The Pali Blues encourage all fans to visit the websites of our partner non-profits. Click the logos to learn more and be sure to watch the video below, an award-winning piece from ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Private Nicholas Madaras and his remarkable legacy.
Balls Without Borders is the first line of defense for children around the World suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). An international humanitarian organization, Balls Without Borders, Inc. (BWB) delivers soccer balls to serve as a distraction for children affected by armed conflict and natural or man-made disasters, and in doing so bears witness publicly to the plight of the people we serve. A 501 (c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, it is a goal of BWB to provide Play Therapy, the first step in treating PTSD in children. BWB plans to send its allotment of balls from Beat 627 to Nelson Mandela’s MaAfrika Tikkun orphanages in honor of South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup.
While home on leave from Iraq in July 2006, Private Nicholas Madaras rounded up as many soccer balls as possible to bring back to the children near his post. Being a passionate soccer player, he wanted to give the balls to the children as a gesture of good will. Unfortunately, Nick was killed by an IED on September 3, 2006 and was never able to distribute the balls himself. Shortly after Nick’s passing Kick For Nick was started – a non-profit 501(c)(3) – to take up Nick’s crusade, collecting soccer balls in Nick’s honor to fulfill Nick’s wish and share his love of the game with the children of Iraq.
Para Los Niños is a nonprofit family service organization designed to bring children from some of Los Angeles’ most challenging communities out of poverty and onto brighter, more successful futures. Since opening its first facility in 1980, Para Los Niños has grown to serve more than 4,000 families each year at 28 sites throughout Pico-Union, Central, East, West, and South Los Angeles, South El Monte and Ontario. Every week, more than 4,600 children and youth – ranging from 6 weeks to 21 years of age – enjoy award-winning, positive educational opportunities and much-needed family support.
