Austin, TX, May 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A group of NCAA student athletes is kicking off their summer by serving kids in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Over the next two weeks, athletes from Texas A&M , the University of Oklahoma , Texas Tech , and Loyola University will spend time speaking to children in Haitian schools and serving in villages through Mission of Hope, Haiti . Players representing various sports, including football, soccer, and volleyball will come together to build basketball courts, plant trees, paint houses, and speak to children in local schools. They will also spend time playing basketball and other games with kids in the communities they serve. “This is an opportunity for these athletes to make a huge impact in the life of these kids and in these communities,” says Mission of Hope President Brad Johnson. “It’s also an opportunity for the athletes to grow and learn life lessons.” For many students, this is not their first trip serving at Mission of Hope. They are returning to serve again this year because of the powerful impact Haiti had on them. “It’s been great to see our student-athletes have life-transforming experiences,” said Mikado Hinson, Texas A&M Football Director of Player Development. “We cannot change the world in one week, but we can all be changed in one week.” Players say the trips to Haiti have also helped build comradery on and off the field. “The relationships I've built with teammates the past two years are relationships I'll have for the rest of my life, and I can't wait to go back and grow with the athletes that are going this year,” says Texas A&M offensive tackle Koda Martin. Loyola athletes arrived in Haiti this week. The University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M athletes serve from May 12-19, and Texas Tech players serve from May 16-23. About Mission of Hope, Haiti: Mission of Hope, Haiti exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child in Haiti. By partnering with local churches and indigenous organizations throughout Haiti, Mission of Hope feeds over 91,000 children daily, impacts over 10,000 students through education, trains over 1,700 farmers, and provides medical care to over 30,000 patients annually. For more information about how Mission of Hope is working to transform a nation, visit www.mohhaiti.org.
Bridget Henderson Mission of Hope, Haiti 512-963-2733 bridget@mohhaiti.org
