Sports Doing Good Newsletter, #60

May 19-May 25, 2013

Welcome to week sixty of the Sports Doing Good newsletter.

This week in the U.S. we were witness to another devastating natural disaster, a series of tornadoes that ripped through the center of the country. Folks in and around Oklahoma were subject to incredible winds that destroyed homes and took lives. Like so many in the areas that were hit and around the U.S., people were quick to respond in the best ways they thought possible. Whether it was one neighbor helping another, or a local professional basketball player and franchise donating millions of dollars, people rallied and have committed themselves to the long rebuilding process.

We are encouraged that there are various organizations that exist to provide important resources to those who may lack them, especially in light of such stark circumstances. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Good Sports, Pitch in for Baseball and countless others are part of the larger team what will need to stick together to help those impacted by past events, e.g. Hurricane Sandy, current tragedies and those that will inevitably come in the future. Their work certainly qualifies as sports doing good.

Please continue to send along your stories. You are both our audience and our best source of stories. Our Twitter handle is @sportsdoinggood, and you can find us at www.facebook.com/sportsdoinggood.

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So enjoy. And have a good week.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to speak at 3rd International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban-Ki moon and IOC President Jacques Rogge will be keynote speakers at the 3rd International Forum on Sport for Peace and Development, which will take place from 5 to 6 June 2013 at the UN headquarters in New York, USA.
http://www.olympic.org/ioc-unforum2013

Carnegie Exclusive Interview: Sports Illustrated Kids: Bob Schrumpf, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Marketing
Sports Illustrated KIDS is a magazine that present sports the way kids want to read about them: with great action photos, easy-to-read stories about star athletes, helpful instructional tips from the pros, and humor, comics, and activities. July’s issue of SI Kids will cover professional athletes’ charitable causes as a way to show readers their role models’ passions and generosity off the field.
http://carnegiese.tumblr.com/post/51079288704/carnegie-exclusive-interview-sports-illustrated-kids

Champions League finalist Bayern Munich finally embracing its anti-Nazi past
The Nazis certainly tried their best to erase Bayern from its position of prominence within the game and from German soccer history. The party ordered Bayern to be demoted to a lower division despite its success, and Jewish members and supporters were forced to leave the club.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer–champions-league-finalist-bayern-munich-finally-embracing-its-anti-nazi-past-163605448.html

Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben (C), together with team mates Thomas Mueller (L) and Franck Ribery (R), celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund during their Champions League Final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London May 25, 2013. REUTERS/Darren Staples

Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s surprising baseball card collection
I learned all this from Freyda Spira, the Metropolitan Museum curator currently in charge of the Burdick Collection. As you might imagine, the museum doesn’t devote as much display space to baseball cards as it does to, say, all those Picassos and Rembrandts, but the museum’s American Wing has a small area that’s permanently devoted to Burdick’s cards, and Spira has created a rotating series of theme-driven exhibits.
http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/22048/inside-the-mets-surprising-card-collection

Kevin Durant, Thunder both donate $1M to Oklahoma tornado disaster relief
“The Red Cross relies on its donors to perform its mission in relieving human suffering following disasters,” Janienne Bella, Red Cross’s regional CEO said in a statement. “Mr. Durant’s gift and support to Oklahoma comes at a time of great need and we’re forever thankful for his generosity.”
http://nba.si.com/2013/05/21/kevin-durant-one-million-dollars-oklahoma-tornado-thunder/

Kevin Durant has played in Oklahoma City for five years. (Layne Murdoch/Getty Images)

Sport – a tool for the reintegration of prisoners?
The challenges former prisoners face upon release are well-known: social networks may be lost, relationships with family members could be broken or strained and employment prospects might be low. Sport can be an effective way to engage with and motivate even the individuals with the greatest challenges in their lives.
http://www.sportanddev.org/en/newsnviews/news/?5674/1/Sport–a-tool-for-the-reintegration-of-prisoners

Video – http://vimeo.com/34654422.  Watch the trailer for “Free to Play”, a European Commission and S4S films documentary by Geoff Arbourne on the impact of sport in a Danish prison

