Ground-up giving | Community recreation feature
Published 10:22 am Tuesday, April 3, 2012
In 2011, Perry Nunes capped his prep soccer career at Newport by being named to the 4A All-KingCo second team as a defender. This year, his impact on the field will be even greater.
Now a freshman at USC, Nunes is one of 10 students that will travel to Uganda for two weeks in May with FUNDaFIELD, a non-profit founded by bothers Kyle and Garrett Weiss, who attend Claremont McKenna and USC respectively.
Once in Africa, the group of college-students-turned-builders will construct soccer fields, donate sports equipment including cleats, jerseys and soccer balls, as well as organize and host a youth soccer tournament for kids in neighboring villages.
Nunes was introduced to the group during an involvement fair held on the USC campus and was drawn to the group because of its passionate members and tie to a game he had a personal history with.
“I have seen firsthand the deep cultural effect the game of soccer can have on a community,” Nunes said. “It unites people under a common cause, restores trust between different factions and has actually been proven to help improve education retention rates in foreign countries. I believe our work can make some profound changes- literally from the ground up.”
Nunes is familiar with humanitarian efforts, having previously traveled to Costa Rica to work and stay with a host-family for a month.
The FUNDaFIELD group will be abroad from May 14 – May 28 and in addition to the work on the soccer field and tournament will be touring the country and staying with a host family.
There are also plans to study the countries violent history and present from first-hand sources such as former child soldiers.
“Whether with our host family or other villagers we meet, I am excited to meet the native Ugandans and put a face to this cause,” Nunes said. “The people I have talked to who have gone on trips to Uganda with FUNDaFIELD have said the natives’ energy and appreciation is infectious.”
To help fund his trip to Uganda, Nunes has created a website to accept donations.
Josh Suman can be reached at 425-453-5045 or jsuman@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/bellevuereporter.
