Letter from the President

We are a community. And when people say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” I utterly understand what that means — because I was that child.

I grew up as a first-generation immigrant in a family of 10, and my parents divorced shortly after we arrived in the United States in the early ’80s. My father worked incredibly hard and loved us deeply, but as a non-English-speaking parent trying to provide for a large family, life was not always easy. We lived on Welfare and Medicaid, and there were many things we simply could not afford — including the time, resources, and support systems that many families may take for granted.

However, growing up with very little humbled me in ways I did not fully understand until I became older. It taught me gratitude, resilience, and the true meaning of kindness, support, and community. My father worked tirelessly to provide for our family, but because of long work hours, language barriers, and life circumstances, he often could not be there to drive me to practices, sit in the stands, or cheer me on from the sidelines.

But what I did have was a community.

I had other parents, teachers, coaches, and families who stepped in without hesitation. They gave me rides to games alongside their own children. They cheered for me from the sidelines. They fed me, encouraged me, believed in me, and reminded me that I mattered. They pushed me to become a better athlete, student, and person.

Because of them, I never truly felt disadvantaged. I always felt supported. I always felt seen.

Today, I look back with overwhelming gratitude for every person who played a role in my life — even in ways they may have never realized.

So, to every parent, teacher, coach, volunteer, mentor, and community member: what you do matters more than you know. The encouragement you give, the time you invest, the rides you offer, the lessons you teach, and the belief you pour into children can shape the trajectory of their lives forever.

They may not thank you today. They may not even fully understand your impact until years later. But please know this:

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

You help build confidence. You create belonging. You give children hope, support, and opportunities they may not otherwise have.

And for me, that community shaped the very core of who I am today. It shaped my values, my passion for giving back, and my commitment to supporting others the same way people once supported me.

That is the power of community. ❤️

The same support, encouragement, and opportunities that once helped shape my life are the same things we hope to provide for the next generation of athletes in our community.

Help us continue making a difference by donating or sponsoring a player.

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Together, we can help provide opportunities, equipment, training, transportation assistance, and financial support to players and families who may need a little extra help along the way. Every child deserves the chance to grow, compete, feel supported, and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Let’s work together to build confident athletes, stronger families, and a stronger community — one player at a time. ⚽❤️

Sincerely,

Villy Savino

Rabun FC President/Club Co-Founder