In this episode Dinah and Michael are joined by Tony Everett (Founder of the Pure Game program) The 3 of them discuss how the program is helping disenfranchised youth learn valuables life lessons through the beautiful game. Featured Links Pure Game website Cal South SCDSL site Coast Soccer US Soccer Guest Information GUEST NAME: Tony Everett GUEST BIO: Tony Everett is the Founder and Chief Play Maker of Pure Game, a nonprofit that uses soccer to engage 5000 at-risk youth per year in the inner city areas of Orange County. Growing up in England, Tony acquired a passion for soccer. His childhood team experience was focused on fun, with minimal structure and adult intervention. Tony recalls it as, “sheer joy”. This liberating atmosphere resulted in a relationship with soccer and teammates that taught him transferable skills and values and helped him establish friends for life. Between 2004 and 2009, Tony was lucky enough to travel to Nigeria, Brazil, and Rwanda. During these trips, soccer was the focal point of his activities with youth, and despite the children’s often-difficult background, this wonderful game bought joy and happiness. Seeing how children were so open to learning about life while playing soccer really made an impact on Tony, but it was back in California when he really understood where this was all going. The Pure Game vision of bringing hope of those who need it most was born out of Tony’s compassion for the children he had met. Realizing he could use his passion for soccer to help change the lives of the world’s at-risk youth was a miraculous discovery. At the same time, he realized the Pure Game model could be used to teach kids how to break free from their limiting circumstances and current mindsets. Tony now leads a team of like-minded individuals who have a passion to create change in the lives of children. Pure Game couples a cooperative form of soccer with positive character development in an overall attempt to influence the development of its participants' physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. The simple, yet affective system allows children to understand who they through a series of experiential learning moments that help kids explore their gifts and talents. For the child, this creates a better understanding of their passion and purpose in life. All this feeds into Tony’s belief that we are all here for a purpose, that we have the gifts to fulfill that purpose, and that with a positive champion children can start on the path of their purpose early on in life. Guest Links WEBSITE: www.thepuregame.org TWITTER: @puregame FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/thepuregame YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChex-Fah0q7T8LqlBJrzj-w Guest Promotions The Pure Game
