International Boccia Campaign

As many of you know, boccia has been a tremendous part of my life since I started playing at the age of 10. The game has given me the opportunity to see the world, represent the USA, and work with some of the most talented people in the sport. I’ve had the good fortune to play the sport on many competitive levels, including a local team, a colligate team, and Team USA—all of whom propelled me to a few national championship titles along the way. I currently work for USA Boccia, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop boccia across the country. If I can give even a little back to the game that has given me so much, I would be a happy man!

All of this experience has allowed me the opportunity to play at the international level with Team USA, including the North American Championships, World Cup, and more from 2007 to 2013. The opportunity to play at the Paralympics is still in the future, with many other opportunities to come.

After taking a three-year sabbatical from international competition to pursue an MBA degree from Pepperdine, I have received the opportunity to represent Team USA Boccia at the World Boccia Open. The opportunity comes with its own set of challenges that I need help resolving.

Balancing a full-time job with training can become a real challenge.  In addition to some of the time constraints that come along with being an athlete, there can also be financial responsibilities. Oftentimes I am required to take days off of work for training and competitions. Since boccia athletes are not professionals, even a couple of days’ worth of wages can be detrimental to our budget. Boccia athletes are responsible for all their own fees, along with their personal attendance. The fees for every tournament are usually between $3,000 and $9,000. For this tournament, I am asking for $4,000 to pay for all tournament expenses.

I received my official selection notice for the team. This completion is scheduled to start on Monday, April 25 and end on Saturday, April 30, with travel days on both ends.

As with every sport, boccia requires funding. The money will be used for:

1. Registration fees
2. Personal care expenses
3. Travel expenses
4. Training

Thank you in advance for even just visiting my page. None of my experiences would have ever been possible without the continued support of all of my family & friends!