Nike (RED) press day was Tuesday, and begins the campaign to help save lives through awareness and direct support. Below are just a couple of press releases from Tuesday. From soccer enthused site to People magazine, this was a big event.

http://www.soccerbible.com/news/general/archive/2009/11/30/nike-red-lace-up-save-lives-30-11-09.aspx

http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2009/12/01/bonos-new-red-collaboration-with-nike/

http://www.grassrootsoccer.org/2009/12/01/nike-red-joins-grassroot-soccer-in-the-fight-against-hiv-and-aids/

Where there is sport, there is hope. But hope is not enough to curb the devastation of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Action is required. It is preventable and treatable. And we have an opportunity to help.

And so on the eve of World AIDS Day November 30th, Nike and (RED) have announced a partnership to Lace Up to Save Lives. Together we are leveraging the power of sport to fight HIV/AIDS.

The idea is simple - educate and medicate. It’s critical for people to know the facts behind exposure to the virus and how to prevent it. For those who already have the virus, the difference between life and death is $1 a day. That’s what it costs to provide the medication that turns AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

To raise money for the cause, we’re selling RED shoelaces for $4. One hundred percent of the profits from RED laces will be split equally between The Global Fund which provides medicine for those living with HIV, and football(soccer)-based community initiatives that deliver education around HIV/AIDS prevention.

Nike has already been investing in HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Africa and globally for several years. We support community outreach programs and the Nike Foundation invests in HIV/AIDS and other activity that specifically address the needs of adolescent girls. We’re also heavily involved with initiatives like Grassroot Soccer, a community program in Africa that uses the power of sport to engage young people in football-based programs to deliver knowledge, skill and support to live HIV free.

Football(soccer) will clearly play a big part in Lace Up to Save Lives. It has the ability to unite people all over the world, and we’re leveraging it as we move toward the World Cup in South Africa next summer. Our product and marketing teams are developing very ambitious and compelling ways to energize Lace Up to Save Lives - in stores, online, and in communities.

Founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, (RED) is a simple, ingenious and effective way to improve the human condition in Africa. Through Converse, Nike has been a part of (RED) from the start. Lace Up to Save Lives expands our commitment. Our work with the Nike Foundation will continue to focus on poverty alleviation across the continent by investing in adolescent girls as a powerful source for economic and social change.

SoccerPro.com will be selling the shoe laces starting February 1. We encourage you to contribute to support Nike and (RED) in the fight against AIDS/HIV in Africa

Starting in September, SoccerPro opened the application of their Fall 2009 “Awesomeness” Soccer Scholarship. The guidelines were simple and the scholarship was open to any full time collegiate that was actively involved in soccer (a player, fan, owner of a soccer ball) and effectively implemented awesomeness into their life.

SoccerPro received over 2,500 applications from college students across the United States with fantastic stories of soccer, education, adventure, future dreams and service.

After reading through the applications, SoccerPro finally decided on the recipient, Clara Kienzle from Agnes Scott College in Georgia- Congratulations Clara!

Clara is currently the starting striker for the Agnes Scott women’s team, as a freshman (huge deal), and finished the last game of the season by heading the ball in to win the game 1-0. She is studying International Affairs and is looking to join the Peace Corps after graduating.

Thank you to everyone who applied. SoccerPro is looking to do similar soccer scholarships once a year, maybe every semester.

For more information on SoccerPro’s scholarships, visit the scholarship page or email Lauren at lauren[at]soccerpro.com.

Jared Nozick, an 8th grade student at Robert Frost Middle School in Maryland is working to raise money for Kicks 4 Kenya, a charity program committed to providing soccer equipment to African children through is Bar Mitzvah Service Project.

“Ever since I was a little kid, soccer has been a big part in my life. Soccer has really moved me as a player and person,” says Jared. Fortunately, Jared has been lucky to receive all the necessary equipment to become a dedicated soccer player.

After doing some research, Jared came across Kicks 4 Kenya and realized that he had to do something to help out less fortunate players.

Jared will be donating soccer equipment with all of the money raised for his project. If you would like to help Jared and Kicks 4 Kenya, email lauren [at] soccerpro.com.

The Homeless World Cup started in 2004 with a mission to raise awareness of the homeless population and to get people off of the street and into new jobs, a place they can call home and back with their family.

