Dear Coaches across Continents Supporter,
In 2001 I started a journey that has seen me visit more than 75 countries. I’ve seen World Cup Finals, UEFA Cup Finals, Confederations Cups, professional games in more than 25 countries and I even saw Middlesbrough win a Cup! I’ve seen soccer in the streets in every single town and country. I’ve seen the real power of soccer!
In 2008 I made the full-time commitment to use soccer to make a difference in the world and formed Coaches across Continents, a not-for-profit development organization that uses Soccer for Social Change. From an Executive in the English Premier League, I shifted to barefooted soccer in the poorest places. I swopped multi-million dollar players and coaches for players and coaches who played with plastic bag balls because it was their chance to smile, to play, to imagine.
The past 23 months have been the most demanding, most testing, and most rewarding of my life. I’ve visited 11 African countries. I’ve worked in the slums in Nairobi , where I sat with drug lords and talked about Chelsea , I’ve worked with former child soldiers in remote Northern Uganda and discussed Torres, and I’ve organized teams of volunteer coaches to work in Kenya , Malawi , South Africa , Tanzania , Uganda and Zambia . I’ve slept in more than 500 beds, (none as comfortable as my own at home), and I’m advised that it has personally cost me more than $750,000 to fund, work and develop this fantastic organization.
So, now Coaches across Continents is at that exciting stage in our not-for-profit business development. We have a proven product on the field and our Hat-trick Initiative has won global awards as the leader in Sport for Social Development. Now we need your support to create a long-term business strategy that can sustain growth and quality.
My main job in the next 18 months is to knock on doors, to make presentations, to write foundation grant forms, and to create a sustainable not-for-profit business. I’ve even bought two suits, my first since 2002! I’m committed to the power of soccer!
We’d love for you to make a financial investment to Coaches across Continents. If you can’t do that today, can you open some doors for us? You could raise some money through your business or team, run a marathon, climb Kilimanjaro (I’ll do that with you), keep the ball up a thousand times (if you’ve seen me play you know that one’s impossible) or come up with a new idea.
In October 2010 we have received Partner Requests for 2011 from 29 communities in 21 new countries . With the right business backing we could quite easily run hundreds of programs around the world. The demand for Coaches across Continents continues to grow, with your help, we can generate the supply.
Coaches across Continents needs your help to use soccer to make social change around the world. We’d like you to get involved and have a huge list of ways for you to make a difference. And if you aren’t able to personally support us, can you get your local team or club or even your company to get involved?
We have a mission to raise more than $4,045,000 by 2012.
Thanks for reading this letter and please feel free to contact me directly at nickgates@coachesacrosscontinents.com . I’d love for you to get involved.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope that you can help us use soccer around the world to make real social change.
Sincerely,
Nick Gates
Founder and Global Strategist
