While home on leave from Iraq in July 2006, Private Nicholas Madaras rounded up as many soccer balls as possible to bring back to the children near his post. Being a passionate soccer player, he wanted to give the balls to the children as a gesture of good will. Unfortunately, Nick was killed by an IED on September 3, 2006 and was never able to distribute the balls himself. Instead we have taken up a crusade on his behalf to fulfill his dream…
Shortly after Nick’s passing Kick For Nick was started when Ken Dartley of Wilton, CT contacted Shalini and Bill Madaras after reading about Nick’s passion for the sport and his desire to share this love with the Iraqi children. Ken wanted to start a program of collecting soccer balls in Nick’s honor to fulfill Nick’s wish to share his passion.
The support for Kick For Nick has been worldwide and letters have been received from people from many different countries. Soccer balls have been received from 45 of the 50 United States.
Donations to this fund will be for the exclusive use of the Kick For Nick Foundation to purchase balls, pumps & packaging materials and to cover shipping costs. Shalini and Bill continue to be actively involved.
This fund is a 501c3 Organization so all donations are tax-deductible, a thank-you letter will be sent to donors giving the details of the fund, which can be used for tax purposes.
If you would like to make a monetary donation, you can do so on this site with a credit card. Donate Now.
If you prefer to send a check, please make it out to the Kick For Nick Foundation and mail it to:
Kick for Nick Foundation
c/o Bill Madaras
35 Signal Hill Road South
Wilton, CT 06897
To donate soccer balls, click this link.
