Soccer Players Kick It To Malaria

Wendy Cohen August 15, 2008 | 5:26 pm EST

Futbol Club Barcelona, Malaria No More and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) launched a nationwide fundraising effort to fight malaria in Africa. Malaria is the number one killer of African children and takes one life every 30 seconds more than one million kids every year. This initiative is simple: American kids will play soccer so that African kids can be healthy enough to play.

Futbol Club Barcelona has a world class roster of soccer players including France’s Thierry Henry, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Mexico’s Rafael Marquez. Since 2006, the team’s “More Than A Club philosophy has pursued a number philanthropic endeavors: FC Barcelona donated its title sponsorship to UNICEF by putting the international aid organization’s logo on the front of their jerseys. By giving up more than $20 million each year in potential revenue from that placement. they in turn donated $2 million to UNICEF annually. The team also operates health and education centers in five African countries.

takepart with Kick It To Malaria