- Roman (Basketball) – Kansas community funds custom wheelchair for young athlete to play basketball year-round
- Ánimo Venice Charter High School (Running) – LA Marathon team surpasses goal to get proper running shoes for dedicated students training before sunrise
- K&C Cheer & Dance Academy (Cheer/Dance) – 24 Lahaina dancers fundraising for Disneyland performance, showing resilience after Maui fire
- Paradise High Cheer Team (Cheerleading) – California team wins first competition since 2018 Camp Fire, raising $40,000 for 25 cheerleaders to compete at Disney World Nationals
- Coach Mustafa “Muzzy” Gozlugol (Soccer) – California soccer community raises $8,000 for coach’s O-1 Visa to keep inspiring mentor in the country
- Athenian Academy (Multiple Sports) – Florida school’s first-ever athletics program hit by budget cuts after six years of effort, seeking community support
Welcome to another Feel Good Friday, where we celebrate the stories that remind us why youth sports matter far beyond wins and losses. Today’s spotlight features six remarkable fundraising campaigns that showcase how communities are supporting youth athletics through grassroots fundraising.
These stories highlight the creative ways coaches, parents, and communities are addressing specific challenges their young athletes face. From providing adaptive equipment to supporting students training for marathons, from helping communities rebuild after natural disasters to preserving first-time athletic programs, these campaigns demonstrate the power of community support when young athletes need help most.
What makes these stories particularly compelling is their diversity across sports, age groups, and circumstances. We see communities rallying around everything from individual adaptive equipment needs to entire programs facing unexpected budget cuts. Each campaign addresses a specific need, yet they all share a common thread: communities stepping up to ensure young athletes can continue pursuing their goals.
These campaigns utilize GoFundMe as a platform that enables direct community fundraising, allowing coaches, parents, and supporters to address immediate needs and fund specific opportunities for deserving athletes.
Let’s dive into six stories that exemplify this community-powered approach to youth athletics.
Roman: A Custom Wheelchair and a Community’s Belief
Roman is a young athlete from Kansas with a big love for basketball. Every week, he shows up with enthusiasm, using a team-provided wheelchair so he can play the game he loves. While grateful for the opportunity to participate, Roman dreamed of having a chair made just for him, one that fits his body and style of play perfectly.
A custom sports wheelchair would allow Roman to practice all year long and push his skills even further. However, when his family learned how costly a specialized chair could be, they needed to find a creative solution. They first tried a T-shirt fundraiser, which gained support from friends and teammates but fell short of the full amount needed.
The family then started a GoFundMe to raise the remaining funds. The response was heartwarming as people came together, contributing what they could to help Roman reach his goal. The campaign successfully met its target, making Roman’s dream a reality.
With his very own basketball wheelchair, Roman can continue training, competing, and staying active through the summer. The new chair represents more than just equipment. It’s a symbol of encouragement from everyone who believes in him. Each time he takes the court, he carries with him the generosity and kindness of a community that helped turn his passion into possibility.
Ánimo Venice Charter High School: Running Toward Dreams, One Step at a Time
Every spring, a group of determined students from Ánimo Venice Charter High School trains for something extraordinary: the Los Angeles Marathon. These students, many of whom commute hours each day from across Los Angeles, dedicate months to running before sunrise, pushing through exhaustion, and balancing their studies with a demanding training schedule.
Their teacher and volunteer coach launched a GoFundMe to ensure that every runner on the school’s Students Run LA team has a proper pair of running shoes. Many of the students train in worn-out or hand-me-down shoes that do not support their feet and often lead to pain or injury.
The goal was to raise enough funds, $160 per student, to purchase new, high-quality shoes fitted specifically for each runner. The campaign surpassed its goal, with additional donations going toward essentials like snacks, water bottles, and workout gear.
The GoFundMe has become a celebration of the students’ determination and the community’s belief in their potential. Their hard work represents far more than just physical endurance. It is a powerful expression of commitment, discipline, and belief in themselves.
With the right shoes, these young runners can train safely, build confidence, and cross the finish line of one of the most iconic marathons in the country. Their accomplishment will stand as proof that perseverance and support can turn big dreams into reality, one stride at a time.
K&C Cheer & Dance Academy: Lahaina Strong, Keiki Strong
In Lahaina, a group of young dancers is preparing for an unforgettable opportunity to perform on one of the world’s most magical stages. The Keiki of K&C Cheer & Dance Academy, a small woman-owned youth program in West Maui, are working hard to represent their home at the All-Star Spirit Extravaganza parade at Disneyland.
For these 24 dancers, this is more than just a performance. It is a moment to celebrate their resilience, their community, and their pride in where they come from. The team’s journey to Disneyland carries deep meaning for the girls and their families. After the devastating fire in Maui, many are still rebuilding their lives while finding strength through dance and teamwork.
Each dancer must cover costs for airfare, hotel stays, performance packages, and uniforms, totaling well over a thousand dollars per person. The academy is using GoFundMe to raise funds so every child can participate, regardless of financial circumstance. Every contribution helps ensure that no dancer is left behind.
