupe Preparatory School (independent charter school for impoverished and at-risk youth) in Guadalupe, Arizona
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 1 basketball, 2 playground balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 2 soccer pumps
September 2007: Operation Enduring Hope project aiding children in Afghanistan
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 1 soccer pump
October 2007: Any Soldier project to aid Iraq children and protect U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 1 medium soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
October 2007: Any Soldier project to aid Iraq children and protect U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 1 medium soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
November 2007: Any Soldier project to aid Afghanistan children and protect U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
December 2007: Any Soldier project to aid Iraq children and protect U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer backpack, 1 soccer pump, 3 pairs of used soccer cleats
January 2008: Rancho San Juan Bosco orphanage in Tecate, Mexico
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump, 2 pairs of soccer goalkeeper gloves
February 2008: Jamaica National Children’s Home
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
February 2008: Project aiding orphanage in Vietnam
Items donated: 6 soccer balls, 1 soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
March 2008: Held one-day soccer camp for Yaqui Native American kids in Guadalupe, Arizona
Items donated: 20 soccer ball bags, one soccer ball, one soccer skills DVD, one soccer skills book
April 2008: Oyate Teca project aiding Lakota kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Kyle, S.D.
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
April 2008: Arab mission project aiding Eugemot orphanage in Ghana, Africa
Items donated: 6 soccer balls, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves
May 2008: Any Female Soldier project to help create youth soccer tournament in Serbia
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 3 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 pairs of shinguards, 1 soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
June 2008: Any Soldier project to aid Iraq children and protect U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
June 2008: Project aiding the Blessed Hope Orphanage and Academy in Uganda
Items donated: 13 soccer balls, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer pump
July 2008: Project aiding Outreached Hands of Romania, located in Calarasi, Romania
Items donated: 20 soccer balls, 4 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 4 soccer field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer pumps, 1 soccer training DVD, 1 soccer training book
August 2008: Held soccer day for students of Haiti’s Institution Univers school visiting Fort Atkinson, Wis.
Items donated: 4 soccer balls, 4 soccer ball backpacks, 13 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 4 soccer ball pumps, 34 pairs of soccer cleats, 4 pairs of shinguards, 30 soccer jerseys, 15 soccer shorts
September 2008: Project to help equip soccer clinics for Latin American youth in Charleston, S.C.
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 6 soccer ball backpacks, 3 large soccer ball storage bags, 3 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 pairs of soccer cleats, 2 pairs of shinguards
September 2008: Any Soldier project to help equip sports field in Kosovo
Items donated: 5 soccer balls, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
October 2008: Any Airman project to aid youth in the Philippines
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 4 soccer field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
October 2008: America SCORES project to aid kids in Cleveland
Items donated: 6 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 medium-sized soccer ball storage bag, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 soccer ball pump, 1 soccer training DVD, 1 soccer training book
October 2008: Project assisting the Naivasha Rescue Shelter for orphans and abused children in Naivasha, Kenya
Items donated: 25 soccer balls, 4 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps
October 2008: America SCORES project to aid kids in Dallas
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 8 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 medium-sized soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
November 2008: Soccer for Life project aiding children in Honduras
Items donated: 50 soccer jerseys, 35 pairs of soccer shorts, 4 pairs of soccer socks
December 2008: Any Soldier / U.S. Embassy project aiding children in Colombia
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 3 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps
December 2008: Project to help kids in Italy
Items donated: 3 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball pumps
December 2008: Christmas project to help kids at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
Items donated: 24 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags
January 2009: Project aiding Together We Rise soccer camp for underprivileged children in Chino, California
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 3 soccer ball pumps, 2 large soccer ball storage bags
January 2009: Any Soldier project to aid kids and protect U.S. service personnel in Djibouti
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
