Niko Roros, a 25-year-old soccer player and youth coach from Baltimore, will run a 14K around New York City on Friday, June 3 to raise money that will benefit children’s charities in Greece.
A lifelong soccer player, Roros was born and raised in Baltimore with ancestral roots from Mesta on the Greek island of Chios.
The 25-year-old’s soccer career has taken him from his hometown to Pittsbugh, Rome, Athens, and now back, as he’s currently playing with the Baltimore Blast and learning the professional indoor soccer game.
Roros is part of an initiative Team Greek America, a virtual team of athletes organized by the New York-based Greek America Foundation.
Roros joined Team Greek America in June 2021 when he ran his own specially coursed 12K around the city of Rome, where he was studying for his master’s in sports management and soccer coaching. He was also playing as a goalkeeper for the club Rome City SC.
In the end, Roros raised nearly $6,000 for the Greek America Foundation’s #ChildrenOfGreece campaign which benefits vulnerable and disenfranchised children in Greece. Once again, the funds raised from his upcoming race in The Big Apple — which he personally created — will benefit the same cause.
Roros’s planned route for his 14K around New York City includes stops at various iconic and scenic locations.
Roros has set his fundraising goal at $10,000 and says he plans to continue supporting the Greek America Foundation’s endeavors and that he remains inspired by lessons he learned from older soccer players — his mentors — as a young boy.
“They thought me to always stay humble and give back to the world when I can. This is one of the main reasons why I’m supporting the Greek America Foundation and Project Hope for Greece. It is what inspired me to become a part of Team Greek America and do my 12k around Rome last year,” he says.
“Along with seeing firsthand the great work of the Greek America Foundation and their volunteers this past summer (2021) in Athens and Chios, that is what inspires me to do my 14K around New York City this June!”
Roros says the foundation’s campaign resonates with him personally due to his belief in child welfare and access to basic resources such as food, shelter and education.
“Children are innocent in this world and only as good as the situation they are put in. The faults of the world are not theirs to burden right now,” Roros says. “The future will never change unless we help the kids of today become the leaders of tomorrow.”
For updates on his fundraiser, follow Niko’s personal social media including Facebook and Instagram (@rorothegreek.) and follow the Greek America Foundation on Facebook, Instagram (@greekamericafoundation) and Twitter @GreekAmerica.