August 1st, 2025 – Stories of hidden need, island pride, and World Series dreams
This week’s Feel Good Friday reveals something powerful about youth sports: sometimes the biggest obstacles aren’t on the field. From registration fees that families can’t afford to worn-out equipment and crumbling fields, these stories show how communities step up when they discover what’s really standing between kids and their dreams. We are screaming LET THE KIDS PLAY!
This Week’s Inspiring Headlines:
🏈 Utah Football District Nearly Dies Until Community Discovers 65 Kids Couldn’t Afford Registration
🌺 Remote Hawaiian Town Rallies Behind 8-Man Football Team Playing in Hand-Me-Downs
⚾ Massachusetts Youth League Raises $11K+ to Replace 17-Year-Old Crumbling Turf Field
🥎 Half of Little League Softball World Series Teams Use GoFundMe for Parents’ Travel
🏈 The Real Reason Behind “Low Registration”
Ute Conference Football in Utah informed their East District this week that they would be dissolving due to low registration numbers. But here’s the thing: the youth football district already had almost 40 kids signed up and 45 more in the registration pipeline.
What was holding up these kids from getting registered? Their parents were waiting for their next paycheck to pay the $400 fee.
East District President Lance Pendleton started a GoFundMe asking the community to help him start a scholarship program for these kids. In just a couple days nearly $10,000 has been raised. This will cover the registration costs for 25 kids. However, that leaves 20 more in limbo.
Pendleton says the league’s mission statement is “Let’s get kids playing football.” That’s exactly what he’s trying to do with his fundraising effort. If he can’t save the East District, those kids will have to go play with rival districts. That may not sound like a big deal, but East has a lot of pride. They’ve produced more than a dozen NFL players over the years.
🌺 Island Pride Runs Deep in Hand-Me-Down Gear
In the remote town of Hāna, Maui, tucked between lush cliffs and crashing waves, there’s a team that plays with more heart than most stadiums have seats.
They’re called the Hana Dragons. And they don’t play for scholarships or media coverage or fame. They play for each other, for their community, and for the love of the game.
The Dragons are an 8-man football team, but don’t let the number fool you. They go full speed, every play, every down, every single time. These boys hit the field after long days, with hand-me-down gear, worn-out cleats, and no complaints.
“When they line up under the lights, it feels like the whole town breathes as one,” Lily Canter wrote on GoFundMe. “Because in Hana, everyone shows up. Aunties, uncles, grandparents, little kids… even if you don’t have a cousin on the team (but you probably do), you’re in the stands.”
The Dragons’ supporters are raising money on GoFundMe to send all 32 boys on the team to a training camp, and buy new cleats, socks, and uniforms for all 32 players. They’ve raised more than $5,000 so far. Each dollar is a show of love and support for this team tied so closely to the town’s identity.
⚾ When Your Field Has Outlived Its Expected Life by Nine Years
Medfield Youth Baseball and Softball is trying to help their local high school players by fixing a major problem. The turf field they play on is well past the end of its life, and is falling apart. Actually, it’s not falling apart, it already has fallen apart. There are many spots on the field being held together with a temporary turf patch, and others with no turf left at all.
This field was installed 17 years ago, and the average lifespan of a turf field is only eight years. However, the cost to do a full replacement is $40,000.
So, the local youth baseball and softball league decided to rally the troops and start a GoFundMe. In just one week more than $11,000 has been raised towards the cost of a new field. The hope is to get it installed before next Spring’s baseball and softball season.
… GoFundMe Link Here
🥎 World Series Dreams Come with World Series Costs
This Sunday marks the start of the Little League Softball World Series! As these talented girls hit the field to compete for the title of the best young team in the world, many are also fundraising on GoFundMe. While Little League International pays for the travel and lodging of the players and coaches, their families must cover their own costs.
That’s why four of the eight American teams in the World Series are using GoFundMe:
- Guilford Little League (Connecticut – New England Region)
- Lake Mary Little League (Florida – Southeast Region)
- Tulsa National Little League (Oklahoma – Southwest Region)
- Westchester-Del Rey Little League (Southern California – West Region)
It’s a long and costly road for parents of players that get to this point. They have to win a district tournament, section tournament, state tournament, and regional tournament. Each step of the way comes with more travel, more hotels, more meals, and more time away from home.
For the girls on the field, it’s worth every minute. For their parents, it’s worth every penny. But not every parent can afford to keep up financially with this success. That’s why the combined $40,000 these four teams have raised on GoFundMe is such a big deal. It gives their parents and siblings the opportunity to cheer them on as they compete at the highest level.
Guilford Little League (Connecticut – New England Region)
The Guilford All-Stars softball team is on the brink of something truly special, making a historic run that has captivated our town and beyond.
Their dedication, teamwork, and sheer grit have propelled them through challenging matchups, showcasing the heart and talent that represents the Guilford community. As they continue their journey in the Little League World Series in Greenville, NC, every pitch, hit, and defensive play represents not just a game, but the culmination of countless hours of practice, missed events, and an unwavering dream. Let’s rally behind these incredible athletes, cheering them on every step of the way as they etch their names into history!
Our girls (and families) have gotten here through determination, dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. In order to continue on to the Little League World Series and represent the entire New England Region, families will have to pay thousands of dollars and unexpectedly take off time from work. We are seeking donations to help these families offset these unexpected costs and represent Guilford, Connecticut, and New England, at the highest level of softball play this country has to offer in their age bracket.
Lake Mary Little League (Florida – Southeast Region)
Our 12U Softball All Stars have made Lake Mary History as the first softball team to represent our State & Region in the Little League Softball World Series! The players and coaches will be covered but our parents would love to get the chance to watch our girls continue to experience these once-in-a-lifetime dreams! This Go Fund Me is made for the parents and families to help raise funds to cover the costs of the travel, lodging, and food while staying in Greenville for the duration of the tournament.
Westchester-Del Rey Little League (Southern California – West Region)
We are the Westchester Del Rey Little League Major Softball Team, and we are incredibly proud to announce that we’ve earned a spot in the 2025 Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina, taking place August 3rd–10th!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these hardworking, talented, and passionate young athletes and we couldn’t be more excited to represent the West, Los Angeles, and all of Southern California on a national stage!
But we need your help.
Traveling across the country is a big expense, and we are raising funds for our team to help families cover expenses for our players, coaches, and team families. Every donation — big or small — will help us make this dream come true and ensure that finances don’t stand in the way of these girls and families getting the chance they’ve earned in North Carolina.
These athletes and coaches have poured their hearts into this season — showing resilience, grit, and sportsmanship every step of the way. Your support means everything to us.
Please consider donating, sharing this campaign, or simply cheering us on as we take the field in North Carolina. Help us make this unforgettable journey possible!
Our first game is scheduled for Monday, August 4th at 4 p.m. EST, which will be broadcast on ESPN+.