February 2009: Project to help create youth soccer club in San Pedro Laguna, the Philippines
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 soccer ball pumps, 2 large soccer ball bags, 2 soccer training videos, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 goalkeeper jerseys, 1 soccer training DVD, 1 soccer training book
February 2009: Project in conjunction with wellness efforts by Heal Africa (U.S. doctors on health mission) in Rwanda
Items donated: 2 soccer balls, 1 soccer ball pump
February 2009: Project working to re-establish organized youth soccer in Iraq through U.S. State Department and U.S. military
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball pumps, 2 large soccer ball bags, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves
February 2009: Project to help kids in Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 2 ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball pump
February 2009: Project to create athletic opportunities for kids at the Grace Home Orphanage in Andra Pradesh, India
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball pumps, 2 ball storage bags
March 2009: Project aiding Outreached Hands of Romania, located in Calarasi, Romania
Items donated: 30 soccer balls, 18 soccer jerseys, 1 goalkeeper jersey, 12 pairs of shinguards, 8 field cones, 6 equipment storage bags, 2 ball pumps, extra pump needles
March 2009: Project aiding Outreached Hands of Romania, located in Calarasi, Romania
Items donated: 27 pairs of soccer cleats, 13 soccer jerseys
April 2009: Soccer camp for Yaqui Native American kids in Guadalupe, Arizona
Items donated: 23 soccer camp medals, 6 trophies, 11 soccer field cones, 4 soccer balls, 1 ball pump
April 2009: Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas project in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
Items donated: 10 soccer balls
May 2009: Community Development Through Sports project in Uganda
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 large equipment storage bags, 2 ball pumps
May 2009: America SCORES project to aid kids in Milwaukee
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps, 1 soccer training toolkit
May 2009: Project to aid children in Namibia
Items donated: 4 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
May 2009: Project to aid orphans in Ethiopia
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer mini-goal kit
June 2009: Project to aid Big Brothers Big Sisters afterschool program in Milwaukee, Wis.
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball pump
June 2009: Project to aid Big Brothers Big Sisters afterschool program in Philadelphia
Items donated: 18 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
July 2009: Any Sailor project to "promote cooperation and hospitality" in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 5 pairs of shinguards, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps
August 2009: Project to help create soccer program in Belize
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 24 soccer jerseys, 18 pairs of shorts, 18 pairs of cleats, 16 field cones, 12 pairs of soccer socks, 10 pairs of shinguards, 3 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 3 pumps, 2 large soccer ball storage bags
August 2009: G.O. Ministries project to help kids in the Dominican Republic
Items donated: 13 soccer balls, 8 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps
August 2009: World Hope project to aid kids along the Amazon River Basin in Brazil
Items donated: 22 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps
August 2009: Project to help new soccer program for Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbus, Ohio
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 8 field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
September 2009: Any Soldier project to help kids and create school sports programs in Iraq
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 4 soccer ball backpacks, 2 soccer ball pumps
October 2009: Project to create sports programs for HIV-positive children at schools in Botswana
Items donated: 22 soccer balls, 6 large soccer ball storage bags, 5 soccer ball pumps
October 2009: Project to help Tulane University mission trip to orphanages and schools in Honduras
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
November 2009: America SCORES project to aid kids in Milwaukee
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 3 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves
November 2009: Orphan Helpers project to aid orphanages in El Salvador
Items donated: 20 soccer balls, 8 soccer field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps, 2 coaches whistles, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves
December 2009: First United Methodist Church Christmas mission project to benefit kids in Kosovo
Items donated: 44 soccer balls, 3 large soccer ball storage bags, 3 soccer ball pumps
December 2009: Project to benefit Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin
Items donated: 30 soccer T-shirt jerseys, 2 soccer hats
January 2010: Soccer for Life Project to benefit kids in Honduras
Items donated: 40 soccer jerseys, 39 pairs of soccer pairs, 32 pairs of soccer socks, 26 pairs of cleats, 2 pairs of goalkeeper pants
January 2010: Project to benefit orphans in Liberia
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 7 soccer ball backpacks, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball pump
February 2010: Project to help kids in Kinship of Tomahawk program in Tomahawk, Wis.
