Socks
For Siberia
Socks for
Siberia, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization that supports orphaned
children in the regions of Khakassia and Krasnoyarsk, Siberia
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Socks For Siberia Gives Kids A “CHANCE” To Be CHAMPIONS!
Imagine the surprise when team “Chance” beat all of their opponents locally in Krasnoyarsk. Next they boarded a train to take part in a regional competition in Novosibirsk and emerged as winners there as well! The next adventure was a momentous airplane trip to the Black Sea Coastal city of Sochi – which will be the Olympic Capital of 2014 - for a national competition among 17 teams from all over Russia. The trip and the competition were sponsored by one of the largest cell phone service providers in Russia, Megafon. Mind you, only 2 of the boys had ever been on a train, and none had ever flown on an airplane. In spite of their inexperience, Team “Chance” triumphed in Sochi, emerging as the champions of this national competition in their respective division. They proudly returned to Minusinsk from Sochi on May 25, 2010.
The orphanage director Ludmilla said that throughout these competitions and travels, they always thought of Socks For Siberia and the wonderful people from America who contributed to their victory by providing the simple gift of soccer equipment.
Wally and Michele have been
working with orphaned children in Russia for twelve years and think of these
children as “Grandchildren.” The board of directors of SFS has agreed that it is
very important for us to be with Team Chance in London to congratulate and
support them and help to tell their story and report it back to their many
supporters here in America. Wally and Michele Connor along with board
members Kathy Putch of Fort Myers, FL and her husband Joe; Melissa O’Connell of
Houston, TX and her son Lincoln; Wally Hall of West Brookfield, MA, and Sergei
Glukhov of Abakan, Khakassia, Russia (our volunteer Chief Translator and
Services Coordinator in Siberia) will be traveling to
London at their own expense, to meet with and congratulate Team Chance on
December first! Feel free to e-mail YOUR congratulations to "TEAM CHANCE" at socksforsiberia @ charter.net TO ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS OF "SOCKS FOR SIBERIA" : THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!!! WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE!!! AND WE COULDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITHOUT YOU!!!
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THIS HEARTWARMING STORY!!!! |
During Socks For Siberia’s most recent trip to Siberia in June of 2009, we
visited the Minusinsk Children’s home to meet their children and staff and
determine what their current needs were. Sergei, the soccer coach of the
Children’s home had a humble and simple request. He asked for soccer cleats,
socks and shin guards so that the children could participate in local soccer
tournaments. Many of the boys had only flip flops, sneakers, or ill fitting
boots for footwear and so were not previously allowed to play. With your help,
Socks For Siberia purchased cleats, socks and shin guards as well as soccer
balls for the soccer program, in addition to other items.
In
April the orphanage’s boys soccer team (named “Chance” - since they just wanted
to be given the “chance” to play soccer) applied to participate in the local
soccer competition. It took a lot of courage, nerve and persistence to persuade
the local sport administration to allow them to join the tournament because they
had never before participated. Having convinced the administrators of the
tournament that they were worthy competitors, they were allowed to take part in
the competition. 
As
a result, the boys of Team “Chance” along with their coach Sergei and a teacher
from the orphanage will be traveling to London in December to watch London’s
famous Team Arsenal play at the Arsenal Stadium in London with a chance to meet
and greet professional players. Their participation is being sponsored by the
cell phone company “Megafon.” 