Since then, the Homeless World Cup has grown to 48 nations across the world. Over 70% of the players leave with jobs, playing semi-professional soccer, reuniting with their families, returning to school and helping to coach youth teams. 100% of them leave with the experience of playing for their country and the memories of over 100,000 fans cheering them on.

Everyone at SoccerPro is excited to work closely with the Homeless World Cup and appreciate our fans, followers and customer support as well! From now until the end of September, you can donate to the Homeless World Cup and receive a Free HWC Tee Shirt. All proceeds from the tee-shirts will go directly to the Homeless World Cup.

You may or may not remember that in 2008 SoccerGrow donated new balls, cones and pumps to CML in Kenya to run a soccer tournament involving several rural communities surrounding Nairobi. It brings us great joy to report that this tournament was a triumph, reaching more than 800 women, men and children in those communities. The impact that our relatively small donation made to those people surprised almost all of us on this side of the Atlantic, and its success is a clear testament to the power of football and its ability to bring people together.

Much praise should go to CML and their organization for not only organizing a top-notch tournament for hundreds of people of all ages, but especially for seeing the big picture. With limited resources, CML is proud to minister to and improve the holistic health of people. They make it a point to not just reap the benefits of playing sport, but they also answer the call to lift up people through fulfilling basic needs, education, raising spiritual awareness, and community development and support.

SoccerGrow is most appreciative of Willam, head of CML, who actually is the one doing all the heavy lifting to make his organization tick and he most deserving of the credit.  He wrote:

We are honored to declare that SoccerGrow has been the sole instrumental partner in facilitating the launching and final success of this program. SoccerGrow donated the soccer balls, field cones and ball pumps for this program.

The honor is ours.

I encourage you to check out the video and read the full report and results of the soccer tournament on his blog, it’s truly meaningful to see the faces of the people involved in this great event.

Many thanks to all of you who donated over the holiday season to directly support orphans and students in Kenya! Your tax-free dollars donated through SoccerGrow, our soccer charity, will be doubled, as promised, by SoccerPro and sent on to Kicks4Kenya which is dedicated to changing the lives of school children and orphans in Kenya through the many lessons of soccer, the world’s game.

But don’t forget that the need is still there! You can still donate to the cause of Kicks4Kenya by going to the donation page at SoccerPro.com

New for the New Year:

Be on the look-out for the new Kicks4Kenya t-shirt, which will be coming soon to SoccerPro.com!

Be the first to find out by signing up for SoccerGrow updates.

Here’s an exciting opportunity: this holiday season, SoccerPro has agreed to match every donation made to Kicks4Kenya! You understand correctly, if you give $1, SoccerPro will give $1!

If you donate now to Kicks4Kenya SoccerPro.com will double your donation, no questions asked, through December 25th, 2008!

This generous offer will only last for a limited time and if you’ve never given to a soccer charity before, now would be the perfect time, because every dollar you give will be matched, and will help send soccer equipment to young people in Kenya!   Read more about our partnership with Kicks4Kenya.

There is no better time to give to SoccerGrow.org.  Simply go to the Kicks4Kenya donation page and follow the instructions.

While you’re at it, check out this 60 second informational video!

soccerpro.com/kicks4kenya-p7401/

All the best to you and yours this holiday season, and all the best footy for you and yours in the new year! Stay updated on all the things going on here at SoccerGrow.

It’s the football that keeps the world together.

Strip away all the corruption of governments, the blindness of racism, the crises of financial systems and it’s good and wholesome things like football that remain. There’s too much bad news poison in the world sometimes to see the simple good that sport can do.

Take for instance the current financial crisis, of which AIG, the Manchester United shirt sponsor, has been a major part. According to the International Herald Tribune… [click to continue...]

Looking up to a 15 year old from Wisconsin is something to be celebrated, right?  Yes, especially if that 15 year old has created a soccer charity project which has impacted over 5,500 people!

In the grand scheme of charitable giving, generational affiliation doesn’t really matter that much, which is why I am so excited to mention a fellow giver who shows that age is no hurdle when it comes to helping people.  What matters is what you’ve done to make a difference and what you’re doing right now.

Soccer has a unique power to heal wounds across barriers of race, class, language, gender, and age.

So we were overjoyed [click to continue...]