Good Sports celebrates 10-year anniversary with major milestone: 500,000 American kids equipped for physical activity
In the past decade, more than 500,000 kids have hit the country’s fields and courts with donated uniforms, shoes, balls and other equipment, thanks to Good Sports, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to partnering with manufacturers to provide youth with sporting goods. Now, the organization is celebrating the donation of $8.8 million in sports and fitness equipment over 10 years, as well as more than a half-million kids outfitted for physical activity.
http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Good-Sports-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-with-4538830.php#ixzz2U3sqMPs8

Rochester RazorSharks Visit Holy Childhood With Awesome Results
Ball handling skills, plays and teamwork are a few of the topics that were covered at the clinic for the adult program participants, who were between 22 and 45 years old. Head Coach Cliff Levingston, Assistant Coach and GM Chris Iversen and five of the RazorShark players spent the afternoon sharing their expertise and building self-esteem in these young men.
http://www.holychildhood.org/files/FROM_HC/untitled%20folder1/MEDIA%20Release%20RazorSharks%20give%20back%20to%20Holy%20Childhood.pdf

Phillies Ace Cole Hamels Gives Back to Local Philly Schools
This year, The Hamels Foundation will donate over $50,000 in grants to three Philadelphia schools. These grants will provide new musical instruments for Shawmont, library renovations for FS Edmonds, and an art kiln plus supplies for Cook-Wissahickon! The Hamels Foundation believes that these investments will provide significant improvement to the quality of students’ lives.
http://www.bonfireimpact.com/2013/05/25/phillies-ace-cole-hamels-gives-back-to-local-philly-schools/

Female Athlete Conference Featuring Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Mitts to Address Health and Performance Issues On and Off the Field
Women and girls are playing sports in increasing numbers, which helps to improve their overall health, self-esteem and career success. To learn more about issues facing female athletes, behavioral health professionals, doctors, coaches, athletes, parents and trainers are invited to attend the first ever “The Female Athlete: Strategies for Optimal Health and Performance” two-day conference, June 8 and 9, 2013.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/22/5440079/female-athlete-conference-featuring.html

THE NEXT 10 STORIES

Cameron Burrell: In His Parents’ Very Fast Footsteps
On Saturday, Cameron Burrell will run 100 meters against other top high school sprinters at the New York Grand Prix on Randalls Island, where his father set a world record of 9.90 seconds in 1991 (later lowering the mark to 9.85 in 1994 in Lausanne, Switzerland). Beginning in the fall, Cameron will compete for Houston, setting up an intriguing and complex dynamic between coach and athlete, father and son.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/sports/cameron-burrell-is-following-in-very-fast-footsteps.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=SP_IHP_20130524

Afghanistan Cricket Board: Contributing to peace, health, unity and development
The ACB has a strong commitment to sport as a tool for development. The vision statement is: “To make cricket the most popular sport in Afghanistan, contributing to peace, health, unity and development.”
http://www.sportanddev.org/en/newsnviews/news/?5672/1/Afghanistan-Cricket-Board-Contributing-to-peace-health-unity-and-development

Gulbudin Naib hits a 6 against India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2012 in Sri Lanka.

Panthers Announce Three Summer Initiatives: Fan Forums, Advisory Boards and President dinners will garner fan feedback and improve overall service and experience
“We are committed to improving the level of service and experience for all of our fans, partners and constituents and these three initiatives are an example of that commitment,” said Yormark. “These summer programs will garner critical fan feedback and help us make significant positive changes to our customer service principles and programs and improve the overall experience for every one of our guests and partners.”
http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=671499&cmpid=rss-News

Group finishes Boston Marathon
About 3,000 runners and bombing victims gathered in light rain to run the final mile of the world’s oldest annual marathon, said Kathleen McGonagle, spokeswoman for those organizing the event known as OneRun. The 1-mile run began at Kenmore Square and ended at the official finish line, where participants hugged and cheered.
http://espn.go.com/boston/story/_/id/9310717/boston-marathon-group-completes-last-mile

