NPSL in the Community: New Jersey United AC’s Soccer Ball Support Fundraiser
Faton Bauta has been around sports his entire life.
A three-sport athlete and 2012 graduate of Dwyer High School, Bauta developed into one of the top football recruits in the country. He was rated as the No. 24 quarterback in the country by Scout, No. 29 by ESPN, and No. 15 dual quarterback by Rivals after finishing as a SuperPrep All-Dixie team selection and member of the Orlando Sentinel Class 7A second team. He would go on to play quarterback for the University of Georgia and Colorado State University before becoming a coach with three different DI programs.
Bauta was surrounded by immense talent at Georgia and Colorado State, but today he is surrounded by a different kind of talent and a different kind of football. He helped launch NPSL side New Jersey United, and he serves as the club’s General Manager and Partner. He put together a coaching staff, front office, and player pool that experienced success from day one, making the playoffs in their inaugural season.
But New Jersey United has proven to be much more than just what happens on the pitch. The club is about community and serving that community in the best way possible. Their latest project is the Soccer Ball Support Fundraiser, which can be supported through their GoFundMe page.
This fundraiser came to exist because of a need in the local soccer community.
“The inspiration was to simply bring the local community together to help the local soccer community,” Bauta said. “I think everything has been expensive for everyone, and this was just a way to leverage a population of people to give a little so it can have a huge impact on helping to alleviate the cost for clubs and parents. We would purchase the soccer balls for clubs, and the clubs will not charge the price for soccer balls to parents. If soccer balls or equipment is an expense for a youth soccer club, that cost goes onto the parents and guardians and when prices are high, that could force parents to keep the kids off the field for that season.”
Making the beautiful game accessible to all is a worthy cause, one that connects to the club’s mission.
“We believe we have to serve the community around us before we can ever hope to gain their support,” Bauta continued. “We have to show them we are real about supporting them without anything in exchange. We want them to want to be part of the community that we are building day after day.”
Bauta hopes to raise a total of $10,000, which would provide 750 balls to anywhere between 50 and 75 youth clubs.
“For us, the project has already been a success because it has forced us to connect with the community,” Bauta added. “Helping just one youth soccer club is already a great accomplishment. I am happy to say that we will be able to help, at this point in time, ten youth clubs within New Jersey.”
And it’s more than just Bauta contributing to the cause.
“Ownership, front office, and players are all involved,” Bauta concluded. “Our tryout attendees paid a small fee to try out but that fee is going toward the fundraiser. All of our attendees, ultimately, have played a crucial role in helping us make huge strides to reaching our goals.”
Reaching those goals will help local youth continue their own soccer journeys, and maybe some day they will become a DI college athlete just like Faton Bauta.
Photo Credit: Connor Bowen/New Jersey United
