Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Press Release by CACC Associate Commissioner Doug DeBiase.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC), and supported by its 14 member institutions, is proud to announce it will hold a "Soccer Ball Collection Drive" at its 2016 CACC Men's and Women's Soccer Championships on Nov. 4 & 6 at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J. The drive will benefit the Kick for Nick Organization, which is named in the honor of PFC Nicholas A. Madaras, who died in Iraq in 2006 while bravely serving his country, as the group delivers soccer balls around the world to underprivileged children.
Fans attending the CACC Men's and Women's Soccer Championship semifinals (Friday, Nov. 4) and finals (Sunday, Nov. 6) are encouraged to bring a new or used soccer ball to donate to the cause. Administrators from both the CACC and Georgian Court will be on hand to collect the balls at the front gate to the fields. There will be two collection sites for the semifinals on Friday, as the women's semifinal contests will be held on the GCU Grass Field behind the Wellness Center, while the men's semifinals will be contested on the new GCU FieldTurf Complex on the other side of the Center. Both championship finals will be contested on Sunday at the FieldTurf Complex at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
All soccer balls donated that weekend will be delivered by the CACC office to the Madaras family in Wilton, Conn. The balls will then be sent to various parts of the world for children to experience the global game and give them hope for overcoming great odds. PFC Madaras, who played soccer throughout his youth and teenage years, had a dream to have soccer balls sent overseas to children he saw in Iraq who were dealing with very trying circumstances. Unfortunately, PFC Madaras passed away before he saw his dream come true, but through his family and friends and their unwavering commitment, over 46,000 soccer balls have been delivered to children throughout the world.
PFC Madaras' incredible story has been told twice by ESPN Sportscenter, including the first run of the feature more than five years ago. Anyone wishing to watch the incredible story can do so by clicking on the video player at the top of this story. In early September 2016, ESPN ran a follow up to the story detailing how more than 45,000 balls (at the time of broadcast) had been shipped all over the world. Fans wishing to watch the follow-up ESPN Sportscenter feature can do so by clicking HERE.
Fans who cannot attend the CACC Men's and Women's Soccer Championships in Lakewood, but would still like to donate to this wonderful cause, can do so by visiting a nearby drop-off station located around the country (MAP of DROP-OFF LOCATIONS) or mailing one ore multiple soccer balls to the following address:
Bill Madaras
35 Signal Hill Road South
Wilton, CT 06897
For more information on how the CACC is assisting with this worthy cause through its men's and women's soccer championships, please contact Associate Commissioner, Doug DeBiase, at 203-298-4806.