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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 2:49 p.m., Saturday, January 12, 2008

100 donated soccer balls destined to help Iraqi kids

Advertiser Staff

During the mayor's semi-annual Armed Forces Committee meeting in Kapolei, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Outrigger Enterprises Group will make a special presentation of soccer balls to military representatives to help spread good will in Iraq through the sport of soccer, according to a news release.

The presentation is scheduled for Monday at Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia St., Kapolei.

Last November, the mayor's office learned that troops stationed in Iraq were interested in teaching soccer to Iraqi children and setting up soccer games as a way of sharing good will through healthy physical activity, the release said. The games would also be an important means of building trust and openness with members of the local Iraqi communities.

The mayor's office contacted Outrigger Enterprises Group's David Carey, company president and CEO, and also an avid soccer fan, who immediately approved the purchase of 100 soccer balls through ST Sports in Kane'ohe, which provided them at cost.

"Outrigger has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the military in Hawaii, so I didn't have to think twice when the mayor approached us with this very special request," Carey said in the news release.

"Outrigger also has a long history of supporting sporting activities because they are good, clean fun. Games and sports have always been a way of bringing people together. When playing, people can put aside differences and simply enjoy themselves," Carey said.

The soccer balls will be delivered to Iraq by the military in February.