When my first 11 day journey to the Central American paradise came to an end I found myself unconsciously mouthing the words one more time, "Sad to say I'm on my way. Won't be back for many a day." Known for its rainforests, volcanoes, biodiversity, eco-tourism, picturesque Pacific sunsets and fantastic surf, Costa Rica is a very inviting destiation for travellers worldwide. I was fortunate to visit as a member of the United States National Futsal Team competing in the World Cup qualifying CONCACAF tournament in the year 2000 . Having befriended most of the Costa Rican players and delegation four years earlier in Guatemala they were perfect hosts, full of pride to be competing in their home country. Coach Tozer arranged a tour for the team on our only day of leisure. We rode a boat down a rainforest river, walked amongst an active volcano and hot springs and viewed sloths, tucans, caymans, monkeys and magnificent butterflies and frogs in their amazing habitats. As international athletes however we spent our time almost exclusively preparing for and recovering from games, both physically and mentally.
Nearly 10 years later in 2009 a partnership with Continental Airlines and a karmic relationship with the family of one of my young players determined that my family unit would be spending a week in a beautiful penthouse in Flamingo, Guanacaste on the Northwest Pacific coast just South of Nicaragua. I was excited and eager to return to this most special place and afford the opportunity to experience Costa Rica to my wife and daughter.
There is no denying that soccer is part of me through and through and for reasons not totally understood, but again undeniable, I feel an urge, an inherent need to give back to the game. So the day before we left Cleveland I stuffed a decent sized bag with left over t-shirts from our futsal league and summer camps. I threw in a few pair of goalkeeper gloves, some bracelets, a dozen soccer balls, soccer cards and some posters so whomever I ran into might identify me as a former pro player and not some strange gringo. On day four of the vacation the time had come. As Marty and I had agreed the night before she and Olivia would head to the beach after breakfast and I took off in the rental car to search out a local school. Using my limited Spanish and an excessive amount of hand gestures I made my way North to the nearby pueblo of Potrero and quickly located the school. It had been told to us and I can now confirm that every pueblo in Costa Rica has a soccer field at it's heart. With dirt streets on all sides you will find the school on one corner, on another the church, on yet another the grocery and on the last a local bar. The village of Potrero was no exception to this truth. Back in the states it might be called the town square or plaza but in Costa Rica futbol is king and the town square is rectangular with a goal at each end.
About 30 minutes later following a fresh barrage of hand-speak, more poorly spoken Spanish and after enlisting the help of the kindergarten and physical education instructors I was able communicate my intentions to the schools director. When the morning classes were dismissed I would now be allowed to distribute my goods to the children. Strategically parked near the school entrance, backed in with the trunk hatch open and my offerings in plain view, I juggled a soccer ball to gain some attention as the children walked by. At first reactions were unenthusiastic and purely inquisitive, then as I handed out the first few items my ears were filled with blurring bursts of high speed Latin and a feeding frenzy ensued. The trunk quickly emptied and I realized that while my efforts brought joy to many of the children many more would be left without. The wheels in my head began to turn.
This incredible country possessed oceans and rivers, volcano's and hot springs and obscene quantities and varieties of vegetation and animal life... all of the things I found most fascinating as a child. Ultimately it is the combination of this environment with the generous, kind-hearted people whose culture not only embraces but leans on soccer as a pillar of society that must shoulder the blame for my obsession and desire to return.
Enthusiasm, adventurous, inspiring.....PURA VIDA.
Fast forward one year and in 2010 we returned again, this time with 30 soccer balls, school supplies and over 100 pair of much needed soccer shoes. Many of the faces at Potrero were familiar to me and many of the children recognized this long-haired, English speaking visitor as a friend. This time with the help of Marty and Olivia and armed with a welcome video showing an average day at Rootstown Elementary, professional indoor and national futsal team footage of the foundations director and highlights of our youth teams and coaching staff we scheduled a shoe fitting and placed 50 children into their very own soccer cleats. Soccer balls and various school supplies were given to the school for all to use and we discussed any additional school needs over a traditional lunch prepared by the school cook.
