How it all started
In 1986, Cesar moved to the United States to join his mother in Maryland. After completing his education at Walter Johnson High School, Cesar pursued his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter. He began volunteering with the Kensington Fire Department, which eventually led him to a rewarding 25-year career with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue as a Firefighter/EMT.
In 2022, after 36 years, Cesar returned to Lima, Peru, to introduce his children to their extended family. Upon his return to Maryland, however, he was shocked to see that nothing had changed in his old neighborhood. This realization left him reflecting deeply on how things could be better, especially for the youth in the area. He often found himself repeating, "We can do better," driven by the belief that "the kids need more."
This is why we are taking action.
The children in this community need a space where they can come together, play, form friendships, build a sense of community, and learn valuable life lessons. They need a place to simply be kids while gaining skills that will help them navigate life. Most importantly, they need hope for a brighter future.
What started as a simple goal of collecting soccer and softball equipment for kids in Peru has grown into a larger mission. We are now committed to sponsoring a youth soccer team in Peru each year, covering the coach’s fees and the costs necessary for the team to compete. Through many conversations, this initiative has expanded, and we believe in going big or going home.
Our current goal is to sponsor both a neighborhood soccer and softball team. In the long term, we aim to renovate the neighborhood sports field into a community hub that will support soccer, volleyball, and basketball. The vision includes installing turf, lighting, fencing, and functional bathrooms to create a welcoming space for everyone. The goal is $20,000.00.
We are proud to share that the people we support are already paying it forward. For instance, the girls' softball team frequently participates in community service, collecting items for a local soup kitchen. They then hike 30 minutes up the mountains to deliver the food to a remote community in need.
