Mission: Use soccer as a platform to positively influence the lives of underprivileged African children.

2008 Goals: 1) Locate a community to provide assistance to in Ghana. 2) Offer a free soccer academy for the underprivileged children of that community. 3) Uplift the standard of living for the community involved.

Brief History: Futbol For Change operates within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  This non-profit organization was founded in June of 2007 by Michael Raskys and Robert Humphrey both of whom are former collegiate soccer players from James Madison University.  Their life long involvement in the game of soccer as well as recent academic work facilitated a desire to form a soccer related charity.  Futbol For Change was recently awarded tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.

Present Activities:  Futbol For Change currently offers three training sessions per week to the children of Madina, Ghana.  After initially enrolling 35 participants we have seen our number swell to nearly 60.  Enthusiasm continues to rise and we hope to enlarge our initiatives over the next 12-18 months.  Additionally, the most competetive footballers in the Futbol For Change academy play weekly matches in the Ghanaian second division.

Letters From Madina: "Futbol For Change continues to offer free educational counselling to the kids of Madina Zongo. Recently our organization paid the examination fee of a brilliant soccer player Samir Ibrahim (13 years), to write his final examination and to enable him complete Juniour high school. Samir and his parents were so excited at the prospects of Samir completing his final examination through the efforts of FFC. Samir would have been a drop out as this is a familiar story in the community."-Program Officer Wahab Musah.

mike@futbolforchange.org