Texas A&M Men's Rugby

Texas A&M RFC to collect youth rugby gear for "Kit for Americas" during Gareth Jones Tournament
Press Release February 26, 2008 Written By Johnny Smith Back to Home Back to Press Releases
College Station , TX -Texas A&M RFC, in conjunction with Kit for Americas, will be hosting a youth kit drive at the 3rd annual Gareth Jones Challenge Cup to be held on March 29th, 2008 in College Station, Texas. “I first heard about Cristina Flores and her attempts to collect used rugby gear for less fortunate players throughout NAWIRA via an IRB newsletter.” stated tournament director Johnny Smith. “Upon contacting Ms. Flores, I was informed about the Mexican orphanage run by Ministerios de Amor and their attempts to save the lives of young children through education, love and rugby. As we already offer support to an orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, it was a natural fit for Texas A&M to get behind her efforts in Mexico City. “We’re not viewing this as a way to develop rugby, but as a means to develop the necessary life skills through rugby… to give them a chance at a better life.”
Ministerios de Amor is an orphanage that derives most of it’s funding through private donations. It takes in young boys between the ages of 6-18 and offers them a home, an education and most importantly, hope. Most of the boys have had to overcome drug use or physical abuse of some sort. “One of the coaches is an architect by the name of Raul Monroy and he has invested a great deal of time in the boys. According to Cristina Flores, “He has a couple of age groups and they have taken to rugby like fish to water. It's a great way to teach them discipline, team work, respect and fun.” The kit drive has been set up as a competition between the participating teams within the tournament so as that the team that gives the most gear will receive a trophy for their efforts. Anyone who would like to donate can do so; just contact Johnny Smith at jsmith@aggierugby.com or Cristina Flores at cflores@cogeco.ca or please feel free to mail any donations you would like to the following address: Johnny Smith 1474 TAMU- Lounge A College Station TX 77843 “Even if it is just one old pair of serviceable boots, we’ll take them. Nothing is too little or too big. Every donation will and does make a difference.” More information about Ministerios de Amor can be found at http://www.ministeriosdeamor.org.mx/ Back to Home Back to Press Releases