Community Service
2017-2018
My sophomore year has been particularly challenging as I continue to recover from ACL surgery last spring. Although this has been a “red shirt” fall season for me, I have been able to continue my volunteer coaching activities and continue to work toward 100% physically. As usual, time has passed quickly and my class schedule along with my other volunteer activities with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation have kept me busy. I am looking forward to rejoining my Teammates on the field of play in the near future.
2016-2017
My freshman year at Bluefield College began on the 3rd of August, 2016 and since the beginning of pre-season soccer camp, time has passed very quickly.
Even though my schedule has been fairly hectic this academic year, I have been able to do some volunteer work at Bristol & Martinsville during the NASCAR races and perform 3 days of volunteer service work at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown during my March 2017 spring break. I have also continued my work with youth league soccer players at various times throughout the school year.
(The fall soccer event outlined below is to be rescheduled for the spring time frame of 2017 due to college post season play. The NCCAA playoffs will take place in Kissimmee, Florida during the Thanksgiving break and the Rams will be representing the AAC mid-east division.)
This fall I am working with members of the Gloucester Community to organize a fund raising “Youth Soccer Event” during the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend. This one day event is scheduled to take place at Ark Park in Gloucester, Virginia on Saturday the 26th of November, 2016 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The 1st Annual “College Soccer Kick Around” will provide young players with a unique opportunity to participate in some training, drills and other related activities with current college soccer players from this region of Tidewater. In addition, there will also be some international college soccer players participating in this event.
The event is being organized for girls and boys ages 10 & up. Funds will be raised through a $10.00 event entry fee provided by each event participant. 100% of all proceeds raised during this event will be equally distributed to the local food pantry “Bread for Life” and the local Parks & Recreation youth sports program in Gloucester.
Within the Community, we are also seeking Individual and Company Sponsors that are willing to help us raise additional funds during this event. Those Individuals and Companies that agree to become “Event Sponsors” will be asked to pledge “funds match” support (by percentage) for all proceeds that are raised through “event participant” entry fees. The Sponsor can select the level of funds match (of the total entry fees collected) that is most comfortable for them and confirm their support for the percentage they have chosen: Gold = 100%, Silver = 50%, Bronze = 25%, Elite = 10% or “another percentage or one time set amount” as determined by the Sponsor. If a percentage is chosen, the Sponsor’s exact dollar amount will later be determined by the event coordinator once the total amount of entry fees collected for the “College Soccer Kick Around” is confirmed on the morning of the event. (The total amount raised through event entry fees cannot exceed $600.00 as the maximum number of event participants is limited to 60.)
I hope to have all details confirmed no later than November the 10th and work with the local radio station to get the word out on the event along with its purpose.
___________________________________
The 2015-2016 school year has been extremely busy and flown by quickly. When I look back at the Fall & Winter seasons, it’s hard to believe just how many things have been accomplished during that time frame. In moving into the Spring & Summer, there are many support activities within my community that I want to continue or expand upon. Aside from my volunteer soccer coaching schedule at present, I am currently working on fund raising for the local food pantry “Bread for Life” and working to develop fund raising support for our community based youth sports programs.
I will again be participating in the 2016 Gloucester County Daffodil Festival 5K Run to raise money for “Bread for Life” through run sponsorship’s. This year, I am very fortunate to be joined by William Schultz from Gloucester High School in the 5K run and he is also raising money through run sponsorship support for the local food pantry.
Over the next few weeks through local radio public service announcements, William and I will seek to enlist the help of other young (and perhaps not so young) people by joining us in the 5K run to help provide awareness / support for “Bread for Life”. 100% of all funds raised will go directly to “Bread for Life” to support this extremely important program that assists families in need within our local community.
On April 3rd 2016 during the Gloucester Daffodil Festival, Michael and his run partner William Schultz completed the 5K Run sponsorship fund raiser for the local food pantry “Bread for Life”. Through the generosity of their sponsors they were able to raise a total of $654.00 for this worthy cause. With these funds, the food bank will be able to purchase and distribute over 3,000 pounds of food to families in need within the local community. Great work Gentlemen!
(Click below to view the 14 April, 2016 Gloucester Gazette Journal article.)
http://teamb4self.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Gazette-Journal-14-April-2016-William-and-Michael-Bread-for-Life-654.00-presentation-on-4-6-16-5.pdf
______________________________________________________________
During 2014-2015, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Prayer Buddies Program at Williamsburg Christian Academy and perform volunteer service work with the “Dream Catchers” organization in Toano, Virginia. I have also had the opportunity to work with the community food banks in both Williamsburg and Gloucester, Virginia.
My future goals include expanding support for the local food banks and exploring volunteer opportunities in the field of Sign Language through my Sign Language Teacher at Williamsburg Christian Academy.
My most recent volunteer service and fund raising support has been with the Gloucester, Virginia “Bread for Life” food pantry. It is a community based nonprofit organization that regularly provides food bank services for over 300 local families. As a result of the combined financial contributions I received for my “Run, Kick, Goal” 5K run sponsorship’s and the soccer ball raffle campaign that took place during the April 2015 Gloucester Daffodil Festival, I was able to raise over $325.00 for “Bread for Life”.
I have continued my work with Bread for Life during the summer break and I am currently working on some additional fund raising support.
