Abigail, Courageous Kids Contest U.S. Navy Reserve Winner
April 22, 2024
Abigail, 9, was selected as OMK's Courageous Kids Contest winner in the U.S. Navy Reserve category! Abigail is the child of a U.S. Navy Reservist who deployed overseas in 2023.
"Abigail is young girl who strives to help others, makes people smile, and inspires all those who come to know her," said her father, a U.S. Navy Reservist, who nominated Abigail.
"She has had to deal with three deployments over the past six years, but through them all she has persevered to be a model student, athlete, and daughter.
During these deployments, Abigail developed her own organization focused on her love of soccer to help children who could not pay for cleats or soccer balls. With help of her father she founded Futbol Youth and has collected used and new equipment to provide soccer equipment for two schools in the Dominican Republic.
She was inspired after watching a special on soccer development in Haiti where she saw children paying barefoot in dirt fields. Abigail spoke to her coaches and school, gathered boxes from her garage, asked her aunt to print collection banner pictures, and established herself at local soccer fields to collect used equipment.
Through support from her soccer club, she established her own collection table at community events telling supports about her goal to support youth programs and collecting equipment to support underprivileged youth."
"Deployments have been difficult for Abigail. I was gone her entire kindergarten year, during which I missed important events and milestones. But Abigail was tough — she was selected for her school's Peacemaker Award, promoted within her Ballet Company, and excelled within her soccer team. During this most recent deployment, Abigail volunteered to lead her team as Captain and volunteered to help train young soccer players through the Down Syndrome Association of Miami."
Q&A with Abigail
What are your favorite after-school activities? What do you love about them?
Soccer and dance. I love playing soccer because I get to spend time with my friends and also play with my dad and brother. I love dance because its fun and I get to participate in recitals for my family and friends.
To you, what does it mean to be a military kid?
It means I am special and I have to be strong. My dad needs me to be strong because when he goes away he cant take us with him.
Do you have any advice to other kids with a deployed parent?
It is ok to miss your parent. It is helpful to write emails and to make care packages to them while they are gone . Talk to your teachers and friends when you are sad because they can help cheer you up.
What do you want to be when you get older?
I want to be a doctor and a soccer player.
