I’m calling out stud Sir Richard Branson today…the Virgin Group Founder and Athlebrity favorite appears in one of Nike’s latest spots for the new Kobe System…afterward, Branson was asked why he would advertise for someone else, his response:

“Since then I have agreed to do the occasional ad for companies I respect, like Nike, if they are humorous and I can raise a lot of money for charity. Both of those criteria were met with the current #KobeSystem ads.”

One question Richard, HOW was this criteria met? How are you raising a lot of money for charity by appearing in the Kobe Systems ad? Curious fans want to know…thanks.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

Jon Rose: How to Drink the Amazon River

Cultivate is giving away $100,000 per quarter to non-profits via a democratic voting system. The winner will receive $50,000, and the five runners-up will each receive $10,000. To vote, you can either register or login through Facebook. Once you’re logged in, you will have 1 vote per day. To get started, click any “vote for this” button, then log in to cast your vote.

Granted, we are not big fans of logging in to vote for anything, but in this case, we encourage it. Nominated along with several other noteworthy organizations is Athlebrity favorite Waves for Water.

Please Vote & Help Waves for Water win 50k to Help Bring Clean Water to Indonesia. We recently covered the success of Waves for Water bringing clean water to Afghanistan, but if you don’t know about Waves for Water, start with this video of founder/hottie/pro-surfer Jon Rose as he explains how it is possible to literally drink the Amazon River and not get sick.

Amazon from Waves For Water on Vimeo.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

According to Peterson “#1 I’m in the top jersey sales! # 2 I see maybe 10,000 from those sales, #3 I get paid under 1million a year, #4 but I oder (in order) to change MY number…I have to pay a Million Bucks! Somebody’s winning in that situation & ITs not me! So clearly with that said I won’t be changing my number.”

Granted, I have absolutely no idea what the back story is…Adrian looks far better without any jersey at all but I will take advantage of this situation-ala attention to his jersey number-to remind everyone about Peterson’s foundation and his involvement with Football for Good.

For every touchdown Adrian makes, he’s donating $5,000 to help at risk-kids. Joining him will be Michael Huff, Roy Williams, Jermaine Gresham, Dallas Clark, and DeSean Jackson. The funds raised using the Football For Good Giving Assistant will be directed to the All Day Foundation to benefit programs that support youth, build self-esteem, promote healthy lifestyles and prevent gang involvement.

Also…in 2008, Adrian Peterson established the All Day Foundation to raise awareness and funds for programs that inspire hope and build a better future for at-risk-children. The Foundation promotes the well-being of at-risk kids by partnering with nonprofits and developing new programs in three primary areas: Sportsmanship & Leadership, Youth Enrichment and Hunger. It is our opportunity and responsibility to help children-at risk all day…every day.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

David Beckham…underwear…I mean Bodywear…available at H&M…commercial to air during the 2nd quarter of the Super Bowl.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

Thanks to the William J. Clinton Foundation, the desert golf classic is back on the map.

Clinton’s Foundation teamed with Louisville, Kentucky based health insurance provider Humana this year-adding their names to the ailing tournament and by all accounts, may have rescued the event.

The event has been struggling with sponsorship for years and the level of competition had fallen, but the former president’s participation paid immediate dividends, as there were twice as many sponsors and exhibits as in past years. The opening day field of 144 touring professionals included Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Zach Johnson, Ryan Moore, David Toms, Ben Crane, Camilo Villegas, defending champion Jhonattan Vegas and a host of top 100 players. The most recognizable field in years. (Source)

The 144 participants in the celebrity field included Smokey Robinson, Alice Cooper, Julius Erving, Craig T. Nelson, Don Cheadale, Michael Bolton, Morgan Freeman and many others.

The Humana Challenge, formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic, was held Jan. 16-22 in La Quinta. Since 1960, the event has donated more than $50 million to nearly 200 local charities. Annually, the golf tournament distributes about $1 million to 40 nonprofit groups across the Coachella Valley like the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Angel View, Shelter from the Storm and Well in the Desert.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

The match lasted five hours, 53 minutes, shattering the record for the longest Grand Slam final in history. It was also the longest continuous match in major history and the third-longest overall. This is Djokovic’s third straight major title… he joins Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Nadal as the only men in the Open Era to accomplish that feat. Djokovic also has won seven finals in a row against Nadal…and has given us a series of images to make us wonder if he shouldn’t have been cast as an extra on Spartacus.

