Hi guys! My name is Maggie Pezzullo, and I met Jay Nordstrom and his Mother (Patty) through school flag football. The Nordstrom family is made up of Daniel and Patty, and 11 children, 8 of those kids were adopted, including Jay, after spending six years in foster care. The Nordstrom family has fostered a total of 99 kids and has spent the last 14 years in Vegas with their family.

Now, if you have ever met the Nordstrom family, you will know that this family has been through the wringer and back: not only did the family lose their rock Officer Nordstrom in 2019, but they also lost one of their sons a year before to cancer. And right after their passing, Patty was given the opportunity to adopt a child who was related to one of her adopted kids. Keeping siblings together in the adoption world is a big deal. After losing so much, they chose to give a child a home when no one else would.

Patty came to me a few days ago and explained that Jay was invited to the AFFL Flag Football Championships in Disney, Florida. Patty had told Jay at first she didn't think they could go, but then realized what kind of opportunity this was and started asking us if Jay could earn money privately coaching our kids. While I did jump on this for my kid, I knew there was a huge community here in Vegas that would be willing to help, so I had Jay write down his story, and you will read that below. It melted my heart when Patty told me she didn't want to ask for help, but because it was for her child, she would do anything. This is a mother that I aspire to be like. She clearly shows all of us that her kids will come first 100 percent of the time.

All funds will be donated to the Nordstrom family, for the trip to Florida for Jay and Patty. And Pattys Parents are coming to watch the children here in Vegas.

Hello,

My name is Jayden Nordstrom, I am a 10-year-old boy that lives here in Las Vegas Nevada, and play flag football. I have been playing for just over 2 years now and have had many great experiences. When I first started playing, a local club coach asked if I wanted to play on his team when he saw me tossing a ball with some of my friends at a park. I had never played actual football before but loved to play with my friends. He had me play the next day in a game for his local team and I was able to score 2 touchdowns and caught an interception. That was the beginning of my journey into a sport that I now love and practice 6 days a week. I have had the opportunity to play at the Dallas Cowboys stadium 2 times now in a tournament and in national competitions. I travel with club teams for competitions in several different states and play here locally for leagues and my school team. I am in 5th grade and playing for my school team, Somerset Sky Pointe Eagles, and hope to help take my team to playoffs. My current positions that I play are quarterback, wide receiver, safety, and corner on defense.

I would like to take a minute and tell you a little about me and my amazing family. I was in the foster care system when I was born and thankfully adopted by my foster family. They have been the only parents I have ever known and my forever family. There are 11 children in my family and 8 of us are adopted from the foster system. While growing up, there was always other foster children in our home that we had the privilege to help and take care of. My family has fostered 99 children in total. I am grateful there were so many other kids that my family could help out in their time of need, even if they did not stay and become our forever family. My older brother Darrian was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 2 years old and I was the same age as him. He spent all of his life fighting his cancer and showing me how to be strong, love others, and persevere through hard times. He passed away from his disease at 6 years old in 2018. My father was an amazing dad and a police officer. He was always helping other people and taught me to respect others, make good choices and be proud of who I was. He worked hard to take care of all of us kids and was so proud to be an officer. In 2019, not even a year after my brother suddenly passed away and we lost a great dad. He went to heaven to raise my brother, while my mom stayed here to raise the rest of us.

My mom is a single mom and works really hard to take care of all of us kids and make sure we have everything we need. She also makes sure that we get every opportunity to succeed at whatever we are doing no matter how much time and energy it takes from her. She is at every one of my games and my brother's and sister's games cheering for us. She makes sure we continue to make good choices, be proud of who we are and be a leader. I don't think there is anything she wouldn't do for us. I know it is hard for her to do it by herself and to afford all the sports and activities we are in. This is why I am coming to you and sharing my story. I have been given an amazing opportunity to compete in the world flag football tournament in Florida. It is this coming January 20-22 at the ESPN Wide World Sports Complex in Florida. I am so excited about the chance to go and compete against the best flag football players in the world. I also feel really good and proud that I have worked so hard to earn a spot on a team and given the chance to go.

I know my mom would do anything to give me the chance to go and she has told me how proud she is. This is would be a great experience and a chance to show others what I could do. I am asking if there is anything you can assist me with in helping me reach my financial goals so i can go and compete in this tournament.

I have attached photos of myself in some tournaments, my family, and my dad and brother who passed away. I appreciate you taking the time to read my story and considering helping me achieve my goals. Thank you again and may you be blessed for all you do.

Sincerely,

Jayden Nordstrom