Not only were they able to realize that they had learned skills over the practices, but more importantly they were learning to lead and help others learn. I hope that the opportunity to learn stays with them.

Ralph C. Wilson Jr.'s legacy lives on in 55 area organizations that will receive more than $1 million in grants from endowment funds created after the former Buffalo Bills owner died.

"He's every parent's favorite coach," said Calvert, Algonquin's executive director. The organization's Soccer for Success program, in cooperation with the Independent Health Foundation, has grown to the point that it involves 2,250 city children, kindergarten through eighth grade, who take part at eight outdoor parks in Buffalo and one in Niagara Falls. They are involved with after-school instruction and with two summer sessions that go three times a week.

In that moment, I realized two things. One, while I tell parents often about the importance of allowing your child to struggle, fail, and grow on their own, it is so hard as a parent to sit and watch. Secondly, and I think more importantly, I realized that if I had helped I would have taken away so much from those two boys.

A parent herself of two boys, Chastain said it is not enough for parents to tell their children to be healthy, stay active and take care of themselves. It is important for parents to get involved, too, and set good examples for their kids to follow.

The goals are up and the nets in place on the soccer pitch at JFK. The weather is breaking. Kids already are out there, laughing, running, losing themselves in the world's most popular sport. All because one man never lost touch with the scared, determined boy who lived inside.