CHARITABLE DONATIONSTHAILAND
First Touch Soccer has given a total of $65,000 ($5,000 in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) in charitable donations to the Chotigran School located approximately 30 miles northwest of central Bangkok, Thailand. The school is located in the last agriculture-zoned district in Bangkok. The elementary school focuses on ethics, nature and the environment, social skills, the broader development of individual ideas, critical thinking, consciousness and physical fitness through real life learning activities. A critical piece of the education puzzle is becoming proficient in english fluency. The Chotikran school emphasizes the development of english skills. It is an invaluable tool in providing economic and social opportunities in Thailand. These donations provide enough funding for 5 to 7 of the best and brightest elementary school girls and boys to attend the private school for a whole year! First Touch Soccer also supports several students to attend advanced Saturday morning English classes conducted by my good friend who's been living and working in Thailand for more than 30 years. To the extent it is possible for a "fahlang" to be recognized as Thai, he is completely fluent in the language, culture and heart of the country. The students are the sons and daughters of shopkeepers, self-employed vendors, fruit and rice farmers, orchid growers, taxi and van drivers, government employees, teachers, laborers, small market owners and military families. Since the scholarships were offered, students have gone on to pass English exams to become Bangkok Tour Guides, work in International Hotels and work for beer and manufacturing companies. The universal requirement -- learn to read, write and speak English. Really, really proud of their success!! If funding was not provided, these students would be unable to attend this private school for financial reasons. At the Chotikran School, children learn in a classroom setting of not more than 12-15 students as opposed to the government school of 40-60 students/classroom. First Touch Soccer is proud to provide educational opportunities and support the aspirations of young Thai boys and girls who would otherwise be unable to attend this prestigious program. The Chotikran School Principal is Mrs. Matigarn Jitkrachot and the English Director and teacher is Mr. Jeffrey W. Connors. There are 12 people on the board, Matigarn, her husband -- a colonel in the Thai Army, a community representative, current and past students, parents, teachers, farmers and various other occupations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRAZIL In February 2020, First Touch Soccer established a partnership with the EGE Technical High School in Santa Rita do Supaci in the State of Minas Gerias, Brazil. The $5,000 First Touch Soccer scholarship program, with the support from the school faculty and administrators, identified six boys and girls ages 13-15 to receive English language immersion instruction to become fluent in english. The 3 boys and 3 girls selected were chosen based on their academic qualifications, their need for financial assistance and their strong desire to become proficient in english. Upon our return to Santa Rita in July 2022, we expect these students will be well versed in speaking and writing english. OTHER SUPPORT |
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Annual donations have been given to the following organizations between 2009-2021.
These donations are real $$. Not fee waivers. They result in actual dollar transactions that improve recipients health, welfare, education, safety and overall quality of life.
International Donations:
Public and Private School Auction Items Donated
These are donated auction items for a free week of spring or summer camp week with First Touch Soccer. Worth $325 each for a full day/full week, these free weeks translate to an actual and real transaction of money. Unlike other organizations that talk about giving free registration without a monetary commitment, these auction items result in "real" financial transactions to support school priorities.
Over the years that First Touch Soccer has been conducting spring/summer camps, the total amount is probably $15000-$20,000.
These donations are real $$. Not fee waivers. They result in actual dollar transactions that improve recipients health, welfare, education, safety and overall quality of life.
- Friendship Place (Washington DC) Ending homelessness/rebuilding lives. A five year commitment of $1,000/year started in May 2014. Since that commitment was made, we have donated the same amount in 2019, 2020 and 2021, 2022, 2023 for a total of $10,000 to date. In addition, the DCYFC November 2019 auction raised $600 for Friendship Place.
- Guiding Eyes for the Blind
- Special Olympics
- Washington Humane Society
- Operation Smile
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- DC Department of Parks and Recreation Scholarships
- School and equipment supplies to the Palisades Recreation Center Day Care and summer programs
- Casey Tree Foundation
- Avalon Theatre
- Genuine Alternative in Therapy (G.A.I.T.) Located in Milford, Pennsylvania, the nonprofit organization is devoted to providing therapeutic horseback riding for physically and mentally challenged/disabled youth and adults. More at www.GAITpa.org
International Donations:
- Bokamoso Youth Foundation (www.BokamosoYouth.org) in South Africa
- Wynberg School -- Cape Town, South Africa
- karma-USPartners, Ltd. -- Strengthening Communities with Women's Cooperatives -- Uganda (www.krma-uspartners.org)
- $500/year since 2018
- Haiti Relief Fund ("Raise the Roof") -- through St. Andrew's Episcopal School (www.SAES.org)
- British International School of Washington DC -- BISW Tanzania Project
Public and Private School Auction Items Donated
These are donated auction items for a free week of spring or summer camp week with First Touch Soccer. Worth $325 each for a full day/full week, these free weeks translate to an actual and real transaction of money. Unlike other organizations that talk about giving free registration without a monetary commitment, these auction items result in "real" financial transactions to support school priorities.
Over the years that First Touch Soccer has been conducting spring/summer camps, the total amount is probably $15000-$20,000.
- Horace Mann Elementary School
- Washington Yu Ying PCS
- Deal Middle School
- Lafayette Elementary School
- Hyde Elementary School
- St. Patrick's School
- John Eaton Elementary School
- Oyster Bi-Lingual Elementary School
- Janney Elementary School
- Murch Elementary School
- Key Elementary School
- River School
- Stoddert Elementary School
Chotikarn School -- Thailand
First Touch Soccer Academic Scholarship Winners; The Girls Rule!
Front row left to right: Mild G.5, Cake G.2, Cat G.2, Cake G. 4.
Back row left to right: Mint G.4, Baidtoey G.4, Gow G.6, Ploy G.6.
In Back: Jui, Head Master, Jeff, English Teacher
Front row left to right: Mild G.5, Cake G.2, Cat G.2, Cake G. 4.
Back row left to right: Mint G.4, Baidtoey G.4, Gow G.6, Ploy G.6.
In Back: Jui, Head Master, Jeff, English Teacher