New York City Police Detective
New York City Fire Firefighter

"Soccer Lover"

It was Sunday afternoon, Sept. 9, and the game was scoreless with just minutes left to play. Suddenly, Sergio Villanueva sped down the field, whacked the ball with his foot, and goaaal! The Fire Department won, 1-0. A native of Argentina, Firefighter Villanueva, loved soccer. Tanya Villanueva, his fiancée, used to have to put on a special hat with bells dangling from it, as well as a jersey from an Argentine team, and run through the house shouting, "Goal!" when an important match was on television. "He was a huge soccer fan," she said.

Two days later, on Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, FDNY Firefighter Sergio Gabriel Villanueva responded with his company, Ladder 132, to the World Trade Center tragedy and paid for our freedom with his life.

Police Detective Jonathan Kanovsky and the FDNY Soccer Team have collaborated to celebrate the life and memory of Sergio through creation of the Sergio G. Villanueva Memorial Scholarship endowment at Hofstra University.

This scholarship will assist a deserving Hofstra University student-athlete in pursuing a college education. The recipient will demonstrate the work ethic, integrity discipline and courage the exemplified Sergio's life.

We ask all fellow soccer lovers to join us in honoring a man who made the supreme sacrifice for his fellow New Yorkers, his fellow Americans and for Freedom itself. Please contribute whatever you can to this endowed scholarship, which will carry Sergio's name and ideals through history.

"Our brave New York City firefighters...New York City police officers...and unformed service members - they laid down their lives for strangers. They were inspired by their sense of duty and their love for humanity. As they raced into the Twin Towers and the other buildings to save lives, they didn't stop to ask how rich or poor the person was, they didn't stop to ask what religion, what race, what nationality. They just raced in to save their fellow human beings. They are the best example of love that we have in our society."

-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, September 23, 2001

Accomplishments:  With your help The Firefighter Sergio G. Villanueva Soccer Foundation has endowed scholarships at Hofstra University and Holy Cross High School. The Foundation also hosts free youth soccer clinics and educational lectures.  For more details click on the button below.

How Do I contribute to the Scholarship Fund ???

All contributions are 100% tax deductible and each donor will personally receive an acknowledgment of gratitude from the FDNY Soccer Team, Police Detective Jonathan Kanovsky, and the Villanueva family. A leather bound list of donors will be given to Ladder 132 and the family of Sergio Villanueva.