Making a difference
by giving back to the community

Abby from the US

EF Academy New York

Together with her New Jersey soccer team, 16 year old EF Academy New York student Abby decided to start a service program in order to give back to her community. The project not only helped people in need, but also made her soccer team even more close-knit than before.

How did your donation project start?

Our soccer club was very lucky in having so much equipment and support from the community, so we thought it would be a good idea to give back. We decided to donate to Moms Helping Moms, a foundation started by mothers who had extra baby supplies and decided to pack them up and donate them. Through partnership with community organizations, social workers, homeless shelters and schools, they collect and distribute diapers, clothing, formula, nursing supplies, strollers and countless other baby essentials.

"We were so happy to help them, it was amazing because they were so happy, and we were so happy because it felt so good to help other people. Because of the service program, our team got even closer, we got a new special bond that even helped us on the soccer field."

Why did you choose that specific cause?

We supported Moms Helping Moms to end diaper need and to fight childhood poverty in New Jersey. Our moms are always there for us, they watch our soccer games and they made us who we are today, so we thought it was important to support mothers who aren't as lucky, because we want their children to be just as lucky as we are.


I was basically the project manager. I helped decide where we were going to put the donation boxes, we put one at our soccer field and one at our local shopping center. We also sent out a newsletter with a link to the website so that people could donate.


We were so happy to help them, it was amazing because they were so happy, and we were so happy because it felt so good to help other people. Because of the service program, our team got even closer, we got a new special bond that even helped us on the soccer field.

Who do you look up to?

Someone that I really look up to is Carli Lloyd, because I think she is an incredible human being. Actually, she plays the same position as I do on the field. I think the whole US women's national team is amazing, they inspire me to think about my own future soccer career, and if I want to play in college.

Do you have a special EF Academy memory that you would like to share?

I was captain of the girls varsity team here at EF Academy New York. Some of the girls had never played soccer before, and it was an amazing experience to teach them. We all got so passionate about soccer. In the future, I think that we could add the service component to the EF Academy varsity team. Giving back to the community is so important, and I think that it would give our team an even closer bond. We could even do it for the whole athletic program here at EF Academy!

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