“There are many Calcuttas in the world,” said Mother Teresa. “Find your Calcutta.” This is one of the many great lessons we can take from Mother Teresa. It’s a call on all of us to find, and pursue, a service we are each passionate about.
Rob Shields definitely found his Calcutta. Perhaps it’s ironic that this came after spending eight months as the athletic director at Mother Teresa’s HIV/AIDS orphanage in Ethopia. That experience working with 500 orphans was the catalyst for Shields’ Sports That Serve. The organization which launched in fall of 2008, aims to create an avenue of athletics to help meet the needs of orphan children in Ethopia, as well underserved children in the U.S. Get all the group’s info at www.sportsthatserve.org.
Oxfam International, an NGO from three continents working worldwide to fight poverty and injustice, has some incentive to watch Wimbledon this year … and cheer for Roger Federer. Furthermore, the organization wins if Andy Roddick can win 10 grand slam singles titles before 2020.
Oxfam was left with the outstanding wagers placed by Nicholas Newlife, who died in February and left his estate – including the outstanding sports wagers – to the humanitarian organization. In addition to the Federer and Roddick wagers, there were other undisclosed by the UK’s Mirror. But the Mirror’s Euan Stretch noted that “if they all win, Oxfam said the cash could provide 350,000 people with safe water.”
NASCAR driver Mike Skinner is hosting his 4th Annual Toyota Skinner Round Up for Charity this Thursday and Friday in Daytona. The two day event kicks off with a Hoe Dash Bash on Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. Then on Friday, the party heads to Spruce Creek Country Club for a charity golf tournament. Isn’t charity great? How else can you throw an event touting a hoe down and golf?
In its first three years, the event has raised over $500,000 for various Volusia County charities. This year’s charities include Council on Aging, Greyhound Pets of America, Halifax Health Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank and Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare. Skinner usually brings along some of his friends to help out. This year, celebrities who will be participating include Nashville recording artist Stacy Mitchhart and American Idol’s Bo Bice. NASCAR stars Michael Waltrip, Ron Hornaday, Tommy Baldwin, Rick Crawford, and Steve Park will also be on hand, as will WSOP pro Tristan Wade.
In an effort to raised some money for his newly-formed Tim Tebow Foundation, former Gators standout Tim Tebow was back in Jacksonville this weekend in what was billed as his first ever public signing. A porition of the proceeds were going to the foundation. I hope it was a good portion, too. Fans shelled out $75 for a photograph with the NFL prospect. Yes, that’s just for a photograph. You want an autograph? That ran for $160.
Of course, the Florida Times-Union was there to cover the event, and Michael Dirocco was able to grab a quote from Tebow.
Tebow: “It’s an honor to have people want to want you and want to have your autograph and want to be around you,” Tebow said. “That’s special to have an opportunity to sign for people, but it’s more special to be able to do things like we’re doing and being able to really just brighten kids’ days in really their darkest hour of need, which is a lot of what my foundation is about. … I’m just so excited that I have the opportunity to do this and just make a difference in kids’ lives.”
Quote of the Day: “I like to be in the top 10 because I’m afraid the signature gets a little worse as you get to No. 300″ -Tebow fan Lupe Reyes, who arrived over six hours before the signing began (Michael Dirocco, Florida Times-Union, 3/7).
Thanks to the Britsh Olympic Association, MoreSports, a Vancouver non-profit that organizes sports programs for disadvantaged inner-city youth, scored gold of their own during this year’s Winter Games. The Vancouver Sun’s Jeff Lee reported that the Brits donated “everything from flat-screen televisions to bar fridges to irons and chairs” to MoreSports.
British Olympic Association CEO Andy Hunt issued a statement saying, “As an organization responsible for the development of the Olympic Movement, it is particularly rewarding to be able to support a project such as MoreSports, which aims to spread the Olympic spirit through sport, developing mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. It’s great to give something back to the people of Vancouver after staging such a superb Games.”
The donation of about 500 items included 28 three-week-old flat-screen TVs, 25 bar fridges, 42 irons, chairs, office furniture, printers, scanners, and other items. Woldring noted that “some of the donated material will be kept but most will be auctioned off” (Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun, 3/6).
The October NASCAR weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway has had a touch of pink for years. The primetime event is a perfect opportunity for teams, drivers and sponsors to show their support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Tomorrow night’s Sprint Cup Series race will have Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler and Bill Elliott wheel pink-themed cars. During tonight’s Nationwide Series race, the entire Braun Racing stable of three cars will be pinked out. The fans can even get in on the cause with tomorrow morning’s Track Walk.
The Pink M&M: M&M’s, which has a history of partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has once again taken that partnership to the racetrack. During tomorrow night’s Sprint Cup Series NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 M&M’s Toyota of Kyle Busch will feature a nice pink paint scheme (M&M’s).
NAPA Goes Pink: Michael Waltrip’s No. 55 NAPA Toyota will sport a touch of pink during the Saturday’s event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Waltrip’s sponsor, NAPA, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have teamed up to raise $250,000 for the important cause. During the month of October, consumers who spend $25 or more at participating NAPA Auto Parts Stores or NAPA AutoCare Centers will receive a free NAPA/Susan G. Komen for the Cure travel mug (Michael Waltrip Racing). [Read more…]
20 Centres for 2010
The BBC reported that
a major chartiy concert has been announced to kick off the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The event will take place June 10 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.
