04.25.2008 -  ETHAN ZOHN

Ethan Zohn knows a little something about philanthropy. Since being declared the winner of CBS’s Survivor: Africa, Ethan Zohn has founded “Grassroot Soccer,” a non-profit organization which trains Africa’s professional soccer players to teach children about HIV/AIDS prevention. His charity work, however, doesn’t end with Grassroot Soccer.

Ethan is a national spokesperson for America Scores, an organization that helps inner city kids participate in educational soccer programs. He has done extensive charity work for Kick AIDS, the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Aids organization, YouthAids and the Colon Cancer Alliance.  

Zohn will offer the keynote address at the Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation Annual Meeting to be held at the Jewish Community Center on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 7pm.

His presentation will include information about his philanthropic activities and some video snippets from his time on CBS’s Survivor: Africa. The evening will also include the introduction of the CJYF board and the presentation of first-year CJYF grants to area agencies. The entire community is invited to attend. A dessert reception will follow the business portion of the meeting.

In recognition of his charity work Ethan has been awarded the 2004 Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care. Ethan was also honored with the “Heroes Among Us,” award by the NBA’s Boston Celtics and the Massachusetts State Department and received the Auxilia Chimusoro award from the US State Department in Zimbabwe. Ethan’s non-charity work has included numerous speaking engagements, appearing in a Hewlett Packard commercial, hosting numerous MTV specials, competing in Eco-Challenge and Fear Factor and appearing in various other television and print media.

Always keeping one foot in his beloved soccer world, Ethan has served as the coach of the U.S. National Maccabiah Team at the Pan American Maccabi Games in Chile and is currently hosting the  Metro Soccer Report for the MSG Networks. In 2002, Ethan hosted “Ethan Zohn’s Zone,” an online journal summarizing the events of the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. His accounts provided fans with a behind-the-scenes look inside the U.S. Soccer Team and the event itself. Originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, Ethan moved to New York, where he attended Vassar College, graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. He eventually became a professional soccer player, having been employed as a goalie for the Highlanders Football Club (Zimbabwe), Cape Cod Crusaders (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) and the Hawaii Tsunami (Oahu, Hawaii).

Ethan also played for the 1997 and 2001 U.S. National Maccabiah Team (Israel). Off the field, he was the assistant coach for the Fairleigh Dickinson University Men’s and Women’s Soccer Team in Teaneck, N.J. from 1998-2002. Additionally, he has worked freelance as a brand name strategist/developer, responsible for creating names for newly invented products.

For more information or to RSVP to the Annual Meeting, please contact Larry Shuman at Lshuman@tcjf.org or at 614-338-2365. The Columbus Jewish Youth Foundation is supported by the Jewish Teen Funders Network and The Columbus Jewish Foundation.