When unexpectedly planning my 30-year-old husband’s funeral in April 2023, and having to think through endless decisions while in immense pain, some seemingly meaningless details felt so important to me. Maybe I was trying to focus on little things that I could control since the rest of my entire life was just destroyed. One thought that immediately came to mind was that people would start sending flowers…and how much I hate the smell of funeral flowers. But I knew that if I simply told people not to send flowers without offering an alternative they might send flowers anyway.
I began to wonder if people could donate to a charity that meant something to Michael. What came to mind was this one organization in Haiti that Michael and I had supported in the past. When we sat down together to think about what we wanted to give, Michael said, “Let’s send a million soccer balls!” I remember laughing and saying to Michael, “These kids are starving. They don’t need toys, they need food!” And he replied, “Except you and I can’t take away all their hunger. But if we can give them something to make them laugh, distract them for a little while from their hunger, allow kids to be kids and experience the joy of play, that’s worth something.”
And that entirely changed my perspective on what it means to be charitable. It’s not changing the entire world, or not doing anything if you can’t fix it all. It is thinking what you would want if you were in that situation and offering the simple with a joyful heart.
So I posted in the obituary that in lieu of flowers we would collect donations to provide soccer balls to children in need. We ended up with so many more contributions than I ever imagined. Way more than what would be needed to send just soccer balls to that one organization. Then I thought, “We can do more… we can do something really cool… with Michael’s vision and heart at the center of it.” I just had no idea what exactly that would be.
First, I needed to put these donations somewhere safe, so I focused those next couple of months on creating a nonprofit—talking with lawyers, setting up a bank account and postal address, filing for 501(c)(3) exemption, etc. Just as I was starting to panic over what I was doing, trying to build a mission and organization with no experience, still deep in grief, I received the most interesting text.
A friend was at a Fenway Park baseball game, sitting next to a stranger. And they were talking. Both worked in real estate and could have easily just talked shop, but instead the stranger (who I later learn to be Mark Hall) tells my friend George of his nonprofit work and adds, “And I’ve been having soccer on my heart recently. I think God is calling me to do something with soccer. We’ll see what that is.” George replies, “That is so odd you say that… Because I know someone who just started a soccer-based nonprofit.”
A few days later, I connected with Mark and Shanna on a video call. I gave him my background, sharing how overwhelmed I was feeling, and Mark told me, “Don’t worry about the details. If you need help with logistics, I’ve been there. If you need help raising money, I’m good at asking for it. Just dream big, ask yourself where you want to take this, and we’ll figure it out from there.” I burst into tears of relief.
Three months later, I started feeling overwhelmed again. I hadn’t come up with any big idea yet. And Mark’s team was waiting to help but I didn’t have any plans for how to direct their help.
I decided to message Shanna. I told her, “Hey, unfortunately no updates from me, just curious what good things you’re working on.” And she immediately replied, “The Holy Spirit must have stirred your heart to reach out. I just got a message from this orphanage I’ve worked with in Tanzania… They’ve been dreaming of developing a soccer field for the community and have all the plans drawn up, but without a partner, they don’t have the means. Was this project just waiting for you, Madeleine? I’m flying over there in a few weeks… Would it be crazy for you to join me?”
I booked my flights.
When I visited Tanzanie in mid-February to see the land with Shanna, I met the incredible people of Neema. I could not have been more confident that this was where the Michael G. Bloom Foundation’s work should begin.
The hope has always been for the field to be a little piece of heaven—where kids get to be kids and play in a safe, supervised environment. We decided to call it Furaha Field, because Furaha means joy in Swahili.
I believe this field is just the start. We’ll be able to do so much good, giving underprivileged children opportunities to play soccer, and to celebrate life the way Michael did. The way this project came to be was so effortless, with serendipitous connections being made at just the right time. There is no doubt God orchestrated it all. He planned this and knows where we’re going. So I’m just going to enjoy the journey and continue to be amazed by the outpouring of love, generosity, and kindness from the people I have encountered along the way. I am excited for what He has planned next. I just need to keep my eyes and heart open to where that may be.
In this process, I have found the good we are doing to be immensely healing in my grief. I hope that others’ souls are lifted as well, as they join in this work. “If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” Isaiah 58:10.
Share Joy this Christmas with our campaign to kick off the opening tournament at Furaha Field in Spring 2025!
