CHARLOTTE, N.C.-  Queens University of Charlotte's Women's Soccer Coach, Katie Talbert, and Department of Athletics are a proud supporter  of the non-profit organization, Peace Passers. Talbert and the Royals made a donation to the organization earlier this year. Peace Passers was created by Queens alum and former women's soccer player Candace Cooper.

Peace Passer's mission is to collect and distribute soccer supplies such as balls, jerseys, and shorts to less fortunate people all over the world; thereby increasing the quality of life through promoting mutual respect for others and positive human relationships in the lives of the recipients through the love of sports. 

“We really enjoy helping facilitate the growth of the game,” said Talbert, who plans to donate again in the fall of 2009. “We are looking forward to expanding that by providing copies of our drill books for player development.” 

Recipients of Queens gear.

Talbert has been supportive of the Peace Passers mission by donating Queens jerseys and shorts from previous seasons that the team is no longer using.  Talbert's first donation occurred in the spring of 2008, and then again in the fall of 2008. 

Queens' motto, non ministrari sed ministrare (not to be served, but to serve), rings clear for Cooper, '03. Cooper started the organization after she realized the connection that the sport of soccer held in terms of promoting social change in the communities she visited.

 “The nature of the game inherently creates harmony and unity, serving as a way to spread joy and peace across cultural and economic boundaries,” said Cooper.

 Soccer provides a universal language for Cooper and the team of Peace Passer volunteers. They have seen firsthand that no matter where you are in the world, despite a language barrier, people understand the game of soccer, and it can bring joy and freedom to those who play in spite of their current living circumstances.

Talbert has also put Cooper in contact with other coaches around the state, knowing  teams frequently change their brand sponsorships and can therefore no longer use old gear. 

Cooper notes that the donations are like a form of recycling, “What purpose are they serving sitting in storage collecting dust, or just tossed aside,” commented Cooper. “The core of our mission is to collect new and used soccer gear and re-distribute to areas in need.” 

Peace Passers is extraordinarily grateful for the donations because Cooper understands that an old ball or jersey to a child here in the United States, is a brand new ball or jersey to a child living in Nicaragua or Africa.  

“We are more than happy to donate to such a worthy cause,” says Talbert. “This is one simple way to bring joy to so many people, and it is made easy for us because of all the hard work and sweat Candace has put in. I hope that others will feel encouraged to donate as well.”

To date, the jerseys donated by Queens have been distributed to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and an orphanage in Ethiopia. Another bag of gear is heading to Moshi, Tanzania, an area near Mt. Kilimanjaro.

For more information on Peace Passers, or if you are interested in joining in the cause, or making a donation, please visit www.PeacePassers.org.