As part of our community outreach, we wanted to extend an opportunity for our families to support our soldiers in Iraq and instill the love of the game to children in Iraq through a program called “Operation Soccer Ball.”

A local soldier who is serving in Iraq is in charge of “Operation Soccer Ball”.  If you have not heard of the program, soldiers stationed in Iraq have stateside friends and family collect soccer balls.  The balls are shipped overseas for distribution to Iraqi children by the soldiers.  Local army 1st Lt. Ben Franzosa is currently the head of Operation Soccer Ball.  Ben’s goal is to collect 1000 new and used soccer balls by the time he comes home to Ohio in June 2010. Here is why the soldiers started this effort.  See more information in the attached link below. http://www.operationsoccerball.org/

"My platoon and I have constant interaction with the citizens of Iraq, a proud people who want the same things for their kids as we do for ours. We have many roles in Iraq, and one of the biggest is to rebuild this country and help its people get back on their feet. 
 
Most of the citizens living in this area are so poor they don’t have many of the daily amenities we take for granted. While they rebuild their country, the one constant source of enjoyment, of hope, is soccer. When they play soccer it consumes them, it builds them into a team, it keeps them out of trouble, it makes them forget how hard their life can be and, most of all, it gives them hope for a better tomorrow; a hope all Americans should help to build.  
 
What we’re asking, what I’m asking, is to donate deflated soccer balls to be distributed throughout the area that my platoon serves. A small investment (by our standards) can have a powerful impact on the lives of Iraqi children. Hope is a powerful thing." 

Classics Hammer families can help.  All you have to do is donate an inflateable soccer ball.  You can drop it off between now and February 5th at any State Farm agent’s office in the Cincinnati area during 9am-5pm Monday through Friday. See State Farm website address with agent locator below so you can find the office closest to you.  http://online2.statefarm.com/b2c/sf/AgentLocator

Please consider participating and help others achieve their fullest soccer potential.