Mission

The Make A Play Foundation is an NFL player driven organization dedicated to making a difference in Africa's most under-developed regions.  We are not only spreading the message and knowledge of the NFL in these countries, but are also using the profile and passion of their players to breathe life into this continent in need. 

The Make a Play Foundation's aim is to fundraise for, and support the infrastructure projects and sustainable development solutions Africa needs to break the cycle of poverty, famine and disease.  That can only be done by appealing, educating and encouraging people to take action for this ever-growing crisis. 

The poverty, Famine, disease and civil unrest that has devastated Africa is indeed the world's most known crisis.  The 6,500 Africans who die from Aids alone everyday, the 3 deaths per second, and countless people that have no food, shelter or education are by no means an unbeatable problem.  We all can now join together and as a team Make a Play to eradicate this problem. 

There is too much capital, too many resources and way too much knowledge and experience for us to just sit on the sidelines.  Make a Play now for those who are not given the opportunity to make one for themselves. 

Vision

Make a Play was founded in September 2005 by NFL players based on the belief that sports can, and should, be making a difference well beyond the field of play. Sports can do more. 

The vision we have for Make a Play is for the organization to be a leading fundraiser that supports positive change on the grounds in Africa, while also spreading the word of sports in these countries.  In most of these countries all they do have are home made sports and games, but a lot of these people are aware of sports in the U.S.A, and look up to the athletes here in America.

We aim to achieve these goals by mobilizing athletes and the NFL community, at every level, to assist in our awareness, education, and fundraising programs.  Make a Play will maintain its focus by applying these three strategies. 

Fundraise

The knowledge to make a difference in Africa's most under-developed regions already exists and is already hard at work in many regions.  All that is lacking in many cases is the financial resources to continue the programs that are making a difference on the ground in Africa. Make a Play will focus on raising money to support the programs that are already having a positive impact on African communities. 

Raise Awareness, Educate and Engage 

The NFL is often regarded as the largest sport in America and a leader in raising funds for charities around the country.  Make a Play will not only raise awareness of the devastation in Africa, but will also spread the message of the joy and unity of football in Africa.  This can be accomplished by focusing on building a significant mass of people and resources to spread Africa's message across the U.S.A. That means developing complete, energizing and innovative tools and programs that will inspire a new audience and move them to action. 

Affect Africa

The objective in everything Make A Play does is to have a positive impact on the future of Africa.  This means partnering with existing organizations whose programming builds and empowers, as well as listens to African communities.  It will be the relationships with these established, innovative and committed organizations that will allow Make a Play to help deliver programming solutions where they are needed most. 

Why Africa? 

Africa is home to 10 percent of the world's population.  It is also a place of hope, with half of Africa's 800-million inhabitants being under the age of 20.  The hope that derives from the people of Africa is an amazing passion, vigor and enthusiasm during a time unparalleled hardship, and yet their future is one hampered by the continent’s disastrous poverty, famine and disease. 

• 400 million Africans (half the entire continent's population) live on less than $1 per day. 
  
• Less than one -third of sub-Saharan Africa's 650 million inhabitants have access to clean water. 
  
• 25 million Africans are infected with the HIV virus that can lead to Aids, which is 75% of the world's infected people. 
  
• There are 12 million Aids orphans in Africa, with that number expected to rise to 20 million by 2010. 
  
• Of the world's 115 million primary school aged children not in school, over 40% live in Africa. 
  

The numbers are staggering and there have been so many contributing factors to the devastating conditions in Africa today including a destructive colonial past, continuous civil unrest, government corruption and a general apathy from the international community. 

Why Africa? Because it's not too late to make a difference; the people of Africa simply hope for what we so often take for granted - - a life of dignity and peace. 

Why the NFL and it's players? 

Out of the four major professional Sports played in the U.S., that is the N.B.A, N.F.L, M.L.B and N.H.L, the NFL is producing the most athletes from these impoverished countries from Africa.  Moreover this foundation was founded by mostly National Football League players who want to make a difference not only in their communities but in Africa as a whole. 

American Football as a whole has grown so big it has left its own borders and is becoming more of an internationally watched game.  There is no better sport or game that relies more on each team mate than the game of football. 

The challenge of spreading the message of the N.F.L and its player representatives is a mission that founders and representatives of Make a Play will take on in Africa. 

American Football captures the imagination and attention of an audience that crosses all boundaries. 

Football is indeed for all - - including Africa. Football also has a gift, and that gift is a platform to send a message. That message, for Make A Play, is a message of hope. 

The athletes who have committed their time and their names to Make a Play for Africa truly believe that the profile of Football can be a means to a greater end. That ‘greater end’ is the opportunity for development, dignity and peace for Africa. 
 

Sustainable Solutions for Africa

Make A Play for Africa focuses its infrastructure and development support on building sustainable communities. 

We recognize that there is no single solution for Africa, but the more resources and voices there are for its most under-developed regions, the better the chance its people have for a future that they control. 

The greatest gifts come from the organizations that are helping people help themselves. That’s our aim. 

Our current efforts in Africa centre on battling the HIV/AIDS pandemic, providing water and sanitation solutions and delivering food security solutions in Africa's most underdeveloped regions. Those programs will be executed on the ground through various organizations in Africa that Make a Play will align ourselves with. 

Be Part of the Solution

The challenges Africa faces are real, and so are the opportunities for change. The poverty, famine and disease that plague Africa seem overwhelming only because of our indifference. 

And you’ll hear over and over from us, that the tired cliché is true - - if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. 

Get involved with Make a Play for Africa today and choose to be a part of the solution.  

Current Founding Play Makers

• Osi Umenyiora- DE New York Giants
• Gibril Wilson-S New York Giants