Steelers Wide Receiver Hines Ward to Host Biracial Korean Children
Through the Helping Hands and Helping Hands Korea Foundations, Ward hopes to provide biracial children throughout Korea with the desire and hope to dream big in a culture where biracial discrimination has given them no such thing. He hopes to provide children everywhere with all of the physical, mental and emotional tools necessary to help them achieve their life dreams. Ward became a symbol of success for all Korean people and especially the biracial population (or “mixed bloods” as they are referred to by Koreans) after winning Super Bowl XL MVP honors in February 2006. While in Korea that spring, the Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI) reached out to Ward for inspiration, and he met with 100 biracial children from PSBI and immediately fell in love with them. The children, ages 8 to 16, are traditionally selected in conjunction with PSBI through a short essay contest that Ward asked them to write on pursuing their dreams. Ward hopes the children will return home with the confidence to dream big and the determination to pursue those dreams. WHO: Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward Eight biracial Korean children ages 8 to16. WHEN: Friday, October 23, 2009, 6 p.m. WHERE: Baggage Claim, Carousel R, Landside Terminal Pittsburgh International Airport CONTACT: Dave Lockett Pittsburgh Steelers (412) 432-7822
WHAT: Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward will hold a brief press conference and photo opportunity as he welcomes and hosts eight biracial children from Korea this weekend in Pittsburgh. It will be the third annual visit sponsored by the Hines Ward Helping Hands Korea Foundation. This year Ward is doing an “All-Star” reunion event as he is bringing back some of the most memorable children from years past. As part of this year's event, Ward is sending the children to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City to visit some of our nation's most famous and historic landmarks and provide them with a broader sense of our country's heritage and culture.