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball pump
February 2010: Project aiding Amigos de Futbol project in Argentina
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 7 pairs of shinguards, 2 large soccer ball bags, 1 soccer ball pump
March 2010: Project aiding South African children through the Amy Biehl Foundation
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball bag, 1 soccer ball pump
March 2010: Project aiding Outreached Hands of Romania, located in Calarasi, Romania
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 12 pairs of soccer cleats, 1 ball pump, 1 large equipment storage bag
April 2010: Project aiding afterschool program at Yellowstone Academy for impoverished youth in Houston
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball bag, 1 soccer ball pump
April 2010: Columbus Global Village Team project in Botswana
Items donated: 18 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball pumps, 2 large soccer ball bags
May 2010: Project to aid kids in Samoa through Mission of Hope Ministries
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 1 soccer ball pump, 1 large soccer ball bag
June 2010: Project to aid Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jefferson County (Wisconsin)
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 soccer ball pump, 1 large soccer ball bag
July 2010: Outstretched Hands of Romania ministry in Romania
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 10 practice pinneys, 8 field cones, 2 training guidebooks, 2 soccer ball pumps, 1 large soccer ball storage bag
July 2010: MDPC Water Ministry in Indonesia
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball pump
August 2010: Project to help build youth soccer programs in Iraq
Items donated: 13 soccer balls, 8 field cones, 8 pairs of shinguards, 7 pairs of soccer cleats, 4 pairs of soccer socks, 3 training guidebooks, 2 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 2 soccer ball pumps, 1 large soccer ball storage bag
September 2010: Project to assist orphanage in Djibouti
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump, 1 goal net
September 2010: Project to assist youth soccer league in Ethiopia
Items donated: 16 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 soccer ball pumps, 1 coach whistle
October 2010: Project to assist Blue Santa program in Victoria, Texas
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 8 soccer ball backpacks, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 soccer ball pump
October 2010: Samaritan's Purse International Relief
Items donated: 2 soccer balls
October 2010: Project to help Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 ball pump
October 2010: Project to help Illinois Rotary Club trip to Nigeria
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 4 soccer ball backpacks, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 ball pumps
November 2010: Project to support schools in East Timor
Items donated: 6 soccer balls, 4 field ones, 3 soccer ball backpacks, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
November 2010: Project to support school for homeless children (Children First Academy) in Tempe, Arizona
Items donated: 9 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
November 2010: Project to aid Servant Leadership International trip to Zimbabwe
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 5 field cones, 4 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
December 2010: Christmas project to aid Fort Atkinson Food Pantry
Items donated: 6 soccer balls
December 2010: Christmas project to support school for homeless children (Children First Academy) in Tempe, Arizona
Items donated: 4 soccer balls
December 2010: Project to support youth soccer program in Moldova
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball bags, 1 ball pump
December 2010: Project to help Rancho San Juan Bosco orphanage in Tecate, Mexico
Items donated: 9 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
December 2010: Project to assist in U.S. Army goodwill activities with kids in Ethiopia
Items donated: 18 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 ball pump
December 2010: Project to help children in Myanmar
Items donated: 23 soccer shirts, 10 coaches’ instruction books, 8 soccer balls, 7 pairs of cleats, 6 pairs of shinguards, 4 coaches’ clipboards, 4 pairs of soccer socks, 3 large storage bags, 1 soccer goal, 1 extra goal net, 1 coaches’ stopwatch, 1 ball pump
December 2010: Project to help orphans in the Ukraine
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 2 soccer ball backpacks, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump, 1 coach/instructor whistle
January 2011: Project to help orphans in Udon Thani, Thailand
Items donated: 15 soccer balls, 7 field cones, 3 decks of soccer ball playing cards, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 1 soccer ball backpack, 1 ball pump
January 2011: Project to help orphans in Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk, Siberia
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 ball pump
January 2011: Project to help develop youth soccer programs in Cameroon
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 8 field cones, 6 pairs of shinguards, 3 pairs of soccer cleats, 3 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 coaches’ clipboards, 2 coaches’ skills trainer books, 1 kicking training toolkit, 1 ball pump
February 2011: Project to help orphans in Chad
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 4 medium-sized storage bags, 1 ball pump, 1 instructor/referee stopwatch, 1 instructor/referee whistle