When Djokovic isn’t ripping his shirt off, he acts as an UNICEF ambassador to Serbia and has a long-standing history of helping kids in his native Serbia.

He also is nominated for the Laureus World Sporstman of the Year alongside Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Athletics), Cadel Evans Australia, Cycling), Leo Messi (Argentina, Football), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany, Basketball), Sebastian Vettel (Germany, Motor Racing).

The awards will be given out February 6, 1012 in London…my money was on Messi until this morning.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

“They are a population that has lost everything, and even hope is starting to fade. Darfur United gives them a sense of being part of something greater than being what they are now labeled: a refugee.” ~i-ACT Founder/Director Gabriel Stauring

Since 2005, the Founder and Director of i-ACT, Gabriel Stauring has visited Darfur 11 times, namely-the refugee camps along the Chad/Sudan border. The non-profit’s volunteer arm, Stop Genocide Now, has garnered international attention and now, i-ACT is essentially creating a soccer team made up of the best players from the refugee camps along the border.

The team is called Darfur United.

In addition to his numerous visits to Darfur, Stauring has spearheaded campaigns such as the 100-Day Fast for Darfur, Darfur Freedom Summer Vigils, Camp Darfur, Darfur Fast for Life, and is featured in ‘The Enough Moment’ by John Prendergast and Don Cheadle.

Athlebrities was thrilled to interview this amazing man about issues related to Darfur, the refugees in that area, how the beautiful game can change lives, and what we can do to help. I opted to run the interview, unedited, in its entirety because, quite frankly, every word is important.

Q: Explain Darfur United and what it aims to do? Boys and girls teams?

We’re creating a team from the best soccer players in the twelve Darfuri refugee camps in Eastern Chad—one team representing Darfur—and calling it Darfur United. We are working hard to get this team to participate in international tournaments, with our first and great opportunity being the Viva World Cup. We are using Darfur United to tell the story of Darfur and its people and build relationships that will provide support for a population that has lived on the margins, isolated and ignored. It will also give the people in the camps something of their own to be proud of, to root for, and just to have fun around. Through our ongoing work in the camps, we will also create more sustainable support for education and sports programs for the refugee children. For the girls, we are creating support for volleyball programs, since at this point girls aren’t playing soccer in the camps—although we are encouraging change in this area.

Q: Are girls not allowed to play?

Girls do not play because culturally it has not been something promoted for the girls. It’s seen as a “boys’ game.” My wife and partner in this work, Katie-Jay, plays soccer when we’re in the camps (she played college soccer), and the refugees do not see it as something wrong; it has just not been part of their culture—for the girls.

Q: It’s being filmed for a documentary?

We are filming the whole journey and will create a documentary. It’s a compelling story, and we hope it will inspire people to get involved in causes.

Q: How does a guy from Southern California end up-not just forming a soccer team in Darfur-but start a movement (StopGenocideNow) by putting a face to victims of genocide?

It was something of a personal evolution that was in part pushed by guilt. Ten years after the fact, I was hit by the enormity of what happened in Rwanda and the failure by all of us to respond to man-made, mass-scale human suffering. When I began to hear about Darfur, I knew I had to do something and become involved. I had no idea that I would become this involved! It seemed overwhelming, so I just started small, telling others about what was happening in Darfur, and I started to look at what was missing. Why were we again failing in responding to a group of people, innocent civilians, being brutally attacked? What jumped out at me was that there was no way for people to connect at a personal level with such huge human suffering. People don’t connect with numbers, even if the numbers and statistics are horrific. It was clear to me that we had to put a face on the numbers, so, after finding others that cared, we decided to head out to the refugee camps and let people, through technology, meet the victims and survivors. I thought it was going to be just one trip. I just got back from my eleventh trip in December 2011. From those trips, we saw and heard about the many challenges and issues confronting a brutally displaced population. The refugees themselves told us that education and sports is what they saw as a key to a better future. Besides our education, awareness, and advocacy work, we decided to support the aspirations of the refugees by supporting and creating programs related to education and sports.

Q: What’s the VIVA World Cup?

The Viva World Cup is a tournament for people that are nationless or somehow not represented in the official soccer world. It allows for people that are on the margins—for different reasons—to come together around the beautiful game and have a team of their own. It takes place every two years, with the next one being played in Iraqi Kurdistan. The opening ceremony is on May 28, 2012, with the teams starting play the next day, competing for the Nelson Mandela trophy.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the refugee camps and what Darfur United means to the refugees, players, hopefuls, families, etc?

