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Underprivileged children around the world will be receiving much-needed sports equipment, thanks to a new initiative spearheaded by the National Alliance For Youth Sports.
The Global Gear Drive was created by the Alliance to collect new and used youth sports equipment that will be distributed to children in poverty-stricken regions of the world.
"We are looking forward to working with agencies worldwide that are interested in lending a hand by donating both new and used sports equipment," said Fred Engh, founder and president of the Alliance. "By working together we can put soccer balls and basketballs and other sports equipment in the hands of youngsters and make a tremendous difference in their lives."
Initially, the Global Gear Drive will focus on obtaining soccer, basketball and baseball equipment for children in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, although useable equipment for any sports will be accepted and distributed.
Sports-related products like stopwatches and flip scoreboards, for example, will also be accepted, as well as cash gifts that will be used to purchase new equipment and pay for shipping costs.
The Town of Hamburg Recreation in New York helped kick off the Global Gear Drive by donating used softballs, baseballs, soccer balls, basketballs, catcher's masks and Whiffle balls and bats that are earmarked for programs in Dominica, which is located in the Eastern Caribbean.
"It's a great feeling," said Marty Denecke, the Town of Hamburg's director of recreation. "We're looking forward to the kids getting the equipment. The people in our town are very happy with the decision that we have made."
Staff at the Town of Hamburg heard about the Alliance's efforts to assist poverty-ridden Dominica, and it just happened to be at a time when they were looking to clear out some of their used equipment to create more office space.
"It's equipment that we aren't using anymore, but it will be much appreciated in another part of the world," Denecke said. "I've asked the staff to go through their programs and decide what other items can be spared, too."
For information on donating equipment to the Alliance for distribution around the world contact Kara Hartwell, Program Assistant for International Development, at (800) 729-2057; or via email at globalgear@nays.org.
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| Last Modified: 2/29/2008 2:42 PM |
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