Ethan Zohn, the winner of Survivor: Africa, the hit reality show from CBS, will speak to Newtown High School students on Thursday, October 6, as part of his new non-profit organization and new AIDS awareness initiative.

After winning Survivor: Africa, Zohn formed Grassroot Soccer, an organization which trains Africa’s professional soccer players to teach children about HIV/AIDS prevention. Kick AIDS is the new initiative which is being targeted at American high school students.

Zohn will speak to NHS students in health classes throughout the day about AIDS and the how to use the power of sport to affect change. That night, the girls’ soccer game against Bethel will serve as a fundraiser – a gate will be charged and all proceeds will benefit the Kick AIDS program.

Grassroot Soccer – which has already worked with Danbury High School – touched on Newtown High School because of the Friends of Football International non-profit organization first founded by Al Taubert.

Mr Zohn is a professional soccer player. During his career, he has been a goaltender for the Highlanders Football Club in Zimbabwe, the Cape Cod Crusaders and the Hawaii Tsunami of the of the United Soccer Leagues (USL). He also played for the 1997 and 2001 U.S. National Maccabiah team in Israel and has been the assistant coach of the Fairleigh Dickinson men’s and women’s soccer teams since 1998.

In recognition of his charity work, Mr Zohn has been awarded the 2004 Nkosi Johnson Community Spirit Award by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS care. He was also honored with the “Heroes Among Us” award by the Boston Celtics and the Massachusetts state department and received the Auxilia Chimasory award from the US state department in Zimbabwe.

Besides Survivor: Africa, Mr Zohn has also competed in episodes of Eco-Challenge and in Fear Factor.

Currently, he is hosting the Metro Soccer Report for MSG Networks.