There are about 275,000 refugees living in twelve camps that dot the border between Sudan and Chad. They have fled the destruction of their villages, and most have been living there since 2003 and 2004. Refugee camps are supposed to be temporary, but the people there are now feeling trapped and isolated from the world and from opportunities beyond the camps. Darfur United for them means a window to the world through which everyone can see and learn about them, and they can experience what is “out there.” Old and young are excited at hearing about Darfur United. They are a population that has lost everything, and even hope is starting to fade. Darfur United gives them a sense of being part of something greater than being what they are now labeled: a refugee. Darfur United also means an opportunity for sustained sports programs in the camps. At this point, there is little as far as any type of equipment, and there are no programs for the children. Play is the best form of therapy, and the kids from Darfur have experience unimaginable trauma. Play is not a privilege, it’s a need.

Q: What is most urgently needed in order to make Darfur United a reality?

As usual, funding is always a primary need. We completed phase 1 of the project, visiting the camps in December 2011, presenting the project to the refugees and starting the process of them working within the camps to select the best players from the camps that will then try out for the official team. For phase 2, we will go back to the camps with two volunteer professional soccer coaches that will select the team and provide it with a structured practice program in preparation for the Viva World Cup. Phase 3 involves getting the team to the Viva World Cup and competing. Here, travel expenses for 15 players, plus coaches, trainer, and i-ACT team will be significant.

Besides funding, we are looking for sponsors for equipment and gear.

Of course, a crucial part of the journey, we need to get the story out. We want the world to find out about Darfur United and become a fan and through this find sustainable support education and sports programs for refugee children. For this, celebrity athletes and other caring notables can play a great role.

i-ACT is a small team, with a large percentage of it’s people power being volunteers. We are working on multiple projects that support the refugees and that push for peace in all of Sudan. Support and expertise in making Darfur United reach its potential, in all of its different aspects, is needed.

Q: What’s been the most difficult obstacle to overcome?

We really see obstacles as opportunities to be creative. As mentioned above, funding is a great obstacle, but we are using it as an opportunity to build awareness and a fan base for the team. Our i-ACT team is interested in creating community. There’s something special about a kid donating ten dollars to help another kid across an ocean have a team to root for.

It has been very difficult to reach a wider audience, since refugee issues are not particularly “sexy.” Finding the right people to talk about it is key in this, and here is where celebrity athletes could have a huge positive impact.

Q: Are you seeing natural leaders emerge as you create the team?

We immediately find leaders in the camps, as we talk with the refugees about Darfur United. There are the quiet ones that immediately show up and then play their hearts out, leading with their game. Others are very confident and tell you from the start, “I’m the best player in the camp.” It’s so much fun. Some of the players are leaders in other aspects. They’re the ones that get everyone to show up and then organize the different players in the scrimmages we held during our last trip.

Q: For you personally, what makes soccer the ‘beautiful game?’

The flow of the game, how a team can work as one organism together, and then explode with group and personal shows of skills just mesmerizes me. It’s just amazing what a round object can do for the spirit. That’s all you need, anything round. The kids in the camps use old rags or plastic and roll it up, tying it with string. Then set up some rocks as goals—and go! The passion that people around the world feel for soccer is fascinating. I grew up in Mexico, and my whole city would come to a stop, when the Mexican national team played. Everyone was one in support of the team. Now as an adult, I still get the chills when I see Messi or Ronaldo or Chicharito do their magic on the field. My eight year old sun plays in club here in California. He plays with such joy, but also with such dedication. It is teaching him so much about being part of a team and how to give your all. It’s all just beautiful.

Q: Which famous soccer player is a favorite among the kids in the refugee camps?

As in many parts of the world, there is a huge rivalry between Barcelona fans and Real Madrid fans. It seems to pretty much divide all the camps, and this then related to who the favorite player is. They either like Messi from Barcelona or Ronaldo from Real Madrid. It is so fun to hear them argue for one or the other!

Q: Have any of the refugees ever been to a professional soccer match?

No one that I have met in the camps has been to a match, although there might be an adult refugee that has, if he or she lived in Khartoum for a period of time before the crisis in Darfur began.

Q: Earlier you mentioned that we have another ‘lost generation’ in what has been described as “open prisons.” Can you elaborate a little?

