Our Story
A Legacy of Saying Yes
The spirit of 'A Team is a Family' is rooted in the life of my mother, Aleyda. She was a foster parent, a single mom, and a die-hard New York Mets fan—a love she passed down to me.
Growing up, I saw firsthand how a dollar had to stretch to support her own two children alongside the many foster children she welcomed into their home over the years. The cost of a baseball game or a trip to a theme park was a huge barrier, but it was one she refused to let stand in the way.
She always found a way to say 'yes', making sacrifices to ensure all of the children in her care, foster and biological alike, shared the same experiences. Her commitment was so profound that she went on to adopt three children, making her house their forever home. Her life taught me that it's never about just putting a roof over a child’s head; it’s about nourishing a life and making sure every single child feels like they belong.
When the Problem Hit Home
As a coach, here in Topeka, I saw her story playing out right in front of me. I saw it in the parents trying to stretch a paycheck to cover new cleats, in the talented player who suddenly stopped showing up to practice.
For me, coaching was about helping every kid who wanted to play. But the reality was that the joy of the game was being overshadowed by a price tag. I realized my mother's struggle was not a unique story from the past—it was the present-day reality for families in our community. The game was leaving deserving kids behind. For too many, the dream of hitting home was ending before they even got a chance to step up to the plate.
Answering the Call
With the birth of my son, the call to action became louder than ever. Looking at my newborn child, I was overcome with a simple, universal truth: every child deserves a loving, supportive family.
In that moment, my mother’s legacy of providing a home and my experience seeing children left on the sidelines converged into a single, powerful promise.
The promise was that no child should have to face the world alone, and that the lessons of teamwork, belonging, and support are not a luxury, but a birthright. That promise became the mission and the name of this organization:
A Team is a Family.
Join Our Family
My mother taught me that you build a family through action. This foundation is how I’m stepping up to the plate, and your invitation to join us.
As a new organization, your support is critical. It pays for the uniform, covers the registration, and removes every barrier for a child currently stuck on the sidelines.
You won't just be giving a child a chance to play. You'll be giving them a team to call family. Thank you for being a part of this legacy.
