The Kick for Nick Foundation

On September 3, 2006, PFC Nick Madaras was killed by an IED in Baqubah, Iraq. Nick was an avid soccer player, as a player, coach and referee in Wilton, Connecticut. On his last leave home, he expressed a desire to help the children of Iraq, who played soccer with rags and tin cans. He wanted to start receiving soccer balls to hand out to these children. Unfortunately, Nick never saw his dream come to fruition. Shortly after his funeral, Post 86 member Ken Dartley approached the family with the idea of creating a nonprofit to send soccer balls to troops in Iraq to pass out. Thus was born The Kick for Nick Foundation. Today, over 50,000 soccer balls, as well as related soccer items such as uniforms, shoes, and nets, have been shipped to countries all over the world. South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia are areas receiving these balls. Go to https://kickfornick.org for more info.
Also born from Nick's legacy is the first home for homeless female veterans and their children in the state of Connecticut. Since 2011, Female Soldiers, Forgotten Heroes has helped 70 females and 9 children. Go to https://www.homesforthebrave.org/programs/female-soldiers-forgotten-heroes for more info.