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Soccer Without Borders Positive Tracks Ambassador, Gabby Maggiacomo, is a junior at La Salle Academy in Rhode Island. Gabby developed a passion for soccer from playing competitive soccer for the past several years. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, Gabby “jumped” at the opportunity to become a Soccer Without Borders Ambassador after a friend told her about the organization.
Below Gabby reflects on her first experience as a SWB Ambassador:
This past July I organized a 3-hour clinic hosted at Providence College on a beautiful summer night. This was something I had been working extremely hard on in the months prior and also an event I was a little nervous about, considering it was my first event for Soccer Without Borders. However, I was confident it was going to be great! I remember feeling a huge amount of support around me. This came from several different places, including my Ambassador Coordinator at SWB, Lucas Holmes, the guest coaches at the clinic, Kyle Bak of PC Women’s Soccer and Christina Maciel of UMass Lowell Women’s Soccer, my friends and family, and most importantly all of the enthusiastic young soccer players at the clinic! I love that being a SWB Ambassador has brought me closer to my community.
Before this event, I was not expecting to be so emotionally fulfilled after. I truly had a lot of fun playing and coaching soccer with all of the amazing participants, a total of over 30 middle school boys and girls! Looking back and knowing that I raised nearly $1,500 from just one event is refreshing. This success makes me feel as though I am playing an active role in the SWB’s mission. As I invest my time and energy into Soccer Without Borders, I am fueled by the cause. For me it never gets to be tiring or draining because the beauty of SWB is that it provides me with a gateway to helping underprivileged youth through something I love: the game of soccer!
After experiencing success with her first Ambassador event, Gabby felt inspired to continue her work as an Ambassador. Three months later, Gabby coordinated a Play For Change game at one of Northeastern Men’s College soccer games. At the game, Gabby and her friend, Alana, hosted an SWB table where she asked for donations, sold t-shirts, and set up a special halftime announcement to spread the awareness of SWB's mission. Her efforts raised another $675 to support Soccer Without Borders Boston.
Through our challenge grant from partner organization Positive Tracks, funds raised by U-23 Ambassadors are matched, meaning that Gabby mobilized over $2,000 for Soccer Without Borders Boston! Thank you, Gabby, and Positive Tracks for your amazing support!
Are you inspired by Gabby’s story? If you are under 23 and interested in becoming a Positive Tracks Ambassador for Soccer Without Borders, please fill out an interest form here and a SWB Ambassador Coordinator in your region will connect with you.