Manny Touron, an educator and coach, started coaching soccer at IHS over 30 years ago. In that time he has sent many young men off to college that would likely never have had the opportunity were it not for Mr/Coach Touron's influence in their lives. Even aftrr retiring from the school system, Manny continued to coach and work to fulfill his dream of building a soccer program in the farming community of Immokalee. Holding dozens of fundraisers and soliciting donations, Coach Touron has driven 1000's of miles giving young men the chance to experience competing against high performing teams all across the United States. All of his players are held to an academic standard and expected to maintain their GPA's. Through his unyielding efforts, Manny created a space – the Soccer Pit – where the young men could gather, receive homework help, and just be safe. The soccer program in Immokalee now includes 100's of boys and girls, young men and young women paving the way to brighter futures that include high school graduation and the possibility of college.
In Immokalee, the name Manny Touron is synonomous with soccer and kids. From being an amazing principal to an outstanding coach, Manny has poured his blood, sweat and tears into the children of Immokalee, not for fame, accolades and certainly not for money, but for the love of kids. He is the epitome of this quote –
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”
Forest E. Witcraft TEACHER, SCHOLAR
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