Notre Dame Magazine Spotlights The Gift of Soccer
A Family Legacy of Impact Featured in Notre Dame Magazine
At The Gift of Soccer Foundation, we’ve always believed in the power of soccer to connect people, inspire communities, and change lives. Recently, our mission and impact were honored in an incredible way: we were featured in the Winter 2024/2025 Notre Dame Magazine!
In their article, “Channeling Passion for the Benefit of Others” the magazine highlights our family-driven efforts to bring the beautiful game to underprivileged communities around the world.
“88 Channeling Passion for the Benefit of Others”
Winter 2024-2025
Over the last 14 years, the family of Ken Levandoski, a Stanford Hall Griffin, has been running a nonprofit called the Gift of Soccer Foundation. The mission of their foundation is to aid underprivileged communities in gaining access to soccer by providing them with unused and gently used soccer gear. To date they have distributed 40,000-plus pieces of equipment in 19 countries across six continents. The Levandoskis are well-versed in all things soccer — playing, coaching and managing teams. Ken shares the duties of running the Gift of Soccer with wife Margie, son Kenny and daughter Jessie. To learn more about their foundation and how you can support it, go to thegiftofsoccer.org. Experienced when it comes to working together, Ken and Margie also co-own LionSky, a web-branding and digital media company, with Margie being the majority owner.
Source: https://magazine.nd.edu/issues/2024/winter-2024-25/class-notes/1980s/
A Mission Rooted in Passion
Over the past 14 years, The Gift of Soccer Foundation has grown from a simple idea to a global initiative. What began with a love for soccer and a desire to give back has evolved into a nonprofit that has distributed over 40,000 pieces of soccer equipment to communities in need across 19 countries and six continents.
Our mission is simple yet powerful: to help underprivileged children experience the joy of soccer by providing them with gently used and unused soccer gear. For many kids, this isn’t just about playing a sport; it’s about gaining confidence, building friendships, and dreaming bigger.
A Family-Led Effort
The foundation is a labor of love for our family. Each of us—Ken, Margie, Kenny, and Jessie—brings a unique passion and skillset to this endeavor. From collecting and packing up gear, arranging the transportation of the gear wordwide, to managing soccer teams to coaching and playing the game ourselves, we are deeply immersed in every aspect of soccer culture.
This shared commitment has been the backbone of our success, and being featured in Notre Dame Magazine underscores how teamwork—whether on the field or within a family—can drive meaningful change.
Our Reach and Impact
Here are some of the milestones that were highlighted in the article:
40,000+ pieces of equipment distributed
Communities in 19 countries and across six continents served
Support from countless volunteers, donors, and partners who share our vision
We are proud that these numbers represent real change—kids stepping onto a field with proper cleats for the first time, coaches finally having the tools to lead their teams, and communities finding joy through soccer.
Join Us in Making a Difference
We’re incredibly grateful to Notre Dame Magazine for helping to amplify our mission and share our story. This feature is not just a recognition of our work but an invitation for others to join the movement.
Whether you’re a soccer enthusiast, a philanthropist, or someone who believes in the power of sport to unite and inspire, there’s a way for you to get involved:
Donate Soccer Gear: Help us expand our reach and bring the gift of soccer to more children.
Volunteer: Your time and energy can help us pack, organize, and distribute gear.
Spread the Word: Share our mission with your friends, family, and networks.
Donate Financially: Every contribution, big or small, helps us provide equipment, cover shipping costs, and reach more communities.