FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sara-Christine Dallain, scd@iactivism.org, 805.637.6876
Tickets available for $35 donation at www.darfurunited.com
LOS ANGELES, CA – April 23, 2013 – i-ACT, a Los Angeles-based grassroots organization, is hosting it’s second annual gala benefit event, ONE STRONG KICK, in support of Darfur United and its Soccer Academy, the first comprehensive sports program for Darfuri refugee girls and boys in the camps along the Chad-Sudan border. ONE STRONG KICK is taking place Saturday, May 11th at 6pm, at a beautiful private home in Palos Verdes with a stunning view of the South Bay.
The evening includes food by Villegas Tacos, wine from Justin Vineyards and Winery, water provided by Fiji Water, and craft tequila by Mi Casa Tequila. Entertainment will include piano set by Miss Emily, a local Redondo Beach-based piano teacher, duet by David Veerman and Crystal Kakebeen, and evening sets by local rockibilly band Queen Maureen and the Power of the Hoodoo. There will also be live art by ShadowMonsterBear and the chance to bid on the unique piece before the evening is over. Silent auction and raffle items will be open all evening, consisting of items such as Darfur United gear, a Victoria Beckham dress, one-of-a-kind canvas prints donated by Erin Condren, jewelry from Stauring and Pomegranate and Eye, a unique piece by local artist Booleep, a Santa Barbara Getaway Package, Manhattan Beach Post gift certificate and much more.
Guests will have the opportunity to view exclusive video footage from Darfur United’s journey to Viva World Cup, listen to a conversation about the Viva World Cup and the upcoming Soccer Academy with special guests DU and Director of Coaching at Manhattan Beach Sand and Surf Mark Hodson, Happy Feet LA Director Sarah Woolliscroft, and Rachael Rapinoe.
Last year, the event raised $15,250 and made it possible for Darfur United, the all-refugee men’s soccer team from the Darfur refugee camps, to participate in the 2012 Viva World Cup for nationless teams in Iraqi-Kurdistan. As a result, i-ACT was honored with the “Peace and Sport NGO of the Year” awarded by the Prince Albert II of Monaco. The prestigious award rewarded i-ACT for having outstandingly contributed to peace and social stability in the world through its creation of Darfur United. This year, i-ACT’s goal is to raise $18,000. The entire amount raised will go directly to implementing the Darfur United Soccer Academy, which seeks to offer a safe place for children and youth to gather and participate in a healthy and enriching activity. The Soccer Academy will provide the element of play that many refugee children, girls and boys, simply lack, as well as serve as a vehicle for hope and unity among the refugee youth of Darfur.
i-ACT has a wonderful team of coaches helping launch the Darfur United Soccer Academy and is planning to head to the camps Kounoungo and Mile at the end of the summer to launch the project. The ONE STRONG KICK will propel the project forward. The Darfur United team has recently been invited to the 2014 Viva World Cup in Sweden.
Tickets are available now for a $35.00 donation online at http://darfurunited.com/strongkick/ or purchased at the door at the night of the event.
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Darfur United was started in 2011 by i-ACT and the Darfur refugees living in twelve refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border. i-ACT empowers individuals within communities, institutions, and governments to take personal responsibility to act on behalf of those affected by genocide, mass atrocities, and crimes against humanity. i-ACT is a global team dedicated to putting a face on the numbers of dead, dying, and displaced while creating mutually enriching relationships between those in danger and those willing and able to act, fostering a new culture of participation. For more information: www.iactivism.org