February 2011: Project to aid children at the No More Tears Orphanage in Kamakwie, Sierra Leone
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 6 player jerseys, 5 soccer field cones, 3 medium-sized storage bags, 1 portable soccer goal, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
February 2011: Project to aid children at the Nazareti Center in Ngara, Tanzania
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 10 player pinneys, 4 soccer field cones, 3 medium-sized storage bags, 1 player instruction toolkit, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
February 2011: Project to aid orphan children in Slobodskoy, Russia
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 8 soccer field cones, 7 pairs of cleats, 5 player pinneys, 4 large soccer ball storage bag, 2 player instruction toolkits, 2 soccer ball backpacks, 1 ball pump, 1 pair of shinguards
March 2011: Project to aid homeless youth soccer team in Minneapolis
Items donated: 14 soccer balls, 4 soccer field cones, 3 soccer ball backpacks, 2 ball pumps, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 large ball storage bag
March 2011: Project to assist school in Cambodia
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 4 soccer field cones, 2 large ball storage bags, 1 ball pump
May 2011: Project to assist school in Peru
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves
May 2011: Any Sailor project to aid children and protect U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan
Items donated: 11 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball backpacks, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
May 2011: Project to assist orphans affected by earthquake and tsunami in Japan
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball backpacks, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
May 2011: Project to assist schools in Zambia (Kabulonga, Kafue, Chongwe and Chingola)
Items donated: 10 soccer balls, 3 pairs of shinguards, 3 pairs of soccer socks, 2 ball pumps, 2 coaches’ instruction books, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves
May 2011: Project to assist children in Mexico
Items donated: 14 pairs of soccer cleats
May 2011: Project to assist children in Fort Atkinson, Wis.
Items donated: 8 pairs of soccer cleats
May 2011: Project to assist Glad Tidings school in Malawi
Items donated: 12 soccer balls, 2 ball pumps, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 goalkeeper jersey
June 2011: Any Airman project to help orphans and maintain peace in Krygyzstan
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump, 1 coach/referee stopwatch
July 2011: Reaching the Hungry project to help children in China
Items donated: 18 soccer jerseys, 6 pairs of soccer shorts, 4 soccer balls, 2 goalkeeper tops
July 2011: Project to assist children in Fort Atkinson, Wis.
Items donated: 16 soccer jerseys
August 2011: Project to assist kids at the Ulan orphanage in Taraz, Kazakhstan
Items donated: 9 soccer balls, 4 field cones, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
August 2011: Project to assist children through Health Initiative Abroad in Amatongas, Mozambique
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball storage bags, 2 skills trainer books, 1 soccer ball backpack, 1 coach/instructor clipboard, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 ball pump
September 2011: Project to assist kids in San Jose, Costa Rica, through Uno Por Uno Costa Rica
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 skills trainer book, 1 ball pump
September 2011: Project to assist needy kids in Portugal
Items donated: 10 pairs of soccer cleats
September 2011: Project to assist needy children in Swaziland, through Beyond The Game
Items donated: 13 soccer balls, 2 large soccer ball bags, 1 ball pump, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 goalkeeper jersey
October 2011: Project to assist children in Cuba
Items donated: 4 soccer balls
October 2011: Hand in Hand project to assist children in Belarus
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 2 soccer ball backpacks, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
November 2011: Project to assist children in Burkina Faso
Items donated: 9 soccer balls, 2 coach/instructor clipboards, 2 large ball storage bags, 1 ball pump, 1 training toolkit
December 2011: Project to assist children in Nepal
Items donated: 7 soccer balls, 4 pairs of shinguards, 3 field cones, 1 referee/coach stopwatch, 1 large ball storage bag, 1 pair of goalkeeper gloves, 1 ball pump
December 2011: Project to help kids through Outstretched Hands of Romania ministry in Romania
Items donated: 29 pairs of soccer cleats, 12 pairs of shinguards, 12 pairs of soccer socks, 1 soccer skills DVD, 1 coach/referee stopwatch
January 2012: Project to help kids in Sudan through Balls Without Borders
Items donated: 8 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump, 1 soccer skills trainer, 1 coach/instructor clipboard
February 2012: Project to help kids in Sri Lanka
Items donated: 9 soccer balls, 1 large soccer ball storage bag, 1 ball pump
My initiative and drive have led to some pretty aggressive goals. I am driven to expand this project in 2012 and beyond. I hope that my gifts create a link between youth in America and in other nations, and serve as a model that stresses the importance of doing good works. Anyone, even a kid from a small town in Wisconsin, can create change and foster an environment of understanding.
