Hello,

My name is Nick. I am a special education teacher from Maine with a Bachelor's of Science in Mental Health and Human Services, and black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiujitsu. Recently I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Rio de Janeiro and one night, while in Copacabana, I noticed a group of young kids practicing, what looked to me like, Judo on the beach. As a Judo enthusiast, I wandered over and began to watch. Eventually their coach, a man named Marcos, noticed me and introduced himself.

Marcos and I (with the help of Google translate) had a really excellent conversation and he explained to me that he was the vice president of a program called the Federação de Judô Social do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (www.judosocialrio.com.br/) which offers Judo to disabled and/or underprivileged children. This is a cause that I immediately felt very connected to, and after spending some time chatting with Marcos and practicing Judo with some of the kids on the beach that night, I made a promise to myself that I would try to help in whatever way I could.

After returning to the United States, I reached out to Marcos and explained that I would like to support his program and asked if there were any crowd-funding options available that I could donate to and share with my friends in America. Unfortunately, while there was, I found that the process of donating money from the United States was extremely difficult on that platform. After many unsuccessful attempts to find work-arounds, I settled on this option.

So there it is. Once we meet this goal, I will personally arrange the transfer of funds to Federação de Judô Social.

The following are Marcos' own words about Federação de Judô Social, its mission and how these funds will help them achieve their goals:

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Social Project – Judo for Inclusion

Our project was born with a simple yet powerful purpose: to transform lives through judo. We serve children, youth, and adults from different backgrounds, promoting not only sports practice but also essential values such as discipline, respect, self-control, and perseverance.

We believe judo goes far beyond the mat. It is a tool for social inclusion, capable of restoring self-esteem, keeping young people away from risky situations, and building more conscious and prepared citizens for the future.

Today, we face the challenge of expanding our reach and providing better conditions for our students — such as uniforms (judogis), training equipment, proper facilities, and basic nutrition during activities.

That’s why we are opening doors for international partnerships and donations. Your contribution, no matter the amount, can make a real difference. With your support, we will be able to impact even more lives and continue offering hope through sport.

How your donation helps:

Providing judo uniforms (judogis) for underprivileged students

Purchasing mats and training equipment

Supporting basic nutrition for participants

Expanding the project to reach more people

If you believe in the power of social transformation through sport, join us in this mission.

Donate. Invest in lives. Transform futures.

For more information or to contribute, please contact us.

Thank you for your support!

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Prior to meeting Marcos I had decided that my trip to Rio was a one-in-a-lifetime adventure. His passion for both the sport of Judo and the children of Rio changed my mind, however.

Please consider donating to their cause.

-Nicholas Graham