Epic World Cup

Hello everybody!  Today’s World Cup Finals party at Round Table Pizza in La Canada was a great success and I am very excited to learn how much money we raised. It was the perfect end to an amazing World Cup. I spent most of the month in Brazil where I went to two games in the Maracana and watched others at the Fan Fest on Copacabana Beach.  My family even made it on the jumbotron!!

The spirit in Brazil was incredible. The atmosphere everywhere was relaxed and happy. People were there from every corner of the earth.  Most wore jerseys, hats and other gear from their home country, which made a rainbow everywhere we went – in airplanes, on beaches, in restaurants, stores, and stadiums. We could instantly start a conversation with everyone we met about the tournament and the beautiful and welcoming country of Brazil.  While everyone was hoping their team would win, everyone was also cheering and happy regardless of the outcomes.  It was a great party.

I also played in pick up games in an isolated village in the Amazon, on the beaches of Buzios, and on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches in Rio. As soon as I would drop my ball, kids would suddenly appear and join in.  I also joined AM Sports Tours for two weeks of training and games. Kids were there from all over the world and we played with local kids from Buzios.

The past month was a true testament to the values of Ray United FC. Soccer united the world and brought happiness to the people involved.  I am as committed as ever to using soccer to help kids and planning fun events for the next year. I hope you will join me. Also check out updates to my website and donate at www.rayuitedfc.org

Oh yeah – and I tweet!! Follow me for the latest news @rayunitedfc