As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday we wanted you to know how grateful we are for how you have helped us grow the Kick For Nick family.

 Thanks to your help, including donations of balls, donations of funds for shipping the balls, and spreading the word about Kick For Nick through social media and word of mouth, Nick's story and his soccer balls are helping children all over the world.

Within the last few months, Kick For Nick soccer balls have been given to children in Kenya, India, Bhutan, Lebanon and Honduras. We hope you enjoy the video and the photos included below.

Thank you for helping us to give the gift of play, laughter and happiness to needy children around the world.

We are most grateful to Karma Dorji, Matthew DeSantis (previous Wilton resident, who now resides in Bhutan) and Vincent Roazzi Jr of My Bhutan for their effort in organizing 2 lovely events
at 10 schools in Paro and Thimpu on October 19th & 20th to help us spread Nick's goodwill to the children of Bhutan through the sport of soccer.  

For Nick, and the Kick for Nick Foundation - a soccer ball is Nick's prayer flag.  With it he shares compassion, good will and friendship to all who are touched by it.  To this purpose his name is written on every single ball which is distributed.

Our most recent ball distribution was at a small school in local farm town named Abhaneri in Rajasthan India. The principal of the school set it up a few years ago as a volunteer to help educate the children who would not have this opportunity otherwise. He started with 35 children, now having 250 children of various ages. The need is great but resources few. "The School" is made up of 4-5 small rooms of brick with dirt floors, and a main open shaded area of concrete and brick. Mr. Mahendra the principal runs the school with minimal funds from varioius sources.  He told us he is hoping to have money to build 4 bathrooms for the children (2 for girls and 2 for boys) in the near future.  

click the photo to see more

We had chocolates and soccer balls for the children, to experience the gratitude and appreciation in their little faces from seeing us and receiving the soccer balls was most humbling.  It did not take much to get the "ball rolling", smiles and laughter followed. These children barely had any footwear, and those who did the soles were worn to the ground.  The 1 little bus that served as their transportation packed 50 children at a time to get them back to their homes in the nearby farm areas.  
 

The Greer girls of Wilton, CT delivered a collection of soccer jerseys to Bill Madaras in early autumn. Along with our soccer balls, KFN is able to fully outfit teams for needy children.

Back L-R: Bill Madaras, Caty, Alex

Front L-R: Isabel, Gracie

WFSB Channel 3 Eyewitness News recently featured a segment about the great work being done by the Homes For The Brave. They interviewed Cynthia, one of the residents at the PFC Nicholas A Madaras Home for Homeless Female Veterans.

We've received donations of soccer balls from almost all of the states in the USA. Do you know anyone in North Dakota, Alaska or Wyoming? Share this and let's put them on the map!!