Jan. 20, 2010

Greenville, S.C. - The Furman men's soccer team will host the "Furman Reaching Out To Haiti Soccer Extravaganza" to benefit the victims of the earthquakes in Haiti. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and continue until 9 p.m.

Furman students, faculty and staff will be playing soccer continuously throughout the day at Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium on the Furman University campus to raise donations from fellow students and friends of Furman University. Collection boxes for donations, which will go directly to the Haitian Relief Fund, will also be set up this week in the University Center and in the Furman Dining Hall. Donations will be accepted at the front gate of Stone Stadium on Friday.

"With the tragic earthquake that shook Haiti a week ago, coupled with the fact that our only Furman Haitian student -- Fabien Vorbe -- plays for our men's soccer team, we felt obliged to do something to raise money for this cause on behalf of Fabien," said Paladin head coach Doug Allison.

Vorbe, a sophomore forward, was directly effected by the tragedy. Jean-Yves Labaze, Vorbe's coach on Haiti's 2007 Under-17 World Cup Team, was killed in the earthquake along with 30 members of the Haitian Soccer Federation.

Donations can also be made by contacting Susan Bennett in the Furman University Chaplain's Office at (864) 294-2133 or by emailing her at susan.bennett@furman.edu.