During my first visits to the camps, the refugees were hopeful, thinking that they would get to return home as soon as the world found out about their situation. They thought that peace would come soon. After years kept passing, that changed. While they are being kept alive there, they feel trapped and with little to no opportunities for a better life. When you talk with the young people, they want to be doctors, lawyers, teachers and more, but there’s no way to get there.

Q: How would you respond to someone who feels we should focus our efforts on children in the US? Why is it important to make an impact on the other side of the world? Can we really make a difference?

I don’t believe it’s an either/or proposition. I do believe that there is huge value and benefit to our own children to give them the opportunity to connect with other children from other cultures and experiencing different needs. There are few things as powerful as the feeling of being able to help others, and maybe even more for those that might need help themselves. What we do with our work is create real and mutually enriching relationships between people on different sides of the world. As we have seen, we live in a small world, where events on one side can impact the other. We need to care for others, no matter where, and this will insure a better world for ourselves. We can make a difference. I see it every day. When you offer a refugee kid a ball and an opportunity for education, that kid now has an option, besides the ever present pull to join an armed group and maybe become the perpetrator of mass atrocities of the future.

Q: You’ve had plenty of first hand experience in Darfur, have you noticed any improvements since your first visit in 2005? How has celebrity involvement helped or hurt the ‘cause’?

Without the early attention Darfur received, we just cannot know how many more people would have died. As it is, millions of people live in displacement and only survive because of aid provided to them by the international community. Celebrities have paid a crucial part in getting the spotlight on Darfur and other huge man-made humanitarian crises in Sudan. Some of these celebrities, like George Clooney, are “the real deal.” They deeply care about the people that continue to be in danger, and they stay involved, well beyond when the cameras are on them. We need more well-informed, dedicated celebrities. I have met so many regular citizens who first became involved in the cause when they found out about through a celebrity they like.

The situation in Darfur continues to be dire. Although there is not the level of violence that once existed, there are still bombings, attacks, killings, and rapes, with innocent civilians being the main victims. Millions continue to live in displacement, and they are losing hope. In the camps, people are resilient and adapt, but the needs are great.

Q: Do you think celebrities have a sort-of moral obligation to ‘give-back’?

More than an obligation, they have a great opportunity to have a greater than average impact—given their greater than average position in our society. In so many ways, us living in countries like the United States are so privileged. As humans, it is our moral responsibility to share with others that are less fortunate. The secret is that “giving-back” actually comes back to the giver, and it makes life more meaningful and more enjoyable than if we isolate ourselves from the challenges that others experience.

Q: ‘The Enough Moment’-what is it and how did you come to be involved?

Through our consistent work in the camps, my team has come to work closely with other organization that advocate for the people of Sudan. One such group is the Enough Project. It’s co-founder, John Prendergast is a friend. When co-writing The Enough Moment, his office asked me about stories of people that had an “enough moment,” that time in a life when you decide to act for others. I gave them some ideas. Soon after, JP asked for my enough moment, and it was included in the book.

Q: Have you noticed that frivolous spending and the flaunting of wealth have become less acceptable while humanitarian efforts are becoming more important, perhaps signaling a change in global consciousness?

I truly hope that there is a shift in global consciousness towards compassion. I get excited when visiting high schools and colleges and seeing how young people here in the United States care and are willing to give of themselves in very substantial ways.

What’s important, though, is to make these connections between cultures, societies, and individuals that are in need and those that are able to support. One day, those situations will flip, and having a friend to count on will make all the difference. We must make it personal. People don’t forget about friends.

Darfur United on Facebook or i-Act Website.

Many thanks to Gabriel Stauring for taking the time to answer our questions and for all his work towards a better world.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

In case you don’t know: Caddy For A Cure offers the public the opportunity to experience a day “inside-the-ropes” at a PGA TOUR venue, caddying for a PGA TOUR player—with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. It’s a chance to walk the greatest courses in the nation, next to the greatest players and names in the world of golf, at a sanctioned PGA TOUR event. You can caddy for a PGA TOUR or LPGA Tour Professional and help the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Birdies for the Brave, and many other nonprofit charities.

Professional golfers who have participated in the ‘Caddy For A Cure’ program include: Hunter Mahan, Luke Donald, Boo Weekely, Sean O’Hare, Natalie Gulbis, Padraig Harrington, Zach Johnson, Hunter Mahan, Ricky Fowler, Ian Poulter and others including our favorite kitten Camilo Villegas.

