The Crew Soccer Foundation announced Wednesday that the on-line auctions for "Soccer Aid VII," a unique, fund-raising program, have gone live at "MLS Auctions." The exciting program capitalizes on soccer fans' passion for the sport to raise money for charity through the non-profit arm of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, including its primary beneficiary, the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Through its first six years, Soccer Aid has raised more than $33,000 for JDRF.
In addition to an autographed jersey, winning bidders will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of match day at first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium, with two tickets to the Crew's CONCACF Champions League game vs. CD Saprissa of Costa Rica on Sept. 29, on-field recognition and the opportunity to play a 30-minute scrimmage prior to the Sept. 29 game. All jerseys are official, locker-room issue pregame jerseys worn during the Crew 2008 MLS Cup championship season.
Seven jerseys will be up for bids during each of four overlapping four-day bidding periods. The first bidding period begins on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and runs through Sept. 13. It features the jerseys of Frankie Hejduk, Emmanuel Ekpo, Cory Elenio, Eddie Gaven, Jason Garey, Ezra Hendrickson and Duncan Oughton. Bidding periods from Sept. 12-16, Sept. 15-19 and Sept. 18-22 follow. "MLS Auctions" can be accessed through CrewSoccerFoundation.org and TheCrew.com.
"The Crew and the Crew Soccer Foundation are committed to supporting the exceptional efforts of JDRF to find a cure for type 1 diabetes, while also striving to assist other worthy causes within our community and fund the good work currently being done by CSF," said Mark McCullers, Crew General Manager and President of the CSF board of directors. "Soccer Aid is a terrific program that helps advance each of those imperatives while creating compelling experiences and memories. The fact that the jerseys are from our championship season makes them that much more unique, collectible and desirable."
Soccer Aid is modeled after the highly successful "Football Aid" program, which was founded by Craig Paterson in the United Kingdom in 2000 (and launched in 2001) out of a father's desire to create an exciting and rewarding way to raise funds for diabetes research. Football Aid now benefits a host of charitable organizations and has spread throughout Europe. It was brought to the United States in 2003 by former Crew head coach Greg Andrulis, whose son, Austin, has type 1 diabetes.
The Crew Soccer Foundation is dedicated to giving back to the community that supports Ohio's Major League Soccer club, by serving as a catalyst for community investment and development. Leveraging the club's unique status as the state's - and region's - acknowledged soccer leader, the CSF works to advance the sport at all levels and enrich the overall quality of life in central Ohio and beyond, with an emphasis on developing the potential of our area's young people.
For more information on Soccer Aid or the Crew Soccer Foundation, please contact Dave Stephany, executive director, at 614-447-4190 or visit us on the Web at www.CrewSoccerFoundation.org. For more information on JDRF, please call Amy Carriero, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Chapter, at 614-464-2873.
