NYPDSOCCER.COM: My Site News: Colombia Trip "Soccer For Kids-Breaking Frontiers"
Sunday, September 13Colombia Trip "Soccer For Kids-Breaking Frontiers"
NY RED BULLS AND THE NYPD SOCCER TEAM TRAVELED ON A HUMANITARIAN MISSION TO COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA MAY 20-27
"SOCCER FOR KIDS – BREAKING FRONTIERS”
Under the “Soccer for Kids - Breaking Frontiers" program, implemented by the New York Red Bulls in conjunction with the New York City Police Department's Soccer Team, a delegation from both entities traveled to Colombia from May 20-27 and held several soccer clinics in different cities bringing underprivileged school children, 300 soccer balls and over 1,000 Red Bulls t-shirts, Police Athletic League T-shirts, cleats, shinguards, Goal keeper Gloves, hundreds of coloring books, crayons and other soccer apparel.
Through this delegation of goodwill, the movement’s goal was to send a positive message that reflected the way in which the sport of soccer can help individuals achieve a better standard of living, showing that nothing is impossible with the joint efforts of both countries.
This trip took place in the cities of Pereira, Manizales, Armenia and Santa Rosa where over 2,000 kids were visited. In Manizales, the delegation visited the schools, Fe y Alegria, José María Vargas Vila and Santa Clara. In Armenia, the group conducted a clinic prior to the friendly with the Armenia Police Force. The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the school, Pedro José Rivera, In Santa Rosa, the alma mater of Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
The NYPD Soccer Team took part in several friendly matches to establish closer ties with their Colombian counterparts, who have received the program with great enthusiasm and worked hard to ensure that their campaign was successful. The NYPD Finest Soccer Team traveled to the Colombian cities of Manizales, Armenia and Pereira where they played three matches against host police departments, recording a record of 1 win (4-0), 1 loss (2-1), and 1 tie (1-1).
Several members of the team that included Lt Ron Mejia, Det. Donato Romano, PO Marco Alzate, (Cali) PO Jorge Bedoya, (Medellin) along with the NY Red Bulls, received the key of the city of Manizales from Mayor Juan Manuel Llano Uribe, at a packed ceremony held at his office in Downtown Manizales. The team also received a proclamation and "Shield of Honor" from the Commander of the Police, Colonel John Jaime Ospina Loaiza, thanking them for their humanitarian efforts in Colombia. Also on hand to praise the group from New York was the Governor of the Department of Caldas, Pilar Lours, who officially appointed them the Guest of Honor of the Department of Caldas.
"We are honored to have our department chosen for these clinics and to receive the donations," Lours said. "The children who benefited from this effort you are making will remember these moments for a long time."
The NYPD Finest Soccer Team was rewarded with great satisfaction and affection from the children and the school's staff, who were so gracious for the visits and the gifts. The group was treated to folk dances and songs performed by the children and traditional dishes prppared by the staff at every school they visited
Our goal is to continue to visit countries in South and Central America and around the globe, allowing us to be in contact with children, and hope that these modest donations can be a message that would bring smiles to their faces, and become something very positive in their lives. All of the members of the NYPD Soccer Team use their own funds and vacation time to travel on these trips and it is all worth it just to see a kid smile and shake your hand thanking you for the visit. The trip is very rewarding mentally and spiritually knowing the you can make a difference in a kids life, even if its for a moment.
Last year the team performed a similar trip in Guayaquil, Ecuador and are already planning a 2010 trip to Peru, El Salvador or Argentina.
To See Pics visit:
Ecuador:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwfQZmzUyp4
Colombia:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ron.nypdsoccer/ColombiaTour2009?feat=directlink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFKhUao9HSs
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/pr_28_080509.html