On Jan. 3, McKenzie Brown (11) and 10 of her teammates from the varsity girls soccer team (5-3) cleaned Ed Burke Stadium while raising money for the Belle Castle Primary and Infant School in Jamaica.
The team members were sponsored by their parents in exchange for two hours of their time spent cleaning the stadium, allowing them to collect funds for the school. The participants collected nearly seven bags of trash, raising money for much-needed school supplies that will be purchased in Jamaica, including backpacks and musical instruments.
“[McKenzie is] one of my good friends, [so] just being able to support something that’s important to her, while obviously supporting people who are underprivileged, was really rewarding,” Emilia Biebel, midfielder and captain of the varsity girls soccer team said.
The Belle Castle Primary and Infant School carries a special place in Brown’s heart.
“The ultra uniqueness of the story is that the elementary school that McKenzie is supporting is where her grandma and great aunt went to school before they moved to New York City,” Michael Brown, McKenzie’s father, said. “McKenzie is in the same building that her grandmother attended.”
After gaining clearance from Athletic Director Charlenne Falcis-Stevens, McKenzie worked to draw people to her cause, recruiting teammates to participate and creating a GoFundMe to further spread the word. The fundraiser also gained coverage in The San Diego Union Tribune, garnering more donations.
“There were many things that could have easily stopped the project and caused her to just drop it and go on with her holiday break, but she got it done, and never expressed to me that she didn’t think it would get done,” Michael said.
This is not McKenzie’s first time hosting a fundraiser for the Belle Castle Primary and Infant School. Last year, she raised close to $4,000 for repairs after the school was devastated by Hurricane Beryl. The money was allocated to combat structural issues, including leaking roofs and wall damages. McKenzie also donated soccer balls and uniforms provided by her coaches, hosting a soccer camp in Jamaica for the students.
“They looked up to me a lot … and they were constantly … hugging me and holding my hands,” McKenzie said.
While in Jamaica, McKenzie was impressed by the student’s attitudes, as well as their outlook on life.
“I think the best part about going there last year, and then going this year is how much the kids love their country,” McKenzie said. “It’s a very poor area, so you’d expect them to feel sorry for themselves, but they think they’re living their best lives.”
Beyond connecting McKenzie to her heritage on a deeper level, the fundraiser also brought the girls soccer team closer together.
“Obviously, we already have a really strong sense of community [with everyone] being teammates, but to kind of come together for another common goal that wasn’t fully related to soccer [but] to bettering [the lives of] other people who are less fortunate than us was really rewarding,” Biebel said. “I think we’re really fortunate to have a team of … genuinely good people and caring individuals.”
Center back Ava Guimond (9) agreed.
“[It] just made me feel more connected to my team … coming together made it feel really, really special,” Guimond said.
McKenzie plans to go to Jamaica once again this July, bringing soccer balls, jerseys and equipment to run a soccer camp. She is also organizing art and other fun activities with the kids, hoping to create an even stronger bond with them.
McKenzie’s great aunt who attended the school ran an organization called the Nissi Care Group with a focus on medical missions, which soon came to include educational missions as well. This was heavily inspired by her great aunt’s outreach organization called African Christian Medical Missions. McKenzie hopes to follow in their footsteps, perhaps starting her own outreach mission in the future.
“I hope the school will continue to improve its overall learning environment for the students,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie’s GoFundMe is still open. So far she has collected $1,823 out of a total goal of $4,000.
