TORONTO - Jozy Altidore is bringing Copa America Centenario to Haiti.
Altidore, a standout striker who plays for the United States Men's National Team and Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, is joining forces with the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti to deliver television coverage of multiple Copa America Centenario matches to the island nation, announced Wednesday.
The project, solely funded by the Jozy Altidore Foundation, will deliver live broadcasts of all three (3) group-stage matches featuring both the United States and Haiti at locations across the country, as well the tournament’s semifinal games and championship, for a total of nine (9) matches.
Altidore and his foundation have been longtime friends and supporters of the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, an organization focused primarily on healthcare, education and humanitarian outreach. Most recently, Altidore hosted an evening of celebration in January with fashion icon Kenneth Cole and legendary supermodel Adriana Lima in New York, which raised more than $165,000 for St. Luke.
"The St. Luke Foundation is grateful to partner with Jozy in this effort,” said Wynn Walent, assistant national director at the St. Luke Foundation for Haiti. "Jozy's idea to show these matches resonated with us from the start. It's just a great chance to bring people together and celebrate what is possible in Haiti.
“Jozy's foundation has been a true friend to St. Luke for several years, hosting events, doing online fundraisers and arranging for valuable in-kind donations for our schools. We are beyond grateful for his support and look forward to partnership for many years to come."
On the field, Altidore has put together a solid, decorated career at both the club and international levels. He is tied for third on the all-time U.S. list for goals scored (34) in 93 career appearances with the national team, which he has twice represented at the FIFA World Cup. Altidore, who signed with MLS club Toronto FC in 2015 before a stint with Sunderland of the Barclays Premier League in England, is the only American player to score 30 goals or more in a single European league season in soccer history, finishing with 31 goals in 40 matches across all competitions with AZ Alkmaar during the 2012-2013 campaign.