Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and The Soccer Learning Center Host Ironmen
December 7, 2008 - Xtreme Soccer League (XSL)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Newark, N.J. (Sunday, December 7, 2008) - As the excitement continues to build with the New Jersey Ironmen 2008-09 season opener next Sunday at Prudential Center, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and The Soccer Learning Center will host the Ironmen in a special meet-and-greet on Monday evening at 4:00 p.m. Following a brief presentation at the City Hall of Jersey City, the Ironmen players, coaches and staff will be available to interact with all of those in attendance.
The event, which is open to the public, begins at 4:00 p.m. on Monday with a brief presentation by Jersey City officials, The Soccer Learning Center founder Alex Lalaoui and the Ironmen. Immediately following the presentation, members of the Ironmen will take photographs and sign autographs for all of the fans that can make it out to the meet-and-greet.
This event is not only in support of the upcoming season debut by the Ironmen against the Chicago Storm next Sunday, but it is also leading into the Heroes Cup Revenge Match, which will be played at the conclusion of the Ironmen match. The Heroes Cup Revenge Match is the second installment in a soccer series between the Jersey City Fire and Police Departments, with the first win going to the fire department this past summer at Giants Stadium.
Running concurrently with the preparation for the Heroes Cup is a jersey fundraiser. Both a police department and fire department jersey have been placed on Ebay, each with one side autographed by the Ironmen players and one side autographed by the Red Bull New York players. Funds raised from the fire department jersey auction will go to The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas, and the money raised by the police department jersey auction will go to the Women Rising programs for women and families.
The Ironmen are also partnering with Jersey Cares at their home opener by hosting a coat drive at their home opener, which will benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Fans are encouraged to bring gently-worn coats that can be donated at the Prudential Center entrances.
Also on hand for the 2008-09 Ironmen home opener will be philanthropist Ethan Zohn, who will be the honorary captain during the season opening ceremonies. After receiving the million-dollar prize for winning Survivor-Africa in 2001, Zohn did the opposite of what drives most people to reality television. He tookhis winnings and co-founded Grass Root Soccer (GRS), a non-profit organization that focuses on worldwide HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. In Africa professional soccer players are viewed as heroes within their communities, and GRS begins their approach with them. They first train those athletes about HIV/AIDS, and then those players go into the schools in Africa to teach the youth about the lethal disease. Zohn recently completed a 550-mile soccer dribble from Foxboro to Washington D.C. to raise awareness and funds for his cause.
Xtreme Soccer League Stories from December 7, 2008
- Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and The Soccer Learning Center Host Ironmen - New Jersey Ironmen
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