Ken, along with his wife Margie, and children founded the Gift of Soccer Foundation in 2010. With a strong background in coaching, Ken has led youth travel soccer teams and the University of New Mexico Men’s Club team following the disbandment of their Division I program. As a former volleyball player at the University of Notre Dame, Ken’s athletic experience further enriches his coaching abilities.

Ken has over 30 years of experience in the private and government contract industries. He is also a co-owner of LionSky, a web branding and digital media company. His extensive travels, spanning over 35 countries, have provided him with a broad and diverse perspective.

Currently, Ken serves as the President and an Executive Director of the Gift of Soccer Foundation, where he continues to advance the organization’s mission and impact.

Kenny has been an integral part of the Gift of Soccer Foundation for over 15 years. He has an extensive soccer background, having played on youth travel teams, a State Championship-winning high school team, and at the college level. Additionally, he has served as an assistant coach for Albuquerque Academy, leading them to multiple state championships.

In 2023, Kenny graduated summa cum laude with a designation in  Honors, from the University of New Mexico, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Management Information Systems (MIS), Entrepreneurship and Finance. He has also enriched his academic experience by studying abroad in Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; and Amsterdam, Netherlands, for three different semesters. He has visited over 30 countries during his studies abroad. Kenny graduated with his Master’s Degree in Finance in December 2024 and currently works in Santa Fe, NM.

Currently, Kenny serves as the Treasurer and Marketing Director for the Gift of Soccer Foundation, continuing to contribute his expertise and passion to the organization’s mission.

Chris Gordon serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Gift of Soccer Foundation, bringing more than 35 years of senior financial leadership across technology start-ups, manufacturing, government contracting, public accounting, and business consulting. With deep expertise in financial management, international operations, and new business development, Chris has built a reputation for strengthening organizations through disciplined budgeting, cash forecasting, operational planning, and scalable financial systems.

Throughout his career, he has led enterprise-critical infrastructure projects, supported rapid growth, and helped organizations increase long-term value through sound strategy and strong execution. His experience also extends beyond finance into human resources, business law, information technology, and organizational development, giving him a well-rounded perspective on nonprofit leadership.

At the Gift of Soccer Foundation, Chris helps ensure the organization is financially strong, operationally effective, and positioned to expand its impact for the communities and young athletes it serves.

As an overactive kid, I started playing soccer at five years old and never looked back. What began on local town teams grew into opportunities with Scorpions SC, five years of Division I soccer at UNH and NC State, and now a professional career overseas in New Zealand and the Czech First Division. No matter where the game has taken me, soccer has remained a shared language, creating connection across cultures, backgrounds, and borders.

The sport has given me lifelong friendships, purpose, and opportunities I never imagined. During my recent injury, I had time to reflect on how I could give back to the game that shaped me. I realized that the gear I had accumulated over the years, including cleats, shin guards, training gear, and jerseys often used for only a season, could have a second life in communities where access to equipment is limited.

This initiative is my way of turning gratitude into action. By collecting gently used gear and redistributing it to underserved communities, I hope to help more kids stay in the game and experience the same joy, confidence, and sense of belonging that soccer gave me.

As an aspiring Physician Assistant, that mission extends beyond the field. Whether through healthcare or sport, I want to improve access, remove barriers, and serve communities that are too often overlooked.

Co-Founder, United Under 1Language | Knoxville, TN

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to Miami with my family when I was eight years old. Soccer came with me. I’d been playing since I was four, and from the moment I arrived in South Florida, the game was how I found my footing in a new place — new language, new country, new everything. Football was the one thing that stayed the same.

I played for local clubs across South Florida before finishing my academy years at Levante in Spain. From there I signed my first professional contract with KSV Roeselare in Belgium’s second division. COVID brought me back home, and since then I’ve played for Inter Miami CF II, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Lexington SC, and for the past two seasons, One Knoxville SC in USL League One.

Six years as a professional. Every city, every locker room, every early morning — football gave me all of it. And the thing that stays with me most isn’t the games. It’s the kids I was once one of, playing in a country where the sport is everything, with whatever gear they could find.
Through United Under 1Language, we’re working to change that. More kids with access to the game. More moments like the ones that shaped me. That’s what the Summer of Soccer is about — and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be putting this energy.