At the park stands a kid with a dream, their heart racing with excitement as they step onto the soccer field for the very first time. The promise of scoring that winning goal, the thrill of sprinting across the field, and the joy of being part of a team are dreams that many children, like this one, cherish. But there’s one thing missing – a pair of soccer cleats, a ball to call their own, or a jersey to wear with pride. In a world where the game is often a ticket to joy and camaraderie, many youthful players find themselves standing at the sidelines, yearning for their chance to play. That’s where Kicks2Give steps in, providing hope, community, and the remarkable impact that a simple donation of lightly used equipment can have on the life of a child.
Kicks2Give operates on a simple yet powerful mission: to provide lightly used soccer equipment to youth in need. At Ayala, the program was initiated by club president, Laurie Park, in order to take action and gain the support of the local community. The club meets once a month on the first Wednesday of every month in room F118. In just the past year, Kicks2Give at Ayala has been able to help many aspiring, yet underprivileged, soccer players.
“We host donation collections both at Ayala and at local soccer events through partnering with the local recreational community, like through AYSO [American Youth Soccer Organization],” said Park (12). “We collect at big tournaments or busy weekends at the local parks in Chino Hills so that we can gather items from all ages in our community. It requires a lot of organization and communication.”
The beginnings of Kicks2Give at Ayala began in the hearts of the girls’ soccer team. The players realized their contributions could change the path of others, so they banded together to make a difference.
“Being involved in the girls’ soccer team at Ayala, I recognized that my teammates and I faced the same problem of not knowing what to do with many years’ worth of soccer equipment. Oftentimes, we just throw our old equipment away, but I realized this club would be a perfect opportunity to put our past equipment to good use,” said Park.
But the dedication, effort, and time produces inspiring results for youth around the world. Kicks2Give is able to provide for countless amounts of children and the Ayala chapter is able to contribute to that. At their donation events, the members of the club have been able to touch the hearts and minds of many. Senior Julissa Altamirano, the vice president of Kicks2Give, recalls a fond memory of a certain donation event in which she saw this outreach in action.
“People did not remember that we were having that event, so everyone passing by were saying they definitely had donations and they will bring them tomorrow. The next day our bins were filled with donations and there were so many people giving donations,” said Altamirano.
Kicks2Give was only recently brought to Ayala in January of 2023. In just a little amount of time, the club has been able to make a large impact. With many soccer players in the Chino Hills area, many donations can be made as Kicks2Give accepts any lightly used equipment. Cleats that have been grown out of, or soccer balls left to dust in garages can all be given to a good cause. At a donation collection event in April, the Spring Open, Kicks2Give collected an impressive total of 125 individual items, ranging from jerseys to backpacks.
“Working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at our donation collection booths on a few weekends in the spring was a meaningful experience for me, because although it was tiring, it was so worth it. Seeing families, players, and coaches pay attention to our cause and drop off their donations with happy hearts made my day,” said Laurie Park. “Gathering up all of the 600+ donations at the end [of the year] filled me up with gratitude for all the support and was such an encouraging sight.”
Since the startup in January to the end of the school year in May of 2023, the club’s impact can be summarized by the countless donations across multiple events and successfully built relationships among members. Club member and UCC Representative, Abby Foster (12), has experienced these things in her time volunteering at events, attending meetings, and working closely with her fellow officers.
“[The board] works on meeting plans, when fundraisers will occur and how we can show support for those in need through small gestures,” said Foster.
“It makes everyone united because we share the same love and passion for a sport and we share the same love for donating to other people,” said Altamirano, who experienced similar motions.
At the Kicks2Give club at Ayala, students can donate their equipment and help out at events for service hours, but Kicks2Give doesn’t stop here. The official foundation helps children worldwide and can be accessed through their official website. There, anyone can donate, request equipment, and organize support for their own local area.
