02/08/2026
In December we received a grant request from Flood City Jiu Jitsu and Scotty Thomas to assist with a project they had.
They described this incredible group of young men and women who were wrestling barefoot, in streetclothes.
The request was to help supply singlets and wrestling shoes.
We were honored to help.
Today, Coach Bautista sent us pictures and the sentiments from the wrestlers and their coach. Please take a moment to read:
To our donors,
It is difficult to fully capture in words the joy that each and every child you have helped is carrying in their hearts.
For Coach Basas, accepting a simple job in a new city meant starting from nothing. It meant proving his value from the ground up, building trust, and shaping an identity not only for himself but for an entire team. He stepped into a role far greater than that of a coach. He became a mentor, a guide, and in many ways, a father figure. His mission has always been clear: to positively impact the lives of every child in his program and to open doors they never imagined could exist.
For the children, this experience felt almost unreal. What many consider ordinary parts of daily life can seem impossible to those who grow up facing poverty and hunger. For some of these young athletes, this was the first time they had ever eaten at McDonald’s. A few even asked quietly whether it was truly free and really meant for them. That question alone reveals the weight of their reality.
The impact goes far beyond shoes or a meal. It is the profound realization that someone believes in them. Several of them expressed it in the simplest but most powerful way: “Is this real life? This only happens in my dreams.” Their gratitude carried a sense of disbelief, even a quiet shock. They did nothing to deserve the circumstances they were born into. For many, their families have given all they can within their means. This gesture was not just generosity. It was affirmation.
If their words cannot fully convey what they feel, allow me to say it on their behalf.
On behalf of the Mariveles Wrestling Team and the Bataan Wrestling Team, we extend an unmatched sense of gratitude and a heartfelt thank you. The impact of your generosity reaches far beyond wrestling. It reaches into their sense of identity, their confidence, and their belief in what is possible in life.
To Flood City Jiu Jitsu, thank you for your generosity.
To Love Like Ben, thank you for believing in this project and in these children.
From Coach Basas to every athlete on the mat, we do not take this for granted. We receive it as a sign that good things can happen to those who work hard, who believe, and who strive to do what is right. A thousand thank yous would still fall short of expressing what this means to the team. We will do our best to show our gratitude not only in words, but in action. We will work harder. We will listen to our parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors. We will honor the legacy of our coach and the trust you have placed in us.
From the very bottom of our hearts, thank you.
With deepest gratitude,
Coach Basas, the Mariveles and Bataan Wrestling Teams
If this doesn't bring you to tears, if it doesn't open your eyes to the blessing we have, and more importantly to the blessing YOU, through the Love Like Ben Foundation, and Flood City Jiu Jitsu have helped offer these children, I urge you to look inside, and see the beauty we all have to give.
Their smiles are all we ever want.
We know that Ben is up there smiling too, knowing his five year old dream is still alive.
We hope you all get the chance to Love Like Ben.
