FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

This year's clinic will feature the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Passback Program, which collects new and gently used soccer equipment for underfunded soccer programs throughout the world. Bins to collect the equipment will be available at the clinic locations or participants can bring donations the day of the clinic.

Abby Wambach is a native of Rochester, NY and was a four-year starter at the University of Florida. Her career took a spot on the national stage when she joined the U.S. Women's National Team in 2001 and the Washington Freedom in 2002. Still playing for both teams, Abby is a gold medalist, World Cup Champion and has been named U.S. Player of the Year twice. On July 19, she became the fifth U.S. woman's soccer player to score 100 career international goals.

"The purpose of KidPower is to reach kids with a strong message about living a healthy lifestyle, staying fit, and making healthy choices in a way that is fun through activities such as soccer," said Dave Henderson, MVP Health Care Chief Marketing Officer. "Kids listen to Abby Wambach when she talks about living well," Henderson said.

The clinics will be held in the following locations:

-- Bedford, NH., at the New Hampshire Sportsplex on Thursday, September 10.

-- Shelburne, Vt., at The Field House on Friday, September 11.

-- Bethlehem, NY, at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex on Saturday, September 12.

-- Milton, NY, at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome on Thursday October 8.

-- Rochester, NY., at Total Sports Experience on Sunday October 11.

According to the Institute of Medicine, for children born in the United States in 2000, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at some point in their lives is estimated to be about 30 percent for boys and 40 percent for girls. Additionally, in a population-based sample, approximately 60 percent of obese children aged 5 to 10 years had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or blood pressure, and 25 percent had two or more risk factors.

And that is exactly why MVP Health Care uses its KidPower program to help young people reclaim their destiny by being active and eating right.

MVP Health Care is a partner of the Soccer Hall of Fame and has been working with Abby Wambach to promote its KidPower program since 2004. Each year, Abby has added more free clinics to her circuit throughout New York, Vermont and New Hampshire where over the years, she's reached more than 7,500 young people. A full list of dates, times, locations and details of Abby's free clinics and information about how you can participate in this years Passback collections can be found at www.mvpkidpower.com.