COMMUNITY AWARDS

The Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) awarded Ted Renaud the Dave Williams TOPSoccer Exemplary Service award in 2022. The award honors the most valuable contributors to the TOPSoccer program. Ted is committed to helping differently-abled individuals and their families in many aspects of life, which led him to create TOPBasket and found the nonprofit, Friends in Need.

These programs provide inclusive, supportive and positive environments for community interaction through sports. The players, buddies, volunteers and families all benefit. Congratulations Ted!

“Dear VYSA Board of Directors,

I am so humbled to be awarded the Dave Wiliiams TOPSoccer Award. 12 years ago, the head of Gunston Soccer, Ruben Bolognesi, approached me about starting a soccer program for children with special needs. As the father of a daughter with special needs, it was a no brainer. Of course! We started with 5 kiddos (3 of whom remain with the program today) and grew the program to more than 60 players and an equal number of buddies. Throughout the growth, our mission was to provide a safe place for parents to take pleasure in watching, from the sidelines, their children getting physical activity, being given social opportunity, and being guided, at their own pace, through various soccer related activities. In forming this vision, I knew that Dave would be proud if we achieved even part of this goal. Over the years, I have grown to understand why Dave gave his heart to developing TOPSoccer programs across Virginia.

Before we start each season, I give a short talk to our Buddies. During that talk I emphasize how if participating in TOPSoccer does not change something in you, then you have not fully participated. As a small club in a small community, I remind buddies that they will likely encounter players in social settings outside of TOPSoccer. I urged them to use those social encounters to make the community more inclusive. I was so proud when my daughter, Kyra, who had complained for years about having to eat lunch alone at school, came home and said that a Buddy from TOPSoccer had sat with her at lunch. I was heartwarmed and felt that Dave’s vision was realized in part that day.

In following his example, my wife, Ellen, and I created a new non-profit called Friends in Need whose goal is to take the next step of TOPSoccer: inclusivity within the community. We began providing social events, safety training, and even a mock grocery store for participants to practice shopping. The pandemic has challenged families of special needs individuals in unique ways, already solitary lives became even more so, and social already scarce social opportunities became non-existent.

I was diagnosed with metastatic cancer 6 months ago which prevents me from being with you this evening. I will say that when I started treatment, these same families were the first to be there for me. Their support and love provided me strength and inspiration that enabled me to continue to coach TOPSoccer and TOPBasket sessions throughout my treatment. I know Dave would have done the same. Let’s all carry Dave’s vision forward in our lives. Through small acts of kindness we can make our individual communities more inclusive and more loving. I promise you that though you may not see it right away, every one of those acts of kindness will have a ripple effect creating something pleasant and warming. Thank you for this award and God bless.

Humbly yours,

Theodore “Ted” Renaud

TOPSoccer/Friends in Need “

“Ted is nothing less than a Northern Virginia soccer guru. He coaches two girls’ soccer teams and is the Commissioner of Gunston’s U10-U19 recreation soccer program. Ted serves as the VYSA TOPSoccer Regional Director for Northern Virginia. Ted founded Gunston TOPSoccer in 2010 and grew it into the largest in Northern Virginia.

After the success of TOPSoccer, he created TOPBasket and started a Special Olympics Bocce team. Ted has also coached basketball and soccer for the Special Olympics.

In addition to his coaching, Ted has done an outstanding job of encouraging older players to get involved in the TOPSoccer program while creating an environment of self-confidence and relationship building that goes way beyond the field. Ted continues to promote the program within the special needs community at large.

So, if you want to see love in action, take a stroll down to Grist Mill Park one evening. There you will find an impassioned ambassador that has devoted his life to his soccer players. This is a true measure of character. “

-Fairfax County Champion of Character Selection Committee