Sports are a big part of 8 year-old Ryan’s daily activities. Everyday you can find Ryan (from Lewis Center, Ohio) playing soccer, football, basketball and baseball with his best friends. Knowing how important sports are to him, Ryan decided for his 8th birthday party he would ask his guests to bring donations instead of gifts for him.
Ryan’s mom Stacie explained, “Of course, he wanted his collection to be sports-related! He was so excited when we found your Peace Passers organization online. This was a perfect fit! His friends were excited to be doing something for other kids, and we talked at the party about trying to imagine what it would be like to not have soccer balls to play with. They all thought that it was great that other kids would now be able to enjoy the game that they all love so much. Through Peace Passers these 25 kids have experienced that the world is bigger than themselves, and I know it will stay with them for a lifetime!”
Ryan said he is happy and feels “awesome” because of “the smiles it will bring to their faces when they see the soccer balls.” He is super excited to know now where they will be going!”
This week Ryan and his family will be shipping the soccer balls to Matt Mullane in Texas. Matt is a 2nd-year medical student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Along with 20 volunteers from the Project Haiti-San Antonio the group will be treating patients in the Dominican Republic, and will also be working with Haitian patients who come to the get medical services. Several of the soccer balls will be going to a small village called “Batey 40.”
Last year Matt took Peace Passers soccer balls to the Dominican and Haiti, through his mission work he has experienced first hand the joy a soccer ball can bring. We are excited that Ryan’s soccer balls will reach such a deserving area again this year.
We’d like to wish Ryan a very Happy 8th Birthday from the Peace Passers. Keep strong with your play on the sports fields and know that your giving is an inspiration that is heard around the world!