Gladiators To Collect Soccer Balls And School Supplies For Iraqi Children
Published on November 12, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
The Gwinnett Gladiators, in conjunction with Operation "Back To School" will conduct a special collection at both their post-Veterans Day Weekend games this Friday and Saturday games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The donation drive is being conducted in response to a request received from Lt. Col. Daniel Barnes, who became a fan of the Gladiators while he and his family were stationed in Atlanta from 2006-08. Barnes is currently deployed to Baghdad, Iraq with the 1st Cavalry Division as division medical civil/military operations officer and is assisting the Iraqis in rebuilding their health care system, while his family remains stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. In recent e-mail correspondence, Gladiators President/General Manager Steve Chapman asked Col. Barnes if there was anything the team or fans could provide to Barnes' unit. With two home games occurring the Friday and Saturday after Veterans Day, it was an opportunity to involve the teams' historically generous fanbase. Instead of something for his unit, Barnes suggested a program that helps children in Iraq.
Operation "Back to School" is a volunteer program being led by Army Chaplain Christopher Weinrich and Capt. Brent Lindley, who are at Barnes' Camp Taji location. The donated items will be distributed personally by American troops to Iraqi children in their continuing effort to build trust and friendship. The specifically requested items include soccer balls and school supplies. According to Barnes, "Operation "Back To School" is a great way to get involved in making a difference not only to the Iraqi children, but the troopers who get the opportunity to interact with the children. The school supplies and soccer balls do more than bring a smile to a child's face - they ease children's fear of American troopers, build a level of trust and friendship."
The Operation "Back To School" packs include: one composition notebook, one small box of colored pencils (not crayons), three plain folders with pockets, a package of loose leaf paper, a pair of safety scissors, a ruler, a pencil sharpener, a large eraser, a pencil pouch and a dozen pencils in a 2.5 gallon Ziploc bag.
Fans are encouraged to donate soccer balls and/or some or all of the listed items to either game this weekend, Friday vs. South Carolina @ 7:35pm and/or Saturday vs. Elmira @ 7:05pm at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. More information is available online at www.BeAGladiator.com or the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com.
The Gladiators continue their 7th season in the ECHL on Friday, November 13th vs. South Carolina at 7:35 p.m. The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
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