The History of Grassroot Soccer
Grassroot Soccer, Inc. became a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization in 2002. Founder, Tommy Clark, MD conceived of the idea after having played soccer professionally in Zimbabwe where he witnessed first hand both the devastation of HIV and the fanatical popularity of soccer. Together with a group of friends who had similar experiences, he and co-founders Methembe Ndlovu, Ethan Zohn and Kirk Friedrich created Grassroot Soccer. The core group traveled to Zimbabwe in 2002 and with the support of advisory board member, Albert Bandura, consultants and local stakeholders, developed and piloted an interactive soccer-themed HIV prevention curriculum that was first implemented in Zimbabwe in 2003. After a positive independent evaluation of the project by The Children’s Health Council, a Stanford University affiliate group, GRS received a three-year program grant in 2005 from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to expand its work. Click here to learn more about our accomplishments and milestones.
Click Here for a letter from GRS Founder/CEO, Dr. Tommy Clark, outlining how GRS came to be.
Ethan Zohn (Co-Founder), a friend of Tommy’s, had just won Survivor in 2002. A former professional soccer player in Zimbabwe, Ethan generously provided start-up funds for the organization and then tirelessly used every media opportunity to talk about the tragedy of HIV.
In 2005, Kirk Friedrich and Methembe Ndlovu, friends of Tommy and Ethan’s, and instrumental to the organizations success were recognized as co-founders for their committment to the organization. Methembe rose from a poor township in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to attend Dartmouth College, one of the premier universities in the US and then returned to Zimbabwe where he captained the national team, the nations highest honor for a soccer player. His decision to stay in Zimbabwe and work to turn the tide against HIV has been a true mark of committment. Kirk, GRS Managing Director, has become a leader in the sport for development world with extensive experience in rolling out programs in diverse settings.
Grassroot Soccer has made large strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Some of our organizational highlights include:
2002
• Initial concept of Grassroot Soccer developed.
• Curriculum developed in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
• African soccer stars sign up to participate.
• 501(c)3 non-profit status obtained in United States.
2003
• Development of our unique, activity-based curriculum with the help of an educational consultant and leaders from local grassroots organizations.
• Partnership formed with the Highlanders Football club, a leading professional team in Zimbabwe.
• Training of 15 professional soccer players to act as peer educators, who reached over 1,500 young people by organizing and running two-week sessions as after-school programs.
• Systems for evaluation of our programs and curriculum designed and tested.
2004
• Submission of the curriculum and program to the Children’s Health Council for evaluation, with overwhelmingly positive results.
• Launch of a project in Ethiopia in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the Ethiopian Ministry of Education that will reach more than 1 million students over the next 3 years.
• Grassroot Soccer receives grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2005
• GRS pilots what will become the “Implementing Partner” model, taping the local knowledge and existing infrastructure of partner organizations to expand scale of Grassroot Soccer’s impact.
• GRS expands to Botswana, Ethiopia and Zambia, including trainings in three refugee camps and partnerships with local organizations.
2006
• First peer-reviewed evaluation of Grassroot Soccer published in AIDS and Behavior. Findings illustrate “Diffusion of Information” as graduates of GRS programs effectively educate their peers.
• Grassroot Soccer receives support from Draper Richards Foundation, which highlights GRS as a leader in social entrepreneurship.
2007
• Four evaluations of Grassroot Soccer are published, including two in the Sport for Development field.
• Continued expansion of partner programs brings Grassroot Soccer to South Africa and Namibia.
2008
• Grassroot Soccer announced as winner of Nike/Ashoka Sports for a Better World Collaborative Competition based on its effectiveness, innovation, and scale.
• GRS receives grant from U.S. Government to scale up programs in South Africa.
• Gates Foundation and Nike sign on as Premier Supporters of Grassroot Soccer.
• Mulago Foundation grant allows GRS to assess long-term impact on graduates’ behavior.
2009
• Grassroot Soccer opens first Football For Hope Center in South Africa
To learn more about the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic please visit the Global HIV/AIDS Timeline, a fantastic resource maintianed by The Kaiser Family Foundation.
