Penn State is a university of traditions, many of which are based in a sense of service.
While one such tradition – Sunday’s second annual Mack Brady game and fundraiser – is newer than others, it maintains the same dedication to charity already seen in other traditions like THON.
Much like the annual dance marathon and its dedication to pediatric cancer, the Mack Brady game is born out of tragedy.
“Our son died unexpectedly on New Year’s Day,” Elizabeth Brady recalls. “He was two weeks shy of his ninth birthday.”
An avid soccer player and fan of the Penn State team, she says John William McKenzie Brady was “just pure energy” – which made his sudden death from a blood infection all the more striking.
At that point, Elizabeth Brady says she and her husband Christian – the Dean of the Schryers Honors College – had a choice to make: either they could be overcome by their grief, or they could overcome it and do something to honor Mack Brady’s memory.
“Within hours of his death, we decided to do something with the soccer program,” Christian Brady says. “We wanted to remember Mack and celebrate his life.”
In light of Mack Brady’s great skill as a goalkeeper for the State College Celtics youth soccer team, they decided to start a program unlike any other in the nation. For two years, the Brady family (along with the help of friends, the Celtics and other community members) has held a fundraiser to help turn Penn State into the number one destination for college goalkeepers.
In just it’s first year, Elizabeth says the Mack Brady soccer fund raised over $160,000 to go toward equipment and recruitment costs for Penn State, with the goal of making the college “Goalkeeper U.”
The fundraiser this year coincided with the men’s soccer team’s home opener against Ohio State – which yielded a 1-0 win for Penn State. But the real victory was the response from the community.
Altoona resident Shail Dahal may not have known Mack Brady, but he was happy to be among the many people supporting the Brady’s dreams at Jeffery Field on Sunday morning. His son plays with the Celtics, and he’s touched by their dedication to the Brady family.
“It’s a great opportunity to come out and make a difference,” Dahal says. “I’m very encouraged by the Celtics’ goal to honor Mack Brady’s memory.”
Celtics players say that Mack Brady was an integral part of their team, and that his death left them at a loss in more ways than one.
“It made us all really unhappy,” Celtics player Alex Stout, 10, says. “We didn’t play our best at that time.”
Teammate Alex Cobes describes Mack Brady as a great goalkeeper and – more importantly – a loyal friend who could make him smile even when he was upset.
Both Celtics players – and others – helped the Bradys on Sunday at a free soccer clinic for the many kids in attendance. They gleefully kicked the balls around the field and took part in fun soccer-themed games and activities.
Nearby, their parents helped fund Goalkeeper U by purchasing food, raffle tickets (with prizes like gift certificates from by local businesses) and tee shirts.
“This has affirmed what a tremendous community we live in,” Elizabeth Brady says. “It helps us feel closer to our son. This is a joy for us to do.”
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