Giving Soccer Balls to the children of Afghanistan

Here are some wonderful photos from Mary Z. in Afghanistan. It seems that children the world over can relate to this common sport! How terrific to be able to support our troops and reach out to children in other countries as well! Thank you all for your participation - you make this possible.

"We did receive the three boxes of soccer balls, net bags and flags. Thank you so much.... Attached is a photo of a HA drop we did on 30MAR09. The faces on the children tell the whole story of how happy a soccer ball can make them..... Please thank everyone who donated and we would greatly appreciated more soccer balls. Thank you for supporting the troops.

Mary Z.

Thank you Mary for all you do for our country and the children of Afghanistan!

Sending Soccer Balls to Ethiopia!!!!!

We have expanded our horizons and have begun shipping some of your donated soccer balls to Ethiopia and also to Afghanistan.

We were recently honored to receive the following letter from the Embassy of the United States of America, in Ethiopia!




Our continued thanks to all of you who have donated to Eric's Goal! You are making a positive difference in the lives of many children. We are grateful to each and every one of you.

Thank You to Tom Cruise in Iraq!!!!!

We received the following post card from non other than Tom Cruise - yes that is his real name! But this Tom Cruise is busy handing out soccer balls to the Iraqi children. Tom is with SAIF - Soccer for American Iraqi Friends! He has been handing out soccer balls for quite some time now. Recently we began sending your donations to him. See the post card below for comments from Tom.

Tom has also sent us photos he has taken with the Iraqi children and adults. We have posted them and Tom's comments here, with his permission. Enjoy!!!



"Two teenage boys late at night a few months ago who were very pleased to receive an unexpected gift! Soccer is their only sport and they love it so the balls really do spread cheer!
Shu kran jazeelan Tom"

"Just one photo of my soccer ball give-away program. This little boy was walking home about 7am with a bag of bread and when I stopped him he ran so fast to get the ball it was heart-warming to see his smile! It was a cold morning as you can see a few months ago. Thanks for your help. Tom Cruise"

"Everyone loves soccer balls and the adults all have children so they are pleased with a soccer ball too!
Ma salama Tom"

"Beanie Babies have been a big help for the little girls...and they are not allowed to play soccer so the babies are a great gift for them.
Tom"


"I visit a prosthetics clinic often and give soccer balls to many people who lost limbs in explosions and the victims are seared into your heart and mind. Some might think this is wrong because they are missing limbs, but the fact is the advances in prosthetics have allowed many to still be able to carry on somewhat of a normal life and even play soccer so they lovethe balls even more than most because it shows they can still have a life in many ways. They all are asked first and I have never had anyone refuse and they allhave been very grateful of the soccer balls. Thanks again."

Many thanks to Tom Cruise and fellow members of SAIF. We admire all that you do!

U.S. Soldiers going the extra mile for the Iraqi children!!!!!!

Our soldiers are busy with their regular duties yet find the time to hand out Soccer Balls and equipment to the Iraqi children! Here are some photos sent by our soldiers.

Weiser High School Auto Club, in Weiser, Indiana donates again in 2009!

Thank you to the Weiser High School Auto Club for another donation this year! We received 14 soccer balls, 1 basket ball, 9 miscellaneous balls and 4 pair of cleats! They have already been sent and should be received by the children shortly. This shipment was actually sent to Africa where it will be distributed to children at orphanages. Thank you again for making a positive difference in the lives of others!

Timberlane Middle School in Pennington, N.J. Collects for Eric's Goal!!!!!!!

Today we had the priviledge to meet Bill Russell, and to accept the donations collected by his 6th Grade class at Timberlane Middle School in Pennington, New Jersey!


And what a tremendous collection of donated items it is! Mr. Russell was proud to tell us how hard his students worked on this project, how enthusiastic they were, and how much interest and support they received from their school P.T.O. as
well as their community!

We applaud you all on a job well done! Special thanks to Mr. Bill Russell and his 6th Grade students for collecting the soccer balls, equipment and gear, for counting the items, packing them and loading everything into the rental van for delivery!


A huge thank you to Mr. Russell for not only organizing this drive, but also for driving the van from N.J. to MD. and back to N.J. again to deliver the donations on his day off!


Our thanks to the Timberlane Middle School P.T.O. for supplying the funds to rent the van for the delivery of the collection.

Above and below are photos of Timberlane Middle School's 6th Grade Class hard at work collecting and packing donations to send to the Iraqi children.

The students wrote messages on the soccer balls for the Iraqi kids!

Timberlane Middle School is part of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District in New Jersey.

The balls were deflated by the 6th Grade Class, then counted and packed into boxes ready for posting to our military men and women in Iraq.

The items collected by these 6th Grade students are in bold and italics.

496 Soccer Balls & 4 Pumps

281 Jerseys & 125 Shorts

90 pr of Shin Guards & 146 pr of Cleats

32 Ball Bags & 30 Pinnies

15 pr Goalie Gloves

70 Cones & 23 Back packs

This was the most organized drive we have ever received! The balls are deflated and almost all of the donated items are packed in boxes that are marked with the contents and ready to be mailed! You have saved us a tremendous amount of time and effort and we truly appreciate your hard work!

$523 for postage!

When our American soldiers receive the donations they will distribute them to the Iraqi children. Letters will be sent with each shipment telling our soldiers that these items were collected by Mr. Bill Russell's 6th Grade Class at Timberlane Middle School in Pennington, New Jersey!

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE AND THANK YOU to MR. BILL RUSSELL AND HIS 6TH GRADE CLASS AT TIMBERLANE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!

Towson United Soccer Group Drive

This is the second annual soccer ball drive to support Eric's Goal by the Towson United Soccer Group. Last year they were known as the Towson Recreation

Council. This year the collection was headed by Barbara Amann.She and her husband, Steve, generously delivered their donations to us. Eric was here to thank them and accept the donations!

Ellie & Claire were Barbara's helpers during the drive!

Here are their totals:

77 soccer balls

6 pr cleats

1 mouth guard

1 team vest

8 pants

17 pr. socks

14 t-shirts

5 jerseys

2 shorts

Thank you Towson United Soccer Group, and especially Barbara Amann for continuing to collect for Eric's Goal! Your generous donations have already been sent to our soldiers for distribution to the Iraqi children. By Thanksgiving some of the soccer balls may already be in their hands!