This is Franklin Weiss: Soccer & Kindess

By Jennifer Ersalesi

Photo credits: Mike Weiss

Franklin Weiss, a young soccer player, with his trophies

Rutherford High School Senior, Franklin Weiss, was featured as September's MVP on the local NBC New York Station. NBC Anchor John Chandler joined Franklin, his family, some of his teammates, and coaches on the soccer field in Rutherford for a special interview. This is Rutherford interviewed Franklin to learn more about the special honor Franklin received.

TIR: How long have you been playing and loving soccer?

Franklin Weiss: As long as I can remember, honestly. I remember playing soccer when I was as young as kindergarten age. I would wake up every Saturday morning just to watch the Premier League with my dad.

TIR: Why is soccer so important to you?

FW: For me, soccer creates connections; whether it’s cheering for my favorite team on gameday, being on the field with my teammates, or kicking the ball around for fun. From the beginning, it was a sport that I had a knack for and I see it as a place where I really built confidence in myself.

TIR: What made you decide to try to raise money for your teammates and others who wanted to play on Rutherford FC Soccer teams?

FW: I have been playing with more or less the same group of guys since we were in second grade. Each year, the league fees have slowly increased, but this year there was quite a large jump. I didn’t like the idea that some people wouldn’t be able to play because of the spike in fees, I wanted to help.

TIR: How did you go about raising the money to assist your teammates?

FW: I started a GoFundMe, and since both of my parents had previous experience with the website, I enlisted them to help set it up. Getting the word out was the harder part, but eventually donations really started coming in. Seeing how successful this was made me start thinking of how far this project could go, and I hope this is only the beginning.

TIR: How did you feel when you were able to raise enough money for players who would not have been able to play without receiving that financial support?

FW:  It was extremely rewarding. I also felt grateful to those who donated. It is not a guarantee that a fundraiser will bring in the goal set for it, so I was a little nervous at some points. Honestly, there was one donor who helped hit the goal by giving a very generous amount. I guess I would say it was heartwarming, and the connection I made with that donor was touching.

TIR: Are there individuals who have mentored and inspired you over the years?

FW: My mom is one of my biggest mentors. The fact that she has survived stage-3 breast cancer and has her own non-profit helping those who are going through what she went through showed me how good it feels to give back. Of course, my dad, who has been my coach since 2nd grade, has always inspired my love for soccer.

TIR: Why do you believe kindness and compassion are so important?

FW: I believe kindness and compassion are important because without them, who are we? We all have difficulty in our day-to-day lives, and each of us can make things a little easier for each other, whether it’s raising money for a cause or showing up for a friend who is having a bad day. I know when people make me feel like they see and understand me, it makes a real difference.

See Franklin on the NBC MVP segment here.