My name is Zena Iese, I'm a community volunteer. I do a lot of community work with kids and adults, who don't have much, in my island Territory of American Samoa. I see them as underdogs, like myself, and I want to help make their lives better because through them I know I can make my life better.
An "underdog" is defined as a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest, or a person who has little status in society.
American Samoa, is a very small United States Territory found in the huge South Pacific Ocean, and it's filled with a ton of underdogs!
On the international scale, we're known to have one of the highest rates of obesity, at least 85% of our population are low income families with households of at least 4 or more people earning a total combined salary of $20,000 or less annually, and I'm pretty sure if you look us up on Google, you'll find we have the highest poverty rate of all the United States and its Territories. Yep, you can say American Samoa is literally an underdog's territory.
I strongly believe I have a huge challenge on my hands this year working with what I see as the underdog of underdogs! That underdog being the American Samoa Tag Sport Team!
I created this fundrazr to ask for HELP so we can get the American Samoa Tag Sport Team to the Pacific Games 2019 in Samoa where they can compete in the PACIFIC GAMES TAG SPORT TOURNAMENT and get a shot at showcasing to hundreds, if not thousands of people, that the American Samoa Tag Sport Team is the underdog they've always wanted to watch make something of themselves!
Tag Sport is a game that's like Tag Football in New Zealand and Tag Rugby or Flag Rugby in other parts of the world. It's fun, it's fast, and it's very exciting to watch! I've had at least 10 years experience with developing new sports in American Samoa and I can say without a doubt American Samoans are naturals to Tag Sport!
This will be the American Samoa Tag Sport Team's first time competing on the international stage as we were challenged by the Pacific Tag Federation Inc of Samoa to see if we could train and come up with a team in the span of three and a half months and get them to the Pacific Games 2019 to play against their teams with the goal to showcase to event organizers, participants, and fans that Tag Sport should become a Pacific Games sport for future Pacific Games and Mini Games.
Knowing the great opportunities and possibilities this sport can provide for my fellow underdogs in American Samoa, I got together with like minded people and we accepted the challenge!
Within the short time we've had, we've put together a team of up to 15 committed athletes, trainers, and coaches, all underdogs, ranging from ages 10 up to 62!
We've already pitched in close to $2500.00 to cover the costs of our meals, lodgings, and transportation for 3 days in Samoa during the July 2019 Pacific Games, this in addition to training our team to meet the tough challenges Samoa's teams will throw at us when we clash on their home fields!
We just need a little bit more HELP to cover the remaining costs of our trip which include airfares totaling $1980.00 for the team and then our simple team uniform worth a total of $1020.00 for all athletes.
Can anyone HELP us with this before July 4th, 2019 please? ANYTHING you can send us is greatly appreciated! We want to carry your name into battle with us as we play against the teams of Samoa, and possibly, visiting teams from New Zealand and Australia at the Pacific Games Tag Sport Tournament July 2019!
The American Samoa Tag Sport Team is training hard every day, both in the rain, in the wind, in the heat and sunshine because they know this is their best chance at making a name for themselves and finding a chance to get drafted to teams that pay their athletes to play!
All together we are looking at fundraising $3000.00 before Thursday July 4, 2019, but as I've said before, anything you can give us, whether a $1 or $5, we will greatly appreciate the help.
Donate $1 - $9 and one of our athletes will sign your name on a sports wear or gear of their choice and carry it into battle with them as they play against the opposing teams, we'll take a photo of the signing and post it to social media for all to see!
Donations of $10 - $49 will get you a team signed photo of the American Samoa Tag Sport Team 2019 in addition to having one of our athletes sign your name on a sports wear or gear of their choice and carry it into battle with them as they play against the opposing teams, we'll take a photo of the signing and post it to social media for all to see!
Donations of $50 - $99 will get you a Free t-shirt with the American Samoa Tag Sport Team Logo! In addition to the signed team photo and a team player signing your name on their sports gear or wear as they go to do battle and the post to social media for all to see!
Donations of $100 or more, will in addition to getting you the t-shirt, signed photo, and athlete carrying your name into battle, we'll post a video to social media specifically thanking you and we will sing the American Samoa National Anthem for you!
If you are a business or organization that wants us to carry your name into battle please contact us as soon as possible before July 4, 2019 so we can work something out! We are naturally very good at promotions! Please help us get to the Pacific Games July 2019 in Samoa! We won't let you down! We're looking to fundraise $3000.00 before Thursday, July 4, 2019!
For more information email asatagsport@gmail.com or call 1(684)258-2699 or visit our facebook and message or comment to us at www.facebook.com/asatagsport