Save-A-Thon For Africa

My name is Kylie Miles and I am a goalie for the U-12 Logan Lynx team based in Northern Utah.  I love playing soccer and I love being a goalie.  I most love to make saves and help my team win games.  We were undefeated last season.

My dad recently went to Ghana, Africa to help rescue kids that are forced to work for fishermen in very dangerous conditions.  They do not go to school and basically have no fun.  My dad saw other children in the villages he visited with very little to do or play with.  But they do LOVE to play soccer.  He met many kids who asked for soccer balls and equipment but because they live in extreme poverty they will not be able to get what they need unless someone helps them.  There was one boy in a village about two hours outside the capital of Accra, Ghana that my dad promised a new soccer ball to and he told me he would keep that promise.

My dad also told me that girls in Africa have a harder time than the boys and unless girls are treated equally it is likely they will have children at very early ages and never be able to break free of the cycle of poverty.

So, I decided to start a Save-A-Thon for Africa.  Let me explain.

I am raising money to buy enough new soccer balls for all of the children in that village.  That is about 100 kids.  Each ball will cost no more than $10 so our initial goal is to raise $1,000.

Rather than just asking people for money I want to work for it by asking you to pledge a dollar amount per save I make this season.  This also helps motivate me to play my best for my team knowing that with each save I make I will be raising money that will get us closer to our goal of helping these children enjoy soccer and give them hope for a better life.

My dad will be going back to Africa later this year and has promised to deliver the balls directly to the children in the village.  In fact, if I can raise an additional $1,500 for my airfare he will take me to be there to help give away the balls in person.

Important Facts--

Starting April 17, 2012 we start our Spring league.

The season ends on May 17, 2012.

We will play 10 games.

Here is an example of how you can help me help these kids:

If you pledge $1.00 per save and I make 10 saves* per game then at the end of the season you would donate $100.00.  You can donate any amount you are comfortable with.

*A "save" means any shot that is made that would have scored a goal for the opposing team if I hadn't stopped it.  My mom and dad will keep track of my saves.

I don't know how many saves I will make this season but I will post the number of saves after each game so you can track how much your pledge will be and see how close we are to reaching our goal.  And since this is the first time we are doing this I think it is fair to give you the chance to adjust your pledge amount higher or lower halfway through the season, which will be May 4th.  You don't have to adjust your pledge but you can.  Or, if you prefer to just donate a fixed amount that is fine too.

Because the girls have special needs for support and confidence I want to help them a little more.  So, for every $10 raised my dad's charity will donate $5 of notebooks and school supplies for the girls.  This will encourage them to study and learn so that they can have a better future.

Donations will be made through my dad's non-profit company called Bridges To America, Inc.  This way, the money will be officially handled as an IRS-approved tax-deductible donation.

Thanks for your help!  Let's do this!