For immediate release

TCAAF HELPS SPONSOR GRASSROOT SOCCER INTERN
Program Merges Soccer Passion with HIV/AIDS Education

Tuesday, July 19, 2007 - The Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) presented a check for $2,000 to Meghan O'Reilly who has been accepted as an African teaching intern (ATI) with Grassroot Soccer (www.grassrootsoccer.org) an international charitable organization formed in 2002 to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa through an innovative curriculum that uses soccer players and the game itself to raise awareness about the disease, teach critical life skills and instill prevention strategies.

Meghan is one of a handful of teaching interns that have been accepted into this program, which requires a year of volunteer work in Africa. Grassroot Soccer provides basic accomodations, but volunteers are responsible for their own airfare, transportation and other incidentals. Over the past three months, Meghan conducted a series of local fund-raising events and was able to collect a majority of the money needed. The donation from the TCAAF ensured she met her goal. During her year as an ATI, Meghan will learn how the internationally-recognized HIV prevention curriculum works and bring elements of the program to the Turks and Caicos upon her return.

"The concept behind Grassroots Soccer is brilliant: it leverages the power of soccer to combat the challenge of HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Dawn O'Sullivan, a director of the TCAAF and family practitioner. "By mobilizing African soccer stars, soccer coaches, teachers and community leaders, this organization educates kids on the risks of HIV/AIDS and has been able to produce sustainable results in dispelling life-threatening stigmas and misconceptions. I'm excited to see how we can implement some of the same concepts and programs here in Turks and Caicos and look forward to learning more through Meghan's experience, especially as we get ready to open the TCAAF Youth Center."

The TCAAF is a non-profit, volunteer organization aimed at erasing the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS in Turks and Caicos. Building a recreational facility that's open to and used by all young people in the country has long been a goal of the TCAAF and is now closer to reality, with construction fully underway. The youth center will be open to everyone in the community and provide a safe place for young people to spend time. The center along with other programs delivered by the TCAAF, are designed to help keep Turks and Caicos on the right track to prevent and ultimately stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

In addition to the youth center, which is the major project of the organization, the TCAAF hosts fund-raising events like the Jadot Cup, which was held in June. All funds raised by the TCAAF go towards projects and programs aimed at AIDS awareness and education. A key program of the TCAAF is the monthly TV show called: Making a Difference. Making a Difference airs the last Tuesday of every month at 9:00 pm on Channel 4 and addresses various subjects related to HIV/AIDs in a positive, entertaining format.

About the TCAAF
The TCAAF is a non-profit organization that was founded in December of 2003 by a group of individuals who lost friends and/or family members to AIDS. The mission of the organization is to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS through education and community participation to affect positive lifestyle and behavioral changes. In addition, the TCAAF supports the efforts of the Turks and Caicos National AIDS Program and has recently broke ground on a new youth center that will be open to everyone in the community. The TCAAF relies on its membership fees for existence. Individual memberships are $100, corporate memberships are $500, please call 941-2222 for details. "AIDS…. Help us make a difference."

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