Through this effort, K&C Cheer & Dance Academy is lifting up not only its students but the entire Lahaina community. When the dancers take the stage in Disneyland, they will carry the spirit of Maui with them, showing the world the courage, determination, and aloha that define their hometown.
With support from donors and friends near and far, these young performers will proudly share a message that continues to echo across the islands: Lahaina Strong, Keiki Strong.
Paradise High Cheer Team: Rising From the Ashes
In the small Northern California town of Paradise, resilience has become a way of life. After the Camp Fire in 2018 destroyed nearly the entire community, the people of Paradise began the long process of rebuilding what was lost. Among those who rose from the ashes are the students and athletes of Paradise High School, whose determination and spirit continue to inspire their town.
In November of 2025, the Paradise High Cheer Team attended the UCA Regional Qualifier in Rocklin, California, marking their first competition since the fire. Against tough competition, they took home the championship title in the Varsity Intermediate Division and earned an invitation to the National Cheer Competition at Walt Disney World in January of 2026.
For these athletes, the achievement represents far more than a trophy. It is proof that dedication, teamwork, and community pride can overcome even the greatest of challenges.
Now, the team is working to raise $40,000 on GoFundMe to cover travel costs for the 25 cheerleaders and their coaches. The funds will make it possible for them to represent not only their school but also the entire Paradise community on a national stage.
Each donation, no matter the size, helps bring this dream closer to reality. The Paradise High Cheer Team’s journey to Florida is more than a trip. It is a celebration of strength, unity, and the unwavering belief that from loss, something beautiful can rise again.
Coach Mustafa “Muzzy” Gozlugol: A Community Returns the Favor
For the past three years, Coach Mustafa “Muzzy” Gozlugol has been a source of inspiration and leadership in the California soccer community. Since arriving from the United Kingdom in 2022, he has brought energy, professionalism, and a deep sense of care to every player and family he works with.
His approach to coaching goes beyond training sessions and matches, focusing on building confidence, teamwork, and respect both on and off the field. Through his dedication, Muzzy has helped young athletes grow not only as players but also as individuals.
Those who have worked with him often describe how his influence has transformed teams and lifted the spirits of everyone around him. Players have gained new confidence, families have seen their children thrive, and fellow coaches have been inspired by his passion and integrity.
Now, the community that Muzzy has poured his heart into is coming together to support him. He is beginning the process of applying for an O-1 Visa, which recognizes individuals with extraordinary ability in their field. The legal and filing costs total about $8,000, and every contribution will help him take this important step.
By supporting his visa process, the community is not just helping a coach stay in the country. They are helping a mentor and role model continue guiding the next generation of athletes. With everyone’s help, Coach Muzzy can keep doing what he does best: inspiring, teaching, and building a stronger and more connected soccer community.
Athenian Academy: Fighting to Keep a Dream Alive
At Athenian Academy of Technology & the Arts in New Port Richey, Florida, students recently experienced something new and exciting: the chance to represent their school in organized sports. After six years of effort, Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director Patrick Rosanio helped launch the school’s very first athletics program.
For many students, it was a dream come true to wear their school colors, compete as a team, and feel a sense of pride and belonging within their community. That excitement was short-lived when unexpected budget cuts struck just as the program’s first full season began.
The school lost significant state funding, and with it, the financial support that kept athletics running. Without funds for gym rentals, officials, and basic equipment, all four basketball teams had to be canceled, and other sports could soon face the same fate.
Many of Athenian Academy’s students come from families with limited means, making the loss even more heartbreaking. For these young athletes, sports are not just games. They are opportunities to build confidence, discipline, and hope for the future.
To keep the athletics program alive, the school is now turning to the community for support. Donations will go directly toward essential needs such as facilities, referees, equipment, and coach stipends. Each contribution, big or small, helps keep students engaged, active, and motivated to reach their goals.
With the community’s help, Athenian Academy’s student-athletes can continue to learn, grow, and take pride in representing their school. Together, supporters can ensure that the Owls continue to soar.
The Bigger Picture: Communities Supporting Youth Sports Access
These six stories demonstrate how communities are finding creative ways to support their young athletes across a wide spectrum of needs and circumstances. From adaptive equipment for individual athletes to entire programs facing unexpected crises, each campaign addresses real challenges that would otherwise create barriers to participation.
Several common themes emerge from these campaigns. They show how youth sports serve communities recovering from natural disasters, providing structure, hope, and normalcy during difficult times. They demonstrate the critical role of dedicated coaches and teachers who go beyond their official duties to ensure students have opportunities to compete and grow.
Most importantly, these stories highlight the immediate and meaningful impact that community support can have on young people’s lives. Whether providing a custom wheelchair, proper running shoes, performance opportunities, or program survival, each campaign reflects communities investing directly in young athletes’ development and well-being.
The success of these campaigns appears to depend on authentic relationships and shared values. When communities see young athletes working hard, coaches dedicating themselves to their students, and programs genuinely serving their participants, support materializes quickly and generously.
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