Pro soccer player Hugh Roberts pledges to help Salinas families in-need
It is a new chapter in the life of Hugh Roberts, a native of New York.
The 29-year-old recently moved to the Central Coast to play at the newly formed Monterey Bay Football Club.
There are two things that keep Roberts motivated: his love of football and his passion for giving back to those who need him.
This year, his eyes (and heart) are on Salinas, as he has pledged to donate money to local families during every game he plays.
Roberts donates $ 20 for each game, an additional $ 20 for each win, an additional $ 10 for each goal, and, as a central defender, $ 10 for each time he manages to prevent an opposing team from scoring zero goals.
In recent months, as he moved into his new Monterey County home, Roberts did his best to become a member of the community. He played with young football fans at the As Salinas Football Complex and visited him with his families.
He says it was learning about his economic disparities and food insecurity that inspired him to take action.
“I saw similar things on the East Coast. My own family was struggling a bit in New York and when we moved to DC we also fought there,” he said. “I went out there in Salinas and had lunch with a team member at the local food bank. Meeting families and witnessing the need first hand is different from seeing it on social media.”
Roberts is not alone in his efforts.
He got in touch and partnered with Salinas Soccer 831, a non-profit organization that helps local children and families with any sport, opportunities, and basic needs.
“I was thrilled when I heard what he wanted to do and what he wanted to collaborate with us,” Soccer Complex director Jonathan De Anda said. “With football at the core and a long-term vision to help the community, it was a no-brainer.”
De Anda says he hopes the money raised will help in more ways than one.
“We want to provide a space where children and their families can enjoy safe and healthy outdoor activities, learn life skills, serve as an economic engine for local businesses, and simply provide access to communities that don’t have them,” he said. De Anda. .
Monterey Bay FC president Mike DiGiulio says the team is supporting Roberts and Salinas Soccer 831 every step of the way.
“We’re very proud, it’s all we stand for in this community,” DiGulio said. “We came here with the enthusiasm and desire to help, to be a club that can bring hope and opportunity to all members of the community, especially the young people of Salinas.”
This is not the first time Roberts has a mission to return.
He started his own non-profit organization called Footys Got You Backyard Footy Foundation which raised thousands of dollars for the various communities in which he lived.
Roberts hopes to continue like this in Monterey County.
“I hope this can lead to more things like food collection. Even if I’m not there, I want people to feel my love and know that the real work is going on,” he said. “A lot of people will say they want to help and this kills the spirit of the community when they have hopes and no one is following them.”
Roberts and De Anda hope they can join the community with the donations needed to expand their efforts and raise as much money as possible.
A GoFundMe was created in https://www.gofundme.com/f/tr3vya-backyardfooty-foundation
Donations can also be made through Roberts @superhughman’s social media or by visiting https://linktr.ee/backyardfootyy
Pro soccer player Hugh Roberts pledges to help Salinas families in-need Source link Pro soccer player Hugh Roberts pledges to help Salinas families in-need
