Meet Florencia Quarles of Lift Sports Foundation in Roswell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Florencia Quarles.

Florencia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve decided to give my career in sports a different turn from management and start a foundation called LIFT Sports Foundation. Our mission is to make the “giving back” and “helping others” an easier and more attractive activity for pro-athletes while effectively using their influence and resources.

WHO are we helping?
Many charity entities in USA and Latin America that currently help underprivileged children (and some of the adults) in underserved Latin communities. See our initial list of charities and their needs on this page: OUR CHARITIES. We’re hoping to keep adding more nonprofits as we grow.

WHY am I doing this?
Our “around the world” trip thought me a lot and gave me the time to focus on what I really wanted for my personal and professional life. I became more aware of a lot of things that even though they have crossed my mind, I’ve never taken action. One of those things was the need to combine my knowledge, work and passion to help others, so I made the decision to work with a more meaningful PURPOSE. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot wonderful co-workers, companies and pro athletes, and even though we’re all busy, I know that we all have one thing in common, we never forget who we are or where we come from.

I personally (and thank you to my generous parents) grew up helping foster children feel comfortable, at home, loved and cared for. Even though my dad was a physician, there were times when we had it very hard, but that never stopped them from receiving little ones that have been abused, neglected and even abandoned in hospitals. One of those kids was a six months old baby that came to our house with a broken nose. Could you imagine someone hurting a six months old? Yes, so sad and unreal. BUT he got lucky, my mom and dad decided to foster him, and due to the slow legal system and the fact that both of his parents were alive, he stayed with us for a long time. Fast forward 6 1/2 years from that moment, and at the age of seven, he became my legal brother. My little brother is a truly inspiration for me and a perfect example of how lives can be changed. He’s now in college studying to become a lawyer.

Taking my mom as my role model, I want to continue doing the same. I want to help, I want to LIFT others that need it most and help our Athletes harness the power of their global platform to multiply their impact and legacy.

HOW you can help us?
If you have friends, family, acquaintances, etc. that LOVE sports and helping others, please share with them what we are doing.

If you or your company plan corporate events or marketing spend where you would like access to professional athlete(s), please keep us in mind. Our Athletes donate their time, where the proceeds go to the charitable causes of their choice.

Shop our online marketplace: SHOP for pre-selected athlete experiences and athlete-signed memorabilia

We also welcome any and all donations – every little bit helps! Click here to donate, and optionally choose which charity you would like to support. All contributions to LIFT Sports Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

SPREAD THE LOVE!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m completely new to the philanthropic world (legally speaking) but I’ve been involved throughout my whole life helping children. My struggles I’m sure very common to a person that just wants to set up their own Foundation (the amount of paperwork can be overwhelming). I’m ready to start making a difference and impact the lives of so many that need us. Luckily, I’ve been introduced to the right people and I’ve decided to work with a group that helps people like me.

LIFT Sports Foundation – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from others?
OUR PURPOSE
LIFT Sports Foundation is a non-profit company created to help professional athletes with their philanthropic endeavors by energizing their personal missions.

We do this by educating and guiding professional athletes with their charitable missions and connecting them with underserved community organizations.

THE PROBLEM
– Many athletes want to do more to give back but don’t know how.
– Professional athletes have limited time to run his/her foundation, events, fundraisers, etc.
– Most athlete advisors/managers are focus on for profit activities; philantrophic coaching is a need in the market.

We believe that helping others is not only good for others and a good thing to do, it also makes us happier and healthier too. Giving also connects us to others, creating stronger communities and helping to build a happier society for everyone.

WHY LIFT
My whole life has been surrounded by athletes and sports. Growing up, I played tennis, golf, volleyball, softball, field hockey, and even handball (Argentinean sport). SPORTS have been the reason why today I’m the HAPPIEST mom, wife and philanthropreneur.

After traveling around the world for five months with our family of 6 (my amazing husband Matt and a 1, 2, 3 and four years old at the time), I learned so much and I also realized that my PURPOSE in life was to GIVE to those little ones in need. After seeing the best (fancy hotels) to seeing the worst (floating villages, kids running barefoot to their homes made out of cardboard, etc.), I can say that all I want is to bring BIG SMILE on their faces and LIFT them up.

I could write a book someday about coming to America to play golf on a full-ride speaking zero English, working 3 jobs to sustain myself so my parents wouldn’t have to sell their car or ask friends/family for money because things were getting harder at home, sitting in the wrong class for a whole semester, and the list goes on and on… l have SO many good and bad stories and met so many great people that LIFTed me up me when I was down and encouraged me to always be myself and work hard for my dreams. If there is one person that inspired me to do this the most, it is my MOM. She’s the most selfless, generous, courageous and kind person I know. Today and for the past ten years she has been making sure 15 abandoned abused and neglected sweet girls on need of a happy home are safe and happy. Hogar San Jose is located in Dolores (my hometown) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Being a MOM of four kids (five and under) funny, crazy, bilingual, chaotic, and smart kids (can’t help the mom love here) is the best thing that ever happened in my life, but bringing to life my PURPOSE of helping these fragile, vulnerable and helpless children means everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lift-sports.org
• Phone: 404-538-1265
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @liftsportsfoundation
• Facebook: @liftsports

Image Credit:
Florencia Quarles

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