After Sandy, Surf Shops Open For Business
Directly after the storm, Heritage worked with its vendors to channel clothing and supplies to area schools and missions. In addition to getting behind W4W fundraisers, Heritage spearheaded “Restore the Core” with Rip Curl to benefit Jersey shops like Heritage, Farias and Ocean Hut with a limited capsule line available only through these retailers.
http://xgames.espn.go.com/surfing/article/9255912/surf-shops-slow-recovery-six-months-sandy

Improbably, Missionary Trains Stars in Kenya
At St. Patrick’s, a boarding school, Rudisha cut out photographs and put them on the wall of his room. He idolized Wilson Kipketer, a Kenyan who had been coached by O’Connell and who set a world record in the 800 while running for Denmark. Later, Rudisha watched video of Kipketer on the Internet, learning the rhythmic aspects of a searing event that demands speed and endurance.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/sports/improbably-missionary-trains-stars-in-kenya.html?hpw&_r=0

Colm O’Connell in Eldoret, Kenya, last year with David Rudisha, the latest of five Olympic champions he has coached. Michael Steele/Getty Images

Olympians Use Sports To Make A Difference
For the first time since the U.S. Department of State has held a Global Diaspora Forum in Washington, D.C., sports were a part of the overall discussion. Based on the response from the panel today, which featured Kwan, Ihedigbo and U.S. Olympic marathoner Meb Keflezighi, there’s a good chance sports will remain on the docket.
http://www.teamusa.org/News/2013/May/20/Olympians-Use-Sports-To-Make-A-Difference.aspx

Michelle Kwan (center) and Mebrahtom Keflezighi (right) pose with James Ihedigb of the Baltimore Ravens.

Just a game? A World of Football at TEDxIHECS
They travelled the world to discover the impact of football on children’s wellbeing and integration and made ten documentaries. From a peace-building project with Israeli and Palestinian children to a HIV and AIDS education programme in South Africa, they give an insight into their journey.
http://www.sportanddev.org/en/newsnviews/news/?5682%2F1%2FJust-a-game-A-World-of-Football-at-TEDxIHECS
Video – http://youtu.be/2uZe3uPuT2g

Ryan Zimmerman’s “A Night at the Park” raises over $300,000 for ziMS Foundation
ziMS Foundation, Zimmerman’s personal charity, is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis by funding comprehensive support and educational programs.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/nationals-watch/2013/may/23/ryan-zimmermans-night-park-raises-over-300000-zims/#ixzz2ULthLZLM

Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, second from left, along with his wife Heather, left, and parents Cheryl and Keith, posed at the start of Zimmerman’s annual “A Night at the Park” fundraiser at Nationals Park on Thursday. Cheryl Zimmerman has Multiple Sclerosis and Ryan Zimmerman’s ziMS Foundation works to raise money to help find a cure for this disease. (Staff photo)

Former Lions among NFL players training to be journalists
Batch, Eric Crouch and Troy Brown were among 20 current and former NFL players who participated in the NFL’s first sports journalism and communications boot camp last week. The four-day program at Bowling Green was geared toward helping prepare players for post-NFL careers by honing their skills for various media platforms.
http://www.freep.com/article/20130523/SPORTS01/305230044/charlie-batch-andre-fluellen-peter-king

Carlos Monarrez/DFP

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Our goal is to have Sports Doing Good be a portal housing original content and excerpts from and links to the increasing number of articles, websites, video, and other media that showcase the good in sports and society. We aim to celebrate those concepts, activities, events, and individuals by highlighting them for a wider audience. Much of the news today, whether sports- related or not, is incredibly negative and increasingly polarizing, biased, and quite annoying. We are trying to refocus some of the discussion on the good, with a focus on sports.Our mission is to have Sport Doing Good be a consistent, and significant, contributor to the areas of sports, social responsibility and development. We look forwarding to partnering with other stakeholders in producing content, in creating and/or sponsoring athletic and service events, knowledge sharing, and conferences/seminars, and even having a commercial arm that could be the source of innovative social businesses.We invite you to send in news, press releases, and guest pieces for possible publication, and email us with suggestions about the content and format of the newsletter and Sports Doing Good website.
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