SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — On the Web site for a non-profit organization called Grassroot Soccer, Survivor Africa winner Ethan Zohn has a message for all Americans.

"You, too, have the power to give someone hope," he wrote. "You live in the greatest country in the world, and you are the best and the brightest of your generation. You may not have won Survivor, (yet!), but each and every one of you has a million dollars worth of energy and commitment and a passion to change the world or to change one person's life for the better."

Zohn will give a presentation on the subject of AIDS in Africa and how his organization's program called Kick AIDS is helping to combat the epidemic at 7 p.m. in Wittenberg's Kissell Auditorium in Koch Hall. Zohn was invited to speak at Wittenberg by current Wittenberg women's soccer head coach and men's lacrosse assistant coach Norm Riker, who coached Zohn while he was an undergraduate men's lacrosse player at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Zohn, vice chairman of Grassroot Soccer, is former professional soccer player who gained national fame during his stint on the hit CBS television show, Survivor Africa. He has used his newfound celebrity as a reality TV star to educate Americans, and especially college student-athletes, about ways to help stop the spread of AIDS.

"I believe in the cause, and I also believe that we have the type of student-athletes at Wittenberg that have the heart, energy and commitment to get involved in making their communities better," Riker said. "Whether our student-athletes sign on to help 'Grassroot Soccer' or just get insight into how they can use their education and sport to help their communities in the future, I hope they see that this presentation is worth the time.

"In addition, Ethan is a great example of how Division III athletics and a liberal arts education can help make a career and stay involved in the sport you love."

Related Links: Grassroot Soccer Home Page