HISTORY

Soccer for Hope is a non-profit organization founded by Oliver Wyss, a professional soccer player and survivor of aplastic anemia. SFH has been driven by Oliver's goal to give back to the people who saved his life while raising awareness in the soccer community to the needs of children with life threatening diseases. In 2005, Oliver's young son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This difficult experience has honed Oliver's vision for Soccer for Hope to include focus on cancer research for children. Since 1999, Soccer for Hope has progressed from Oliver's vision of an annual local event in Southern California to an explosive charity program reaching thousands of people nation-wide.

Soccer for Hope receives funding through corporate sponsorship and participation fees for Soccer for Hope camps, clinics and Inspirational Walks. These events include an annual camp in Southern California and nationwide clinics such as those sponsored by MLS teams and the Hyundai Cup World Soccer Open. During these events children have an opportunity to learn soccer from skilled professionals who share Oliver's commitment to helping needy children. The kids at the camps also are made aware of the challenges that less fortunate children face and leave with the knowledge that they are helping children with life threatening diseases. The funds are used for cancer research and to help children who need treatment that they could otherwise not afford. We believe that everyone comes out of these events a better person with a heightened appreciation of their gift of health.

Soccer for Hope provides more than just funding. It provides a smile for children in the hospital who receive a visit from a soccer star. It provides awareness to the community around how they can help to make children's lives better. It provides healthy athletes with an understanding of how fortunate they are to have their health and the difficulties that other children live with. It even provides soccer equipment to orphans in Africa. It provides hope to children with life threatening diseases. And it provides corporations, MLS teams and other soccer organizations a vehicle to give back to the community through a soccer related activity that benefits everyone involved. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the US and touches more young people's lives than any other sport. It is the perfect vehicle to bring hope to all of our children.