how you can get involved:
I have worked hard to advance PITG from a good idea to an initiative that is tangibly helping others. If you would like to contribute soccer equipment or funds to this cause, please let me know I am seeking donations of equipment or funds in order to help expand the reach of my foundation. Equipment can be new or gently used soccer balls, soccer cleats, jerseys, goalkeeper gloves or any other soccer items. Contact me (peaceisthegoal10@hotmail.com) to arrange a shipment.
Also, my little brother, Evan, just started a goodwill initiative called Step Up To The Plate. Check out his DoSomething Web site at www.dosomething.org/project/step-up-to-the-plate
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Comments
Mitchell,
I really admire your idea and initiative. After reading about your project I have suggested to our soccer club in upstate New York, that we collect our past year's uniforms (jerseys and shorts) and offer them to your group. Would you be interested? Our club is the Niskayuna Soccer Club www.niskayunasoccerclub.com with over 300 kids playing travel soccer. Each year we are provided with new professional jerseys and shorts that are only used one season. The donation at our club will be voluntary, so I don't know how many we'll end up with, but I wanted to contact you to see what you think. My email address is emelby@nycap.rr.com. Thanks!
Elsa Melby
Thank you to the Niskayuna Soccer Club for shipping me several boxes of soccer jerseys and shorts. These will be sent to help develop soccer programs in various parts of the world.
hay my name is jessica i whould love to help u out if u help my thing out its call teen pergnancy is not cute
I think sports are the oldest and most effective ways to mediate conflicts. This project has a lot of potential.
Awesome idea! I love the idea of people gathering around soccer, which rocks! Keep up the good work. I love what you're doing!
Sweet, I say we should team up!
Thank you for your great work done to help deprive people in football activities.
We are charity voluntary organization from Ghana called volunteers for amelioration of rural areas(VARA) www.varas.org Ghana.Our main aim is to improve deprived rural communities through education,health,physical activities for instance football games.
Also we organize football activities for orphans for them to feel happy as well as exercise their body both mental and physical.
We therefore seek your help to get us footballs,jerseys,boots.goalkeeper gloves etc.
This will help us organize the football game.
Thanks and hope to hear from you.
The Team
www.varas.org
Special thanks go out to Kevin Carroll, who has been a special mentor to me and Peace Is The Goal. Kevin is the author of the "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball" book series. I recommend these books to all kids who are looking to use sports to create social change.
wow. this is awesome! great job man. I am also from WI, and really want to make a difference in our world. This really inspires me to push myself!
Special thanks to Mr. John Assadi for helping support Peace Is The Goal! Your assistance helps me to expand the foundation's message and reach. You rock!
so i am totally into this. love it.
how do you decide where to send the stuff? how do you pick?
and are you going to do anythign special around the world cup next year?
Thanks for the comment. I select entities for projects based on several criteria, but the main ones are need and the ability to actually get packages to the school/orphanage/etc. I find worthy groups by searching on Google, exploring links sent by people and through word of mouth. I try to complete at least one major project per month. I am also planning several in-person activities (soccer camps) for 2009.
Do you have a DoSomething project? If so, I'd like to hear about it.
This article: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1245184849990&pagename=JPost%...
reminded me of your project -- thought I would pass it along. Keep up the great work!
