During his life, Michael Bloom ’16 was passionate about bringing the joy of play to children around the world.

A soccer player during his time at Lafayette, Michael understood the transformative power of the game as an outlet and community unifier. When he and his wife, Madeleine Hart Bloom ’16 (pictured), were deciding what to give to a community in Haiti, he didn’t just want to send the staples—he wanted them to have soccer balls too. “He understood what it meant to be truly charitable,” Madeleine says. “He saw the value in the joy of play.”

After Michael’s 2023 passing, when Madeleine was considering where to direct people to donate in lieu of funeral flowers, money for soccer balls just made sense. The outpouring of support, particularly from the Lafayette community, made her realize she could establish something bigger: the Michael G. Bloom Foundation.

In conjunction with another nonprofit group, Northbound Foundation, they’ve already completed a brand-new soccer field in Tanzania, with plans for future fields across the continent and beyond.

Named Furaha Field after the Swahili word for “joy,” the pitch has become a primary recreational space for the nearby village of 7,000 people. It has solar lights for playing at night, bleachers for the community to watch, and a retaining wall—decorated with a mural by a local artist—to keep games away from the road. Says Madeleine: “It’s about giving these children, especially girls in the village who haven’t been given the same opportunities, the chance to play in a safe place.”

She notes that even before the kids had a soccer ball at their feet, they were rolling around on the new field. “We take for granted having something like grass to play on in our country,” Madeleine explains. “They were so happy.”

Pards have been instrumental in keeping Michael’s memory alive. A fundraiser in Central Park last fall, organized by Michael’s former Lafayette teammates Nick Villani ’16, Dante Piccolo ’17, and Ryan Egan ’17, gathered dozens of alumni. Funds raised from that event will be used to acknowledge Michael’s legacy through signage at Gummeson Grounds this spring.

Learn more about the foundation at michaelgbloomfoundation.org.