Lafayette Soccer Club Encourages Haitian Youth With Donation Of Jerseys

    DENVER, CO, November 02, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The way children cherish a sports uniform is poignant. When youth players are given new jerseys, sometimes they are worn for days on end. And sometimes, it may be the only piece of clothing they own.

A devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake in January, 2010, left the proud Haitian people reeling. One-third of the country's population--over three million people--were affected by the quake and most have yet to recover fully.

Recently, Hurricane Matthew drove the western areas of Haiti to a dreadfully familiar state of calamity.

Wynn Walent, assistant national director for St. Luke Foundation of Haiti, has labored with the rebuilding efforts for over six years and frequently travels there. "It's an amazing place full of extraordinary people. I'm grateful for the chance to be involved there." As a Lafayette resident, Walent welcomed the donation of over 200 uniforms from Trebol, a youth soccer club rooted in the local community for the past 20 years. "The St. Luke Foundation runs two hospitals, three women's health centers, 32 schools, job creation programs, housing and clean water. It's transformational work."

In addition, the donation of soccer uniforms to the youth of the impoverished country is impactful. "Trebol has been such a good thing both for St. Luke and for my family." Several years ago, Walent adopted two boys from Haiti; now teenagers, they both play for Trebol and continue to acclimate well to their new home.

A formal partnership between Trebol and one or more of the Haitian youth clubs is underway. Ivan Jackson, Trebol executive director, says, "Soccer is a universal language. Unfortunately, their desire to play is overshadowed by the lack of infrastructure and organization. We are more than happy to help and will continue to do so."

About Trebol
Trebol Soccer Club serves the Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Boulder and Superior communities and has proudly done so for over 20 years with more than 5,000 players. We stay true to our mission by offering affordable fees. Moreover, we believe no child should be prevented from playing due to hardship. Our club continues to offer full or partial scholarships; more than 12% receive need-based assistance, an amount in excess of $60,000 annually. Our mission: "Develop players through balanced competition - Remain humble in victory, gracious in defeat - Thrive as an inclusive soccer community".

About St Luke Foundation for Haiti
An inspired group of inspired Haitian leaders founded the programs of Fondation St. Luc in 2000 with the support of their mentor, Father Rick Frechette. Together, these leaders worked in the densely populated shantytowns around Port au Prince, running medical clinics and simple schools. Since then, with the assistance of international partners, the programs of Fondation St Luc have grown organically, one steady step at a time, into a multi-tiered and interrelated system of programming. The St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, the U.S.-based counterpart to Fondation St Luc, was officially incorporated in the fall of 2010. The St. Luke Foundation for Haiti is a 501(c)3 with the mission of supporting the leadership and staff of Fondation St. Luc programs in Haiti.

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