Camilo Villegas, who, while waiting to tee off, approached Caddy For A Cure founder, Russ Holden like an old friend. “When we initially approached Camilo for Caddy For A Cure, he was really into it, “ Holden told us, “but then we waited and asked again and he said yes, but it didn’t seem like it was going to happen. It wasn’t until we were at another event that Camilo spotted us and asked when he would get his chance.”

It’s not often to hear about a professional athlete approaching a charity to ask about participating. For this, Villegas gets a mighty-mighty-fine man shout-out.

Also of note, Aaron Baddeley, who stopped me in my tracks with those dimples.

As always, thanks for reading~

delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

Professional surfers Greg Long, Chilean native Ramon Navarro, and Kohl Christensen have all couriered water filters, giving more than 100,000 people access to clean water.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Waves for Water uses a water filter design by Sawyer. It’s based on the same technology used in kidney dialysis. Water flows through micro-pores that are so small, bacteria, protoza or cysts that cause e-coli, cholera, and typhoid can’t get through. This water filtering technology is cost effective, dependable, self-sustainable and operable simply by gravity. For $25 these filters have the power to eliminate preventable disease and can provide up to 14 people with potable water a day, for a year and if maintained properly, these filters can last for several years. W4W has delivered this technology to Indonesia, Pakistan, Chili, Brazil, Japan and now Afghanistan!

Being practical in their approach, W4W used a very traditional and basic method of training called, “train the trainer” approach. Instead of pushing a solution onto a community and risking staying power, their approach was to first teach the military how to use these filtration systems who in turn pass the training on to villagers and community leaders who already have established relationships and trust within the community. This method also prevents foreigners (us) from retaining any power once the program has been implemented- allowing the filtration system to flourish in the impoverished area of Kunar.

Captain Branbar and the Wolfhounds have added another dynamic to the W4W initiative, not only can surfers or those traveling abroad be part of their mission, but now the armed forces who are stationed world wide and already have presence in these desolate areas can be a part of the long- term solution. Their presence and compassion in the war torn area of Kunar, has the power to change the perception of the U.S. occupation in Afghanistan.

Having clean water is something many of us in the U.S. take for granted. We complain about the mere taste of tap water and splurge on bottled water or filtration systems while preventable illness like cholera, typhoid, and kidney stones become part of every day life for many people… just something to think about the next time you’re spending $5 on bottled water.

Written by: Jessica Hernandez

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.

Here’s how it works: Create a page describing your fundraising; Spread the word: Receive your funds: Pay it forward by sharing the site. Yeah it’s that easy.

So far the site has raised almost $10 million for medical expenses and other causes.

The most notable fundraiser on Give Forward is Sarah Burke’s family.

On January 19, the six-time X Games gold medalist passed away. The legendary athlete essentially lobbied the X Games to include women in the free-skiing events on equal standing. She is and was a rare role model and an inspiration- as evidenced by the $278, 819 in donations received to help cover her medical care…since Sarah’s family has surpassed their fundraising goal, they are Paying it Forward by establishing a foundation in Sarah’s name. I encourage you to read more from Sarah’s family HERE.

The reason Athlebrities heard about Give Forward was not due to the passing of Sarah Burke, but because a friend asked me if I wouldn’t mind ‘paying it forward’ with a post about his sister.

Last summer Monica (who lives in San Jose) was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She has no insurance and due to all the complications has been unable to work. She went through a program at Stanford with an investigational medication to treat cancer and it seems to work. However, because of her genetic predisposition to contract cancer again she went through 15 hours of surgery 2 weeks ago where both of her breasts were removed along with a hysterectomy and the first phase of reconstructive surgery. As you can imagine this has been a very difficult time and she is facing another surgery in a couple months. There is a website called GiveForward.com where people can post their story and also set up an account for donations to help with their situation. Monica has a page there and they are seeking $60,000.00 to help with medical bills, loss of income, home health, recovery etc…Would it be possible for you to post this in a short blog posting on Athlebrities and let your followers look it over in hopes maybe some would like to contribute? So far they have had $5,290 in contributions and every little bit would help.

And with that, we encourage you to check out Give Forward. It’s amazing to see how many people are donating to help those who are not necessarily an Athlebrity…just good people fighting for their life who need our help in these increasingly uninsured times.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line ‘Athlebrity Zone’ or ‘Athlebrity Madness’. Their use of my legally protected company name is without my consent and constitutes a direct, well-documented theft of my intellectual property.