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Kicking for a cause

Paul Frommelt / The Connection Newspapers

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When Madison kicker Tommy Kennedy sends the ball through the uprights on an extra point or a field goal this season, he will be doing much more than helping his Warhawks win. As Kennedy puts points up on the scoreboard, sponsors will donate money that will make a difference thousands of miles away.

The idea formed in the offseason as Kennedy was working on his place kicking. He wanted to get involved in helping Global Camps Africa, a organization started by Reston attorney Phil Lilienthal. Lilienthal was the camp director of Camp Winnebago, where Kennedy had spent five summers.

"Tommy was trying to figure out what he could do to do something for Phil's effort," said Kennedy's mother, Patty. "That was the genesis of it."

And then it clicked for Kennedy.

"I have been trying to figure out different ways to raise funds and give supplies to the camp," said Kennedy. "It occurred to us that kicking would be a good way to do it."

Tommy began circulating a flyer that asked for a donation of one dollar for every point he scores for Madison.
At this point, Kennedy has over 40 donors. Some, like Michael Kehs, father of Madison tight end Harry, has pledged a bonus for any game-winning field goal.

GLOBAL CAMPS AFRICA started in January 2004 with Camp Sizanani in South Africa. Lilienthal, a Peace Corps member in the 1960s traveled the continent "looking for a partner to give AIDS education and prevention strategies."

"It just caught my passion that camp could be used to do a lot of social good," said Lilienthal.

Global Camps Africa now features six camps per year with 130 campers per camp. A day at Camp Sizanani features activities such as sports, drums and dancing, and arts and crafts, but it also teaches life skills, such as nutrition, hygiene, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, healthy sexuality and gender stereotypes.

"We work in partnership with local groups that have the capacity to go forward after we are gone," said Lilienthal. "We want to give them the technical skills and we want to be copied."

KENNEDY ALWAYS HAD a passion to help others, but it was a family trip to Africa last summer that cemented in his mind that he wanted to do anything he could to help.

The family traveled the continent with a minister from Tanzania.

"He wanted us to see Africa through the eyes of the poor," said Patty. "That was really a profound experience for all of us. That inspired him even further."

Kennedy and his family walked the streets of Dar es Salaam. He saw orphans sitting on the sides of the streets. He played soccer with some of the children.

"I think that it just tapped into part of his being that wants to do something for others," said Lilienthal.

So Kennedy kicks ? just like he did last year when he scored 34 points for the Warhawks. But this year, Kennedy's kicks mean a little bit more.

Through two games, Kennedy has five extra points in two Madison victories. He hopes to at least match his point total from last year.

"When we were in Africa, we could see the effect that it had on him," said Patty. "He comes home every day and checks his email to see if anybody else signed up."