15th annual induction ceremonies, Thursday, Sept. 24 at Qwest Arena in Boise; Honorary Chair George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States
Orlando Magic center Adonal Foyle, Major League Soccer great Diego Gutierrez and world-class hurdler Tracy Mattes have been selected for 2009 induction into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (www.SportsHumanitarian.com).
Foyle is being honored for his work in helping voting-age youth to understand campaign finance reform in America by founding the non-partisan group Democracy Matters (www.DemocracyMatters.org) and for his work empowering youth in the Eastern Caribbean and in the U.S. to take control of their futures through his Kerosene Lamp Foundation (www.KeroseneLampFoundation.org).
Foyle also has been involved locally in the Magic’s efforts in Parramore on the City of Orlando’s west side. During the NBA Finals, the Magic and Foyle in conjunction with NBA Cares unveiled a newly renovated reading and learning center at the Northwest Community Center. The center provided local youths with a safe place to explore their educational interests and access to the tools and resources they need to succeed in today’s high-tech world.
Foyle also previously delivered healthy snacks, Magic backpacks and a meaningful message on making healthy lifestyle choices to the elementary students at Nap Ford Community School in Parramore. The visit coincided with the school’s commencement of the “Junk Free Zone,” which focuses on eliminating bad language, unhealthy foods and unproductive habits, while encouraging a healthy lifestyle.
Gutierrez is being honored for his efforts to prevent the some 3,000 daily malaria-related deaths in Africa through his work with Nothing But Nets (www.NothingButNets.net).
Mattes is being honored for her work as a special representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (www.unfoundation.org/your-role/partners/un-partners/unwto.html). Her efforts are focused on harnessing the developmental power of tourism in the fight against world poverty.
“Adonal Foyle, Diego Gutierrez and Tracy Mattes are examples to athletes everywhere, our youth and our peers of how giving back can profoundly impact the lives of others,” said Rick Frisch, president of the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame. “Today, communities across the country and the world are faced with so much need. It is refreshing to find our most visible role models – world class athletes, taking it upon themselves to identify unique social concerns important to them and developing a culture of service for others to follow. We are honored to have Adonal, Diego and Tracy among us. They truly represent All that is Good in Sport.”
The sports humanitarians will be enshrined among a fraternity of over 40 world-class athletes for their extraordinary commitment to community service. The Hall’s 15th annual induction ceremonies get underway at 7 p.m. Mountain time on Thursday, September 24 in Boise, Idaho.
Tickets for the Hall’s induction ceremonies are on sale at the Qwest Arena box office in Boise and online at www.QwestArenaBoise.com
Adonal Foyle: Democracy Matters / Kerosene Lamp Foundation
Foyle, who has spent 12 years as an NBA center with the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and most recently as a part of the Orlando Magic team that advanced to the 2009 NBA finals, has taken a leadership role in helping voting age youth understand campaign finance reform in America. In 2001, he founded the non-partisan Democracy Matters (www.DemocracyMatters.org), which now has more than 70 chapters on college, university and high school campuses in 23 states. Foyle’s other passion is empowering youth in the Eastern Caribbean and U.S. to take control of their futures. In 2006, he established the Kerosene Lamp Foundation (www.KeroseneLampFoundation.org) (named after the type of light Foyle used to study at night on an island with no electricity) with the goal of helping youth grow into healthy and well-educated adults. Foyle’s efforts have been recognized by former President Bill Clinton and the NBA.
Diego Gutierrez: Nothing But Nets
Gutierrez joins the soccer great Pelé as just the second professional soccer player to join the Humanitarian Hall. A native of Colombia and now a U.S. citizen, Gutierrez’s professional career included the Major League Soccer (MLS) Kansas City Wizards and Chicago Fire and the U.S. National Team. During his 13-year career, the two-time First-Team All-American at Rockhurst University, won a total of four US Open Cups, three MLS conference titles and one MLS Cup. Along with supporting more than a half dozen organizations on a national, regional and local level, Gutierrez is the national spokesperson for Nothing But Nets (www.NothingButNets.net), a global grass-roots anti-malaria campaign that provides mosquito nets to help prevent children and adults from becoming infected with the disease while they sleep. The program aims to reduce the some 3,000 daily deaths that plague children on the African continent as a result of malaria. Gutierrez’s efforts have raised more than $26 million in support of Nothing But Nets and have been recognized by the United Nations Foundation/USAID, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and former President and Mrs. George W. Bush along with Major League Soccer.
Tracy Mattes: United Nations World Tourism Organization
Mattes, is the Hall’s 8th world-class track and field athlete and five-time NCAA All-American. A native of Wisconsin, Mattes is a five-time NCAA All-American, where she earned 13 All Big Ten honors and Academic All Big Ten honors at the University of Wisconsin Madison. After transferring to Arizona State University, she earned two more NCAA All-American honors as a Sun Devil, as well as All PAC Ten honors and Academic All PAC Ten honors. A figure on the U.S. national team for ten years, Mattes ranked as high as 7th in the world in the 400-meter hurdles before her aspirations for a track and field berth in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games was cut short after she suffered a spinal fracture in an auto crash. She is now training in the five-discipline sport of Modern Pentathlon in hopes of a berth at the London 2012 Games. Never losing sight of her desire to give back, Mattes has used her success as a world class athlete as a platform to launch and aid multiple philanthropic projects for children focused on sport and education. In 2005, she was appointed as a special representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (www.unfoundation.org/your-role/partners/un-partners/unwto.html) with a focus on harnessing the developmental power of tourism in the fight against world poverty. As a part of her work, Mattes helped spearhead the first global conference of Sport and Tourism. Her work has also helped launch “Thank You Small Libraries” in many African nations including Mozambique, Mali, Senegal, Ghana and Ethiopia. Now 46 in number, the programs continue to prove how basic education and literacy programs are the key to breaking the cycles of poverty.
About The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame
The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame (www.SportsHumanitarian.com), located on the Boise State University campus in Idaho, recognizes individuals and organizations from the world of amateur and professional athletics who, through their humanitarian efforts, distinguish themselves as role models in the community. Over 40 sports-humanitarians have been enshrined in Boise including tennis great Arthur Ashe, Major League Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson, NFL coaching legend Tom Landry, the NBA’s David Robinson, soccer great Pelé and the Harlem Globetrotters. The Hall was the inspiration behind Boise’s Humanitarian Bowl and its Humanitarian Awards program annually recognizes exceptional community-focused organizations and leaders from Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NCAA College Football and other organizations. The World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is open weekdays to visitors and humanitarians of all ages.
www.SportsHumanitarian.com
Contact:Mike McQuaid
McQuaid & Co. Strategic Communications For the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, 206-262-7301, [email protected]
Joel Glass
Vice President/Communications
Orlando Magic
[email protected]
