Former National Basketball Association star Manute Bol is $10,529 closer to realizing his dream of constructing a school in his home village, following a fund-raising event hosted by pollster John Zogby. Zogby was moved to help Manute raise awareness and bring in funding for the project after learning earlier this year about his efforts to build a reconciliation school in Turalei, Sudan.

“I am ecstatic,” said Zogby. “Manute really connected with elementary school children in the Utica public schools with a message of discipline and self-determination. At the public discussion his message was one of reconciliation. What impresses me so much is that every penny raised goes directly to build classrooms, that this school project is a major act of reconciliation between Darfuri Muslims and southern Christians, and that this message is being delivered by someone so pure of heart. There are basketball heroes and there are real heroes – people who are doing big and little things to make the lives of others better. Manute is a real hero.”

The Zogby event was designed to raise funds to construct a school in Manute’s home village, which will be a key signal of reconciliation in this war–torn country, welcoming both Darfurian and Southern Sudanese children, both Muslim and Christian. Children at the school now meet outdoors and learn to write using sticks in the dirt. Manute Bol’s fund–raising efforts nationwide are part of his efforts in partnership with Sudan Sunrise, an organization that works to help Sudan heal after years of internal conflict.

At the local fundraiser hosted by Zogby, and his wife, Kathy, guests had an opportunity to meet Manute. Following a reception with Manute, guests heard the heard him recount his life story about growing up in a village in southern Sudan until he was discovered by an American basketball talent scout.

For more information on Sudan Sunrise or to contribute to this great cause and great man, please visit http://www.sudansunrise.org/donate.shtml. Credit cards accepted.

Katy John Zogby, culture, global issues global issues, John Zogby, polls, Sudan, war, work, zogby

We at Zogby have been very excited by our first couple of months on Twitter! If you haven’t checked us out yet, here is a link to our Twitter page.

We’ve been  tweeting about our blog posts, our surveys, our mentions in the media, and other Zogby news of note. Recently, we’ve tweeted about our surveys of the Middle East, our survey about Israel and Palestine, our survey about marijuana legalization,  and John Zogby and former NBA star Manute Bol’s  upcoming fundraiser to raise money for a school in Sudan. Stop by and take a look!

Katy Uncategorized John Zogby, media, middle east, Sudan, twitter, zogby