BY PHILIP HETU — The June Jones Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization announced today final details of the Fourth Annual American Samoa Goodwill Mission, held in Pago Pago, American Samoa June 13 – 16, 2011.
The Goodwill Mission will be led by Southern Methodist University Head Football Coach June Jones. In addition to Coach Jones, the delegation will include former University of Hawai’i Quarterback Colt Brennan, and several current and former NFL players of Samoan descent including Philadelphia Eagles Running Back Reno Mahe, Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Lineman Vince Manuwai, San Francisco 49ers legend Jesse Sapolu (four-time Super Bowl Champion) and Denver Broncos Defensive End Ma’a Tanuvasa (two-time Super Bowl Champion).
This year, the Goodwill Mission will donate over $1,000,000 in medical supplies, equipment and medicine to American Samoa health organizations. The Medical team will once again be led by Ellie Taft who currently serves as the Clinical Inpatient Manager for Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care at Stanford University and will soon be taking a position at the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. She will be joined by certified doctors and nurses representing nearly 100 years’ experience in emergency medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. The medical team will coordinate a Medical Experience Mobile Station, facilitate a Sports Medicine clinic, and will work side by side with local medical professionals at American Samoa healthcare facilities.
In conjunction with Blue Sky Communications, the June Jones Foundation will once again award $10,000.00 in college scholarships to five high school seniors ($2,000 each) who attend a college in the United States. Scholarship recipients are selected by the American Samoa Board of Education.
“We are deeply honored to have Coach Jones back in American Samoa. This is a great opportunity for our young people, our families and our government,” said Togiola Tulafono, Governor of American Samoa. “We extend a big fa’afetai tele to Coach June Jones, his Foundation and all of the traveling party. We thank him for his significant contributions to American Samoa.”
Coach Jones and the NFL players will also participate in several youth education initiatives that are sponsored by Mary Ann Taufa’asau Tulafono, the First Lady of American Samoa.
“The American Samoa Goodwill Mission has made a positive difference in the lives of others,” said June Jones, Chairman of the June Jones Foundation. “Since inception (2008), the Mission has donated several million dollars in medical supplies and equipment, athletic apparel and academic scholarships to the people of American Samoa.”
The American Samoa Goodwill Mission is made possible by a grant provided by The Loyd Charitable Foundation. Other generous support has been provided by Hawaiian Airlines, Adidas, Blue Sky Communications, GHC Reid & Company, Tradewinds Hotel and the Samoa Bowl Committee. Serving as Honorary Ambassadors for the Fourth Annual American Samoa Goodwill Mission are Paul and Penny Loyd.
Submitted by Philip Hetu of the June Jones Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life for needy families of children with life-threatening illnesses as well as other charitable causes. Established in 2004, the Foundation is dedicated to lifting their spirits by providing grants, programming and support.