Over the course of the next week we networked with locals and internationals alike and we managed to connect with the schools of Brasilito, El Llano and Matapalo and delivered about 25 pair of shoes, 5 soccer balls and some school supplies to each. We also discussed what affordable item each school might need the most.
Invigorating, uplifting, emotional.....PURA VIDA.
2011 would be our third trip to Guanacaste and only the second with an organized effort under the HandsOnSports Foundation. With the generous donations of time and equipment from many NE Ohio soccer associations and families we were able to collect and distribute over 500 pair of gently used soccer shoes to six schools. With the help of our new international network of friends we were able to get the sizes of shoes needed in advance and fit over 500 children with proper soccer footwear. Colored pencils, markers and composition books were again shared with each school and our commitment to each of the three school projects was also addressed. Escuela Potrero was given three wall mount fans, one for each of their classrooms to keep the children cooler during the extreme summer heat. Escuela Matapalo was given a check for $500 to assist with the construction of concrete block walls to secure the kitchen and cafeteria. The cook at Escuela El Llano was presented a commercial food processor donated by Brandon Nicholas, a young Rootstown student, and his family. Each of these schools received between 80 and 140 pair of shoes for their students and the Guanacaste Unido youth team in addition to the schools at Playa Grande, Zaracosa and LaPaz were all recipients of supplies.
Encouraging, life changing, satisfying.....PURA VIDA.
As the HandsOnSports Foundation nears its second anniversary we continue collecting equipment and donations now for those in need in 2012. All sizes and kinds of soccer shoes are welcome. Please clean off any loose dirt and tie the shoes together by the laces and call or e-mail us or donate at our collection point at the Akron Sports Center, 925 Grant Street in Akron. If you would like to organize a collection day for your organization we would love to have you join our Project Retread Committee. In less than two years the HandsOnSports Foundation has provided scholarships, donated thousands of dollars to NE Ohio Children's Hospitals, donated over 1,000 pair of shoes, 1,000 soccer balls, school supplies and many other items to youth in communities around the world including Uganda, Nigeria, Haiti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Ecuador.
Here in NE Ohio the HandsOnSports Foundation is proud to be working with the support of the City of Akron, the Summa Foundation, Key Bank, Children's Hospital, the Akron Sports Center, Alpha Phi Alpha and all of our members to build a permanent and publicly accessible futsal court at Lane Fields Park on Vernon Odom Boulevard. Once funding is in place the project will host a grand opening event and weekly instructional clinics to teach and monitor the game of futsal. In addition we are working in Cleveland with the Cleveland Municipal School District and former Cleveland Browns coach Sam Rutigliano's foundation, Coach Sam's Inner Circle. We are currently wrapping up our first series of futsal classes as part of a 5-day after school literacy and wellness initiative.
The HandsOnSports Foundation continues our work to provide healthy environments, quality programming, equipment and guidance to those under served and in need right here in Akron and Cleveland and abroad. I hope that you find our projects interesting and worthwhile and I encourage you to join our mailing list, participate in our events, donate and get involved however you can. There are few things in life greater than helping to bring a genuine smile to the face of child. We need your involvement to continue our work and as executive director of the HandsOnSports Foundation I thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Otto Orf
Director, HandsOnSports Foundation
MAY 21st
Cleveland Crunch Reunion Celebration
This Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena. Autograph session and special reunion exhibition soccer game with players from the 3-time champion Cleveland Crunch.
Join Indoor Soccer's Greatest Goal Scorer Hector Marinaro and 15 others as they revisit the glory days of the 1990's.
$16 discount tickets can be purchased at: www.clevelandgladiators.com
JULY 16 & 17
Sand Soccer Showdown
Mentor Headland Beach, the most fun your soccer playing kids will have all year. Any ages and any skill levels including moms and dads.
Register your team now at www.soccerinthesand.com or as an individual at handsonsoccer@aol.com.
AUGUST 18th
6th Annual Otto Orf Charity Classic
Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson. 4-some + Sports Celebrity in each group.
Silent Auction, Raffles, Professional Exhibition, Trophies and more. proceeds to benefit Akron Children's Hospital, Rainbow Babies Hospital and the HandsOnSportss Foundation.
Register as a foursome, twosome or individual at: http://ottoorfgolfclassic.dojiggy.com/
