A Year of Big Wins, Thanks to You 🌟

As we wrap up 2025, I want to wish you, your families, and your friends a very happy holiday season. I hope this time gives you a chance to slow down, recharge, and reflect. For me, this season has always been about gratitude, and this year, I have a lot to be thankful for.

Because of your generosity, every single piece of donated gear was put to use in 2025, and then some. This was our biggest year yet. We tripled the number of shipments we sent and increased the size of each delivery nearly fivefold. That means more kids, in more places, with more opportunities to play.

What does that really look like? It looks like young athletes across different countries and cultures receiving sports gear, uniforms, and athletic clothing they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Our entire team was moved by the photos and videos we received, kids smiling, competing, and playing with pride.

One moment stood out to me personally. It reminded me of one of my favorite soccer matches ever, a game on a beach in Vietnam where we didn’t even have a real ball. We played with a bundle of plastic bags wrapped in tape, bamboo goals, and a whole lot of heart. Seeing kids today experience that same joy reinforced something I’ve always believed: even the smallest things can make a huge impact. Sports have a way of bringing people together, and witnessing that joy never gets old.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for what’s coming in 2026. As we count down to the World Cup, Play It Forward is proud to partner with the Seattle Sounders RAVE Foundation, an organization focused on equity, youth empowerment, and free access to soccer. RAVE is working toward an incredible goal, building fields and giving away 100,000 soccer balls across the Pacific Northwest before 2026, and I’m grateful to support their mission while getting out into the community, meeting kids, and playing some pickup soccer along the way.

For more information check out their website (www.Ravefoundation.org/donate) or reach-out to me!

Most of all, thank you, to every volunteer, donor, and supporter who gave their time, gear, or resources this year. Together, we’re proving that sports access should be a right, not a privilege, and that every child deserves a chance to play.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and an exciting year ahead.

Happy Holidays,

Maddox

South Africa Shipment: Mission Complete! 🌍⚽

Great news, the latest Play It Forward shipment has officially made it to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa!

Thanks to everyone who donated and helped pack boxes over the past few months, your gear is now on the ground and ready to make an impact. From cleats and jerseys to balls and equipment bags, everything arrived safely and is being distributed to The Principal: Scholar Amoris Special Education School.

We’ll share photos and updates once the gear is in play, but for now, know that your support just reached halfway across the world.

Play it forward. Always. 💪🏽

🏀 Meet the Founder: Why I Started Play It Forward

Hi there,

I’m Maddox Yetzer, a high school junior from Kirkland, WA, and the founder of Play It Forward. I started this nonprofit with a simple goal: to make sure every kid who wants to play sports has the gear they need to get in the game.

As someone who has grown up playing sports, I know firsthand how powerful they can be. They teach teamwork, confidence, discipline, and belonging. But I also know that not every kid has access to something as basic as a pair of cleats or a basketball.

That’s where Play It Forward comes in. We collect and redistribute gently used sports equipment, apparel, and gear to kids in need, locally and around the world. It's our way of leveling the playing field and giving every young athlete a fair shot.

We’ve already made some exciting plays like The Assist: Argentina Edition and The Opening Kick: Vietnam, but this is just the beginning.

Thanks for being part of the team. Whether you’ve donated, volunteered, or shared our story, you're helping us pass the ball forward and change lives through sports.

See you on the field,

Maddox Yetzer

Founder, Play It Forward