Kick it Forward 2007
Working in connection with a local youth group from the University Unitarian Church, ReallyGive launched its first program, Kick it Forward, a soccer ball gifting effort. Donations from friends and family members, coupled with discounts from local sports equipment apparel stores enabled ReallyGive to purchase twenty-four soccer balls and fifteen soccer pumps for donation to communities in Guatemala. ReallyGive is excited to be part of this effort to deliver community-enriching athletic equipment to those in need.
The Kick it Forward program began in Colomba, a medium-sized city in northwest Guatemala. Here six balls and two pumps were gifted to a scout group of children and their young troop leader, Tito.
Next stop was Antigua, a colonial city in the center of the nation. There the youth and their adult leaders teamed up with Common Hope, a US-founded non-profit dedicated to improving lives through education, health care, and housing. Four balls and two pumps were gifted to the center.
In addition to learning about the country and gifting additional school supplies, the cohort also traveled to more rural communities like Nuevo San Jose where the school lacked any balls. The team left four balls and two pumps for the children to enjoy.
Last stop for the Kick it Forward gift givers was in Xela, Guatemala, a small, formerly rebel-held village where more soccer supplies were gifted to a technical institute for children ages 16-19.
With 24 balls and 15 pumps gifted to four Guatemalan communities, the inaugural Kick it Forward Program was a huge success. ReallyGive would like to thank the University Unitarian Church youth ambassadors, their adult leaders, and most of all the ReallyGive community.
Impact: 24 soccer balls, 15 pumps, four communities
You’ve shown that you can make a real difference in people’s lives through real gifts!
An interview with Joe Cribbs describing the first inaugural Kick it Forward Program and the impact the gifts made on the communities they were provided to throughout Guatemala. More photos from the Kick it Forward Effort
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- Packed soccer supplies
Hudson Valley Chapter!
ReallyGive is proud to announce a new chapter to our growing national community, ReallyGive Upstate New York!
This chapter is a spin-off of the efforts of Bernadette and Richard Ballezza who through a scholarship and bookbag program started over 15 years ago in Newburgh, NY, have assisted over 600 students. Just as important, they have empowered a community of givers in the Newburgh, New Windsor, and Kingston, NY areas, enabling them to participate in the joy of giving. Cheers to Bernadette & Rich and to the members of the new ReallyGive Upstate NY Chapter! Be sure to check out there future successes as they continue their noble mission!