The Beginning of Good Play America

January 15, 2023 by Alejandro Henao

Soccer, Colombia, USA, children

I vividly remember the first time I delivered a pair of soccer cleats to children in Colombia. Around 2013, during a visit from the U.S. to my hometown of Cali, my parents picked me up at the airport, and as we drove south, I saw two kids playing soccer on the streets. I asked my dad to pull over, reached into my bag for a pair of cleats, and walked over. After asking their names, I handed them the shoes. Their smiles, excitement, and gratitude meant everything. I can still see the joy in their faces as they laced them up and went right back into their game.

Growing up in Colombia, I played soccer everywhere—streets, fields, playgrounds. My siblings and I always had what we needed: love, support, food, shelter, health, and education. But we weren’t spoiled with the newest or fanciest gear. In fact, I only remember getting a new pair of cleats every couple of years. If a child like me, from a family that had stability, received cleats so rarely, I knew that for the majority of children in Colombia, owning a good pair of cleats was nearly impossible.

After moving to the U.S., I passed down my love for the game to my sons, Tomás (born in 2006) and Andrés (born in 2009). Like many kids here, they quickly outgrew their cleats, often before the shoes were even worn out. The question became: what should we do with the nearly new pairs left behind? Donating them locally, reselling them, or throwing them away didn’t feel right.

That’s when my childhood memories returned. I thought of the millions of children in Colombia who would treasure those cleats. So I cleaned them up, packed them, and brought them along on my next trip in 2013. Soon after, I began collecting cleats from friends, teammates, and neighbors who loved the idea. Many told me how unique and meaningful it was, which gave me the motivation to keep going. Despite the challenges—lost bags, customs checks, extra costs—the reward was always greater: seeing firsthand the joy and dignity that something as simple as a pair of cleats could bring to a child.

Over time, the project grew. More people wanted to help, and more communities in Colombia reached out. Each delivery wasn’t just about equipment; it became an exchange of culture, friendship, and hope. I also found myself carrying Colombian coffee back to the U.S. on return trips—a small way of sharing my pride in Colombia while building bridges between both countries.

By 2022, after nearly a decade of doing this informally, I decided it was time to take the next step. Friends and supporters had often offered financial contributions, but I had never accepted money until I knew I could build something sustainable and transparent. That year marked a turning point: I officially founded Good Play America Foundation (GPA).

What began as a personal effort to deliver cleats grew into a vision shared by an incredible board of directors and volunteers. Together, we realized this could become much more than a project—it could be a movement. Our mission is not just to deliver cleats, but to provide children with opportunities, resources, and the belief that their dreams are worth pursuing. Soccer was the beginning, but the impact goes beyond the game.

At Good Play America, we believe that play builds connections, play creates hope, and play inspires dreams. With every pair of cleats, every ball, and every child we reach, we are not just giving equipment—we are giving opportunity, dignity, and joy.