Federal Way is helping a Bonney Lake student rally for soccer balls to be distributed to children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bonney Lake High School senior Adriana Guzman and her dad, Federal Way police Lt. Raymond Bunk, is partnering with the Puget Sound Kick for Nick chapter (PSKFN), Seattle Sounders FC, Lakewood police department, McChord Air Force Base fire department and Federal Way. They will gather soccer balls and deliver them to stationed military personnel, who in turn will give them to children and widows in the two war-stricken countries. The efforts are part of the Kick for Nick campaign.

“I am proud to assist in the efforts of this project,” interim Federal Way police chief Andy Hwang said. “It is touching that we can help children on another continent.”

A living legacy

In 2006, U.S. Army Private Class Nick Madaras started collecting soccer balls, to give to Iraqi children, while he was home on leave from the Iraq War. Madaras, 19, was killed in action by an IED before the balls could be delivered. His family established the non-profit Kick for Nick, following his death. Chapters across the nation collect soccer balls and send them to stationed U.S. military personnel to pass along to the kids.

Guzman is taking on the effort for her senior project, required for her to graduate high school in 2010. Guzman must complete 15 hours of work on a learning project conducted outside school. Students are allowed to begin their projects the summer before their senior year. The undertaking does not have to provide a community service. But doing something that gives back to the community is important to both Guzman and Bunk.

“It’s really got a life of its own,” Bunk said. “It’s very infectious (to want to be involved in Kick for Nick).”

Military ties

Bunk, a U.S. Air Force reservist, spent time in Iraq in 2007. While there, he witnessed soldiers drop soccer balls from helicopters to the children in the war-torn country. Last year, an ESPN video about Kick for Nick inspired him to get involved. Together, Bunk and Guzman began their own soccer ball and donation drive.

Kick for Nick is important to Guzman because it supports the U.S. military, while also giving kids something to smile about, she said. Giving a soccer ball to a child automatically creates a bond between that child and service person, Bunk said. It is a small offering of peace and a message that Americans are not bad people, he said.

“It’s a different way to support the troops,” Guzman said.

National attention

Last year’s project was a success, and the duo decided to make their efforts bigger and better this time around. The two collected balls, with the help of the Seattle Sounders, on June 28. This was military appreciation day. The Sounders heavily advertised for the ball collection event. Guzman, Bunk and other volunteers appeared at the game to solicit donations.

“We thought it was a pretty worthy cause when we saw how (Kick for Nick) originally began,” said Paul Johns, Seattle Seahawks/Sounders assistant community relations director.

Keep on giving

After the Sounders jumped on board, several organizations followed suit. Guzman hopes to collect at least 500 soccer balls and $1,000. The money will be used to purchase balls in bulk. It cost $6 to buy and send each ball.

The balls, which each bear Nick Madaras’ name, make a huge impact on many of the kids. For some, it means they can play the world’s game with a gleaming new ball, rather than old or makeshift equipment, Guzman said. Some of the balls collected will make their way to U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Bunk, Raymond Bunk’s younger brother. Matthew is currently serving in Afghanistan.

Collection boxes are located at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S., in the main and the police lobbies. The fundraiser continues through July 7. Bunk and Guzman said they will collect balls and donations until people stop giving the items.

Get involved

Learn more and watch the ESPN video, featuring comments from the Madaras family and video of the balls being delivered, at www.kickfornick.org.

Soccer balls can be dropped off at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. Monetary donations will be accepted by Raymond Bunk. He can be reached at (253) 835-6746 or pskickfornick@yahoo.com.

Donations can also be sent to: Puget Sound Kick for Nick, 20825 State Route 410 #416, Bonney Lake, WA 98391