This is an amazing idea. I am looking for a way to send supplies to needy children and was wondering how you found out where to send the items. You are truly an inspiration.
SPECIAL THANKS GO TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACH, JOHN VON KLOPP. He is promoting Peace Is The Goal at his upcoming soccer camps and asking campers to bring in soccer equipment to go to my cause. You can check out Coach Von Klopp's camp work at www.soaringsoccer.com.
great idea michael. i recently saw a story on espn about a foundation that was doing a similar sort of project. the founders of the charity had a son who died in iraq who loved soccer. in honor of their son, the parents collected thousands of soccer balls to send to young kids near bagdhad and it really has made a difference in those kids' lives
This is awesome! Keep up the work. You've inspired me... I direct a 5K road race to raise money for a village in Africa. You've shown that things that start out small can grow to be huge! Good luck with everything!
Mitch Arnold (creator of the Peace Is The Goal foundation) is a finalist for People Magazine's All-Stars Among Us program honoring community service leaders in America. Please vote for him. Visit www.peopleallstars.com, click on the Milwaukee Brewers link and then place your vote for Mitch. Vote early and often. You can vote as many times as you would like. Simply refresh the page and vote. Thanks! And, pass it on!
Mitch Arnold (creator of the Peace Is The Goal foundation) is a finalist for People Magazine's All-Stars Among Us program honoring community service leaders in America. Please vote for him. Visit www.peopleallstars.com, click on the Milwaukee Brewers link and then place your vote for Mitch. Vote early and often. You can vote as many times as you would like. Simply refresh the page and vote. Thanks! And, pass it on!
This is amazing![: You're really helping. :D
This is truly the inspiration for me, I am in love with soccer too, and have been thinking of doing something like you do. Do you mind if I will use some of your ideas and plans to do the quite same thing in my country and neighbor countries. I'm from Thailand. and the kids and people in the countries are quite poor. I believe that the sports equipments and jerseys will make them really happy.
The Youth to Peace is the Goal!,
My name is Cory Ley and I would really like to network, help expand your idea and to give you some insight about our "Vision" for our company. My cousin and I started a company called The Youth LLC and we ARE going to impact 19,000+ Youth in Central Minnesota, not including nationally and internationally with FB, dosomething.org, Cafepress and our upcoming Youth Forum/Blog. "From BMX, Skateboarding, Inline, Music, to Art, Leadership and Entrepreneurship." Check us out on YouTube/Vimeo/Facebook and VOTE for The Youth @ PepsiRefresh.com in Dec! Click here to check out the Youth!
With much thanks and gratitude,
C. Ley
Youth LLC
Mitch, I am doing a Project on you in my English class and was wondering if I could ask you some quetions.
Hey Mitchell!
Wow, amazing stuff you are doing!
We have just started a soccer project in the slums of Mombasa, Kenya. Right now the project is just a baby but it is growing in huge number. The need is incredible. Our goal is bring young men to the pitch and out of the streets where they fall into drugs, drinking, careless sex, gangs, theft, etc. Slowly, we are putting them into schools and giving them proper training to provide for themselves. Soccer is just a vehicle for empowerment.
Anyways, we are always looking for equipment. Please check out our blog www.rehmaboys.com and let me know what you think!
Thanks, Many blessings on all your hardwork!
Mitchell you are doing good recommended job.
I though we are like same age wants to emulate you.
we are in KENYA,kibera slums Nairobi..The largest slum in the World.Some of the slum dwellers survive on meal a day.
We use soccer to unite the youths and kids around.We use it to make them busy and also to realise their potential and abilities,even talents.
We use soccer to reach the community by providing clean ups(garbage collection) around our hood...we also educate the youth on how to live to see a better tomorrow...like they should not indulge in drugs,theft,rape and other bad morals.
I can say soccer has been doing all this successfully as for the past 1 year and a half i have managed to win 27 youths but i am sure if we get more support we can do great more work which will bring a positive impact to our society.
http://www.tagged.com/tito_academy_group
This is awesome, and by far my favorite project on DoSomething.
Wow!
How do you find all the orphanages and schools?