Little Feet Partners with Newberry College Women's Soccer Team

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NEWBERRY, S.C. – Newberry women's soccer coach Juan Pablo Favero announced this week that the Lady Indians Soccer program will be partnering with Little Feet, an organization which sends soccer balls to children in impoverished areas around the world. “These soccer balls could be a bridge in these times of war, and especially to help these young kids have some light of fun and hope in the midst of such trying times,” said Favero. “It would be great if every college program in the country would donate their soccer balls for this cause.”

Little Feet allows people and programs to purchase two soccer balls for $20.00, one ball is given to the person who purchased the balls while the other is delivered to children overseas. Favero became aware of Little Feet after he and the Lady Indians had donated over 20 soccer balls to troops in Iraq to give to the children while on patrol. The Lady Indians were contacted by Mrs. Susan Zais, the wife of Newberry president Dr. Zais. Their son Brad, a Newberry student, was recalled to active duty in September. Mrs. Zais asked for soccer balls that her son and his unit could give to the kids in Iraq. “Brad said that when they go out on missions to the different Iraqi towns and neighborhoods, the children always ask them if they have any soccer balls,” said Mrs. Zais. “These balls will be helpful in their mission of trying to gain the trust of the Iraqi people when they are in their villages. The children would rather have soccer balls than candy or anything else.”

Newberry will be the first college program in the nation to partner with Little Feet. The organization will now supply the Lady Indians with all their practice balls and an equal amount will be sent overseas. “Once we saw the benefit of giving the soccer balls to Brad, I started researching the internet and came upon this great organization who is doing this at a larger scale,” said Favero. “After speaking with Trevor Slavick at the Little Feet Organization, we are excited to become the first college program in the nation to partner with them. The reality is that using their soccer balls to meet our practice needs is an extremely easy way for us to do good for someone else at the same time.” "I know a soccer ball won't stop a war and it won't fill a belly, but it might help heal a soul and let children be children, at least for a little while," said Little Feet co-founder Trevor Slavick. If you would like to donate soccer balls to be sent to the soldiers in Iraq please drop them off at the soccer office in Eleazer Arena.

If you are interested in donating money or purchasing a ball from Little Feet, they can be reached at www.littlefeet.com.