Jan. 19, 2010

Donate to the Sporting Chance Foundation!

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In wake of the horrible tragedy that has stricken Haiti, the University of Maryland men's soccer program is asking members of Terrapin Soccer Nation to please donate to former Maryland standout Seth Stammler's charity the `Sporting Chance Foundation'.

Stammler, a former All-American defender who played for Maryland from 2000-03 and now plays for the New York Red Bulls of the MLS, formed the Sporting Chance Foundation in 2007 after a philanthropic trip to Haiti in November of 2006.

The Maryland men's soccer family has been directly affected by last week's earthquake as Terrapin freshman midfielder Widner Saint Cyr, a Port-au-Prince native, still has family remaining in the devastated capital city of Haiti. Saint Cyr's older sister Rachelle, younger brother Paul Patrick, and grandmother all survived the earthquake and are currently coping with the aftereffects.

Fans can log on to www.sportingchancefoundation.org or follow the link above to help the relief effort in Haiti.

Below is a story from Major League Soccer's official website concerning how Stammler's foundation is providing aid in Haiti and how the impoverished country found a place in the current Red Bulls star's heart.

MLS's Stammler helps Haiti relief effort
Red Bulls defender runs a charity in the devastated island nation
By Michael Lewis / Special to MLSnet.com

When he first visited Haiti a little more than three years ago, New York Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler could not believe the conditions in which the citizens of Port-au-Prince lived.

"We looked at all of the buildings and wondered how people could live in them," Stammler said.

Then came Tuesday's magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which devastated the country and the nation's capital.

"If one goes down, it could start a domino effect," he said of the buildings and houses.

As it turned out, Stammler was correct. Thousands of people were killed or were injured because of Tuesday's earthquake.

Long before the quake, Haiti already had found a special place in Stammler's heart.

After seeing the impoverished conditions, Stammler decided to do something about it. He decided to start the Sporting Chance Foundation so he could help affect change in the Caribbean country.

Stammler originally founded the Sporting Chance Foundation after he went on a six-day service trip to Haiti with Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean and his charitable organization Yele Haiti in November 2006.

"Formal education and clean drinking water are two basic necessities that most of us take for granted but unfortunately aren't available to everyone in Haiti," Stammler said when he formed the foundation in June 2007.

The foundation built a water well that provides portable water for more than 10,000 Haitians and established 49 academic scholarships for children ranging in age from 5-15 years-old in Port-au-Prince. Stammler, Red Bulls defender Jeremy Hall, club vice president of communications Andy McGowan and foundation officials traveled to Haiti last month to present each student a tuition scholarship to an advanced school in the Haitian capital. The students also received a Sporting Chance Foundation T-shirt that included the SCF logo on the front and Stammler's name and number from his Red Bulls jersey on the back. The Red Bulls and foundation party visited the well.

Stammler realized that news emanating from Haiti over the coming days and weeks might not be good news, especially about the foundation's scholarship students.

"Realistically, I know there will be a couple of bad scenarios," he said. "With the grace of God they will survive."

Like many Haitians, relatives or North American citizens who have friends in the Caribbean nation, Stammler is wondering about the fate of friends and colleagues. "We haven't heard a whole lot," he said.

Stammler has experienced problems getting in contact with Gerald Oriol. "That we haven't heard from him is a concern," he said.

If he had his way, Stammler would be in Haiti giving whatever aid he could. But he has a job to do. The Red Bulls already have started preseason training for a trip to La Manga, Spain. They leave for two weeks on Tuesday.

"Obviously, if I had the freedom to go, I would like to help out in some way," he said.

Even if it is for a short time, perhaps when the Red Bulls return or have a short break from preseason training.

"When I have the freedom to go down there for a couple of days, I will," he said. "It depends on the preseason plans."

So, like the rest of us, Stammler will do whatever he can do on the home front. As it turned out, his foundation already had an event planned in a soccer pub his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, last Thursday night. He was hopeful that it would "raise a good amount of funds."

Soccer fans can contribute to the Haitian relief efforts by going to the foundation's website at www.sportingchancefoundation.org.

"All of us at Sporting Chance were shocked and saddened at the recent news of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti," a statement on the website said.

"Unfortunately, as the lines of communication are down, we have yet to determine the actual damage to the water well [the foundation] sponsored and are unaware of the status of the students that [the foundation] has provided scholarships to. Our hopes and prayers are with the students, their families, and the people affected by this horrible tragedy."

Stammler said that any new contributions to the foundation, which originally were slated for wells and scholarships, could be redirected to the earthquake victims and their families.

"We want to make a strong fund-raising push in the coming weeks," he said. "As we find the greatest needs, we will get a plan of attack for the coming weeks for our scholarship winners and help them get back on their feet and back to normalcy, too."

Stammler's website "strongly" encouraged everyone to donate what they can to help the people of Haiti," whether it is through the Sporting Chance Foundation or another foundation.

Other players, coaches with ties to MLS teams and soccer -- Haitian and non-Haitian -- have been affected as well.

Real Salt Lake midfielder Jean Alexandre, a Haiti native, moved to the U.S. at the age of 9 and attended Lynn University. At first he could not be found immediately after the quakes, but RSL located Alexandre safe and sound in Argentina. There were no updates about the status of Alexandre's relatives and friends still in Haiti.

The parents of former Red Bulls and current Hull City and U.S. international forward Jozy Altidore were born and grew up in Haiti. Joseph and Giselle eventually emigrated to the United States 35 years ago, married and Altidore was born in Livingston, N.J.

Since last Tuesday, Altidore has been on several television networks, including Larry King on CNN, CNN International and ESPN and was interviewed by the Associated Press, imploring people to give to the relief effort.

"God Bless everyone who has made donations so far please keep it going," he tweeted.

Personally, it has been a nerve-wracking time for Altidore, who has more than a dozen relatives -- aunts, uncles and cousins -- still among the missing in Haiti. The relief efforts and loved one's piece of minds were made much more complicated because the electricity and cell phone service were out.

"We still haven't heard from them," a weary Altidore told Larry King on the latter's CNN show Wednesday night.

Altidore was in Leeds, England.

"We have our fingers crossed that everything is OK with them," said Altidore, who was on the air for a little more than a minute in the waning minutes of the broadcast.

In another interview with the Associated Press, Altidore elaborated on the situation.

"It's tough finding out what is happening because there are not many resources in Haiti at the moment. You only see what is on the television," he said. "This is a tragedy of astronomical proportions. It's definitely the most nerve-racking time of my life. It just makes you realize there is more to life than football.

"Football is very important to me obviously and I've put a lot of hours into it, but it puts everything into perspective when a tragedy like this happens."

Altidore, who is on loan to Hull City from Villarreal in Spain, said he had been told by team manager Phil Brown that he will be given compassionate leave to fly to Haiti and help with the search.

"He was very positive and very concerned about the situation and he asked me if I needed time to be with my family and if there were any updates," he told Associated Press. "I told him we remain hopeful and we keep them in our prayers. He has offered me time off if needed if there is even more unfortunate news."

Altidore gave a contribution to the International Red Cross, according to a tweet. Altidore also tweeted that he was "going to wear both of my wrist bands in support of Haiti," but did not dress for Hull's scoreless draw with Tottenham Hotspur Saturday. He added that "team has been very positive and helpful to me."