Since its formation a couple of years back, the Henry V. Moran Foundation has been supporting less fortunate children and youth of the Philippines through football programs. The foundation, which is named after the late Henry Moran, was organized by his children who have once been great athletes themselves in their specialized field.

Through this pioneering project, the organization, together with the Urban Opportunities for Change was able to send homeless football teams to Melbourne, Australia in 2008 and to Milan, Italy in 2009 for the Homeless World Cup competition.

This year, the foundation sent a team of young men and women to the Deloitte Street Child World Cup in Dunbar, South Africa. The young participants, who left last month for the competition have been selected from different organizations such as the Nayon ng Kabataan, Tuloy sa Don Bosco, Tondo Futkaleros and the Munitinlupa United FC and have participated in a yearlong training. The competition was for players, both boys and girls from 14 to 16 years old, who have lived on the streets at one time in their lives.

“It is with the philosophy that through sports, one is prepared for real life learning discipline and hard work, that The Henry V. Moran Foundation has been active in supporting football teams for the poor and homeless. The foundation envisions football as a way of helping those who have less in life achieve more,” says Peter Moran, one of the founders of The Henry V. Moran Foundation.

At the press conference before they left, the players shared their experiences while living on the streets, thanking the foundation that gave them hope and helped them become better individuals.

For Erica Mae Inocencio, who once lived on the streets without anything to eat, joining the competition was a dream come true.

“I am very thankful to The Henry V. Moran Foundation, our primary sponsors and most especially to God for giving this opportunity to us. Like the other members of the team, I have also lived on the streets and I know how hard it was to be homeless. That’s why I never thought that playing football will give me more hope, uplift my spirit and inspire other children to dream big and achieve it. Thank you so much to our generous sponsors for without, this wouldn’t be possible,” says the 15-year-old Inocencio.

Just like Inoncencio, each player in the team will be going out of the country for the first time in their lives with the desire to improve their situation in life and also become an inspiration for others in the same plight.

“My family, through the foundation, would like to contribute to making the players’ desires become reality in our small way,” adds Moran.

For the team, it’s not only the chance to represent the country that makes them happy but it’s more of the chance for a better life ahead of them. Win or lose, they know that the once-in-a-lifetime chance may change their lives forever.

Report Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideLifestyle.htm?f=2010/april/20/lifestyle1.isx&d=2010/april/20