It’s time to kick into high gear. A boy named Ethan King, who was just ten years old at the time, dreamed of an idea that would change the lives of children around the world.
In 2009, Ethan was traveling to Mozambique with his dad to help restore broken water wells in rural communities. When Ethan was traveling, he carried his soccer ball with him everywhere until one day he began tossing the ball around to the local kids. In a matter of seconds, children from all over the village were entertained by this soccer ball and wanted to join in on the fun. While Ethan had several soccer balls just lying in his garage at home, most of these kids had never played with a one before. That was when Ethan gifted them with his soccer balls and how Charity Ball, a non-profit that provides new, FIFA-quality soccer balls to kids in poverty-stricken communities around the world, was brought to life.
Eight years later, with the support from donations and grants, Ethan continues to expand the global soccer charity and make an impact on other people’s lives.
In the fall of 2017, Ethan will be enrolled at Butler University where he will play Division 1 soccer. However, instead of celebrating with a graduation party, he launched a Grad Party Campaign to try and raise $20,000. His funding goal will give 6,000 kids in Africa clean drinking water and 200 new soccer balls.
Charity Ball has hand-delivered new soccer balls to thousands of children around the world, but they could not have done it without the help of Sappi. Sappi is an Idea that Matters program. The program recognizes and supports designers and innovators who partner with organizations to bring inspiring ideas to life. Over the past 18 years, they have awarded $13 million in grants that have gone to assist more than 500 charities and one of them being Charity Ball.
Sappi industry is said to be on the cusp of unprecedented change and they are at the forefront of technological innovation. They not only help grow charities like Ethan’s, but they continue to unlock the true potential of sustainable renewable resources with woodfibre at their core allowing the environment to prosper. They stride to diversify nature and global interconnectivity in order to achieve their business goal.
This is a time of truly exciting evolution for Sappi. And, Ethan is one of many who demonstrate what it’s like to be a true leader across the world. With that said, anyone can aspire great ideas no matter the age. Throughout the journey of prosperity, Sappi’s purpose is to provide guidance and to help bring ideas to life. However, it is key to look up to the role models who inspire us every day, like Ethan, and to keep building progress in the world we live in – that is if you plan on achieving success and true gratification.
Click here to learn more about Charity Ball and how you can donate: https://charityball.org
Source: https://www.sappi.com
