Paul Lammermeier Foundation

HELPING CHILDREN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

The reality is somber: the average child in Peru is living below the poverty line and leaves school well before graduation to work and help support their family. We change this reality, giving kids an opportunity to recognize their talents, become future leaders, and overcome the cycle of poverty. Providing homes centered on family and faith – unique in Peru – we open possibilities through quality education and caring support.

It Starts with the Shoes and Yomar Vera Performance Training are partnering with PLF to organize and provide a week-long soccer camp culminating in a weekend World Cup-style small-sided tournament for the participants. Yomar is a former student-athlete coached by ISWTS founder, Coach Jim.

Currently, Coach Jim is mentoring Yomar as he progresses through the coaching ranks and life in general. Yomar is an exceptional young man, and his initiative and drive to thrive in America while still staying connected to home country of Peru is driving his passion to assist ISWTS in providing this tournament for the Paul Lammermeier Foundation beneficiaries.

Consequently, Coach Jim was influenced by Paul Lammermeier during his time at St, Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a teacher at St, Xavier, Paul Lammermeier directed students to participate in community service, thus essentially planting the seed for what has become It Starts with the Shoes, Inc.

It is our hope that this tournament will be a catalyst for local participation in the fundraising efforts to support PLF. Bringing people together by utilizing The Beautiful Game for a weeklong celebration of the world’s sport to raise awareness of the plight of many soccer fans, not only in Lima Peru, but all over the world. In Lima, PLF works to help children in need reach their full potential by providing houses centered on family and education in the service of others.

The goal is to provide the camp/tournament in late-February/early-March of 2026. Donations generated will go towards the purchase for all soccer equipment, gear, kits and travel for Coach Jim and Yomar Vera. All items purchased for this event will then in turn be donated to PLF for use in future events. The caveat, however, is that raising funds just to put on this event is not the goal. The time and effort to organize logistics and support staff will require the help of many people locally in Lima to assist in the success of this event. As such, the goal of reaching $50,000 in donor directed funding specific to this PLF Soccer Extravaganza via It Starts with the Shoes is needed to initiate this event. All proceeds of this specific donor directed funding will go toward Paul Lammermeier Foundation in support of their efforts.