Letter re: Socctoberfest 2014 donations
I am coach Leo Arnaiz from the Philippines. I am one of several coaches who are privileged to be able to coach football to street kids. I have been coaching these kids for the past 5 years. These are kids who grew up in the streets and would spend the day and night snatching whatever they could that had value to be able to buy food to eat. When times would come that these kids would have nothing to eat, they would sniff solvent to quench their hunger pangs. The group I work with, gather these kids from all ever the country, house them, feed them, and educate them. I was tasked to make a Character Developement program for these kids. Since football is a common language both the kids and I speak, I use the sport to influence them and use the character formation program while training them in football.
Providing football shoes, socks, uniforms, ball and other equipment for the 70 kids i train has always been a problem as it is costly. Well, until I met Mike Garcia. I would like you to know that Mike, in several ocassions has shared the Balikbayan boxes you so kindly send him.
This is the reason I am writing to you. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the unselfish and kind act you are doing. I would like to thank the kids from the Downers Grove Roadrunners Football Club for sharing their various football stuff with us. My kids and I will forever be grateful to you and Mike for all the help you have been giving.
I am sending with this email pictures of our kids recieving the goods you sent.
Again I thank you for your help. I pray one day the kids and I can personally thank you and show our appriciation for what you have done. Thank you Michael. Please do not stop what you are doing. You cannot imagine the help this brings to a lot of kids here in the Philippines. Gods best for you always.
Respectfully,
Coach Leo Arnaiz