The show is being staged by Kevin Wall, who produced the Live 8 and Live Earth events. The concert will be broadcast around the world with the line-up and ticket details to be announced in January. The BBC added that there are “rumours that the Spice Girls would re-unite one last time for the concert.”
The concert will raise money for the World Cup’s official charity, 20 Centres for 2010. The organization hopes to build twenty Football for Hope Centres for public health, education and football across Africa (BBC News, 10/16).
The NHLPA and CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada are teaming up to donate hockey equipment to grassroots programs around the world.
The NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund is celebrating its 10th anniversary by going on a 10-country tour in 10 days, donating around $125,000 US worth of equipment to cities across the globe.
HNIC is sending a film crew to document the entire trip, and will air a one-hour special on the tour, which will be aired in December.
“This program is truly impressive,” HNIC analyst analyst P.J. Stock said. “And our unique broadcast will showcase the generosity that NHL players have exhibited for the past decade.” [Read more…]
There are several stories out of the NBA this week. The lead is a Kings video (to the right) featuring players spending time in the community. Pistons G Will Bynum took part in an autism walk, the Cavs kicked off their “Read to Achieve” program, and the Bulls continue donating tickets to the USO.
Kings Sacramento Kings players Kevin Martin, Sergio Rodriguez, Beno Udrih, Melvin Ely, and Kenny Thomas went around Sacramento area hot spots to meet fans. Their day was capture in video (Sacramento Kings).
Pistons: Detroit Pistons G Will Bynum showed up early for the October 11 Hawks game at The Palace of Auburn Hills to address 4,500 participants at the “Walk Now for Autism Speaks” event. The fundraiser generated $224,000 for Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy group, and also helped families affected by autism find support and educational resources.
“Participating in an event like this helps me stay grounded,” said Bynum. “As professional athletes, we are blessed to be here and to be able to give inspiration to people. Helping them move forward is what it’s all about.” [Read more…]
After 42 years, the PGA Tour stop in Milwaukee will come to end. The Milwaukee Golf Charities board of directors has voted to dissolve the organization that ran the annual event after sponsor U.S. Bank declined to pick up a three-year option.
The charity component is one of the greatest appeals to a PGA Tour stop. In 2009, the Milwaukee event was able to contribute $520,000 to area charities (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 10/15).
In Charlotte: The 2009 Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte garnered $1.6 million in donations to area organizations, including $800,000 to Teach For America in Charlotte, $150,000 to Levine Children’s Hospital and $100,000 to The First Tee of Charlotte. In the past seven years, the event has contributed upwards of $11 million and assisted in providing awareness for various organizations.
Teach For America has been the tournament’s primary charitable beneficiary since 2003. During that time, the organization has received more than $7 million from tournament proceeds to support its national efforts to expand educational opportunity. [Read more…]
Kansas Royals LF David DeJesus is participating in the 2009 Kansas City Ability Day on Sunday. The third annual event helps disabled persons and their families to stay active and live well.
DeJesus, who participated with the many youngsters for the first time last year, recently caught up with MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel.
“They were playing softball, and I was the pitcher, and they liked seeing if they could hit against me,” DeJesus told Kaegel. “It was fun, seeing the smiles on their faces and just having them run around and having a good time. I think that’s the most important thing. Maybe their dream was to be a baseball player and now they’re playing against and getting hits off a professional baseball player, so that’s just one of those things in their lives that they can say they’ve done.” [Read more…]
The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, has agreed to play with some of his Caribbean cricket heroes in a 15-over charity tournament that begins on Sunday at Discovery Bay in Jamaica.
“I grew up watching cricketers like Courtney Walsh take the West Indies to new heights and I am a big admirer of Chris Gayle for his power batting and calm attitude; he is my favorite player right now,” said Bolt. “So, to have the chance to play with these guys is a dream come true for me.”
Bolt will join the likes of West Indies greats Walsh, Richie Richardson and Curtley Ambrose and current stars Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor in the four-match, one-day invitation event (AP, 10/15).
World champion boxer Joe Calzaghe, rugby star Craig Quinnell and track athlete Jamie Baulch have all stepped up to support the anti-bullying charity Beatbullying.
Calzaghe, who retired earlier this year, “is said to have been instrumental in setting up a Welsh arm of the charity,” according to the BBC.
“Having been through bullying myself I know just how devastating an effect it can have on any child or teenager,” Calzaghe told the BBC. “It’s that personal experience which makes me truly passionate about the work Bullybeating does in schools and communities.” [Read more…]
The second annual Official Jail & Bail charity event is set for this Wednesday in Davidson, N.C. The event, which features NASCAR celebrities being “locked up” and having to raise their bail, benefits the Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund.
NASCAR celebrities expected to participate include: AJ Allmendinger, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jason Leffler, Juan Pablo Montoya, David Stremme, Wendy Venturini, Scott Speed, Brian Vickers, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne, Reed Sorenson and Marcos Ambrose. In addition, country music star Rodney Atkins will be the headline performer.
Brienne Davis, a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series official, died tragically at the age of 28. The Brienne Davis Scholarship Fund was created to encourage women to seek a career in the automotive industry and is intended to provide an opportunity for a qualified female student who wishes to attend one of 12 Universal Technical Institute campuses across the U.S. The event is supported by Best Buy and Insignia.
