The basics:

• Every Kick Counts returns Aug. 7 at Bel-Aire Golf Course in Wall
• Event supports NJYS TOPSoccer athletes with intellectual, physical disabilities
• Inaugural fundraiser raised about $10,000 — aims to double total this year
• Youth soccer organizations in three states replicating the model

For 17-year-old Zack Dabby, Every Kick Counts began with a simple idea: give other young people the opportunity to build the same kind of friendship that changed his life.

A Freehold High School student and longtime volunteer with Challenger Sports, Dabby spent months last year developing the inclusive FootGolf fundraiser as a new initiative within New Jersey Youth Soccer to benefit NJYS TOPSoccer, the organization’s adaptive soccer program serving nearly 1,000 athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities across the state.

Over eight months as a then-16-year-old, he devoted nearly 100 hours to developing a brand, recruiting sponsors, managing a budget, producing an event operations guide, and building registration and donation platforms. The inaugural event last summer drew more than 50 players, families and volunteers; raised approximately $10,000 for TOPSoccer; and established a blueprint that is now expanding into its second year.

The inspiration dates back several years, when Dabby began volunteering with Challenger Sports, a program that pairs children with special needs alongside volunteer buddies. There, he met Jack Costantino, then a sixth-grader from Howell with autism.

Fostering friendships

What began as weekly sports activities soon extended beyond the program to a true friendship. Today, the two text throughout the week, ride bikes together, go to the movies and spend time with one another’s families.

“Our families are great friends now. It’s not even just me and Jack,” Dabby told NJBIZ, “It’s families being brought together. It’s just really enjoyable hanging out because he’s a great kid; it’s a very special bond that I want to give others the opportunity to make.”

Seeing the impact that relationship had on both of them inspired Dabby to create an event where other young athletes with disabilities and volunteers could experience those same kinds of friendships.

“I wanted to give other people throughout the state the same opportunity that I had,” he said. “To create those special friendships and bonds that I got to make through Challenger Sports.”

Now preparing for its second annual event Aug. 7 at Bel-Aire Golf Course in Wall Township, Every Kick Counts has attracted growing corporate and community support; doubled its fundraising goal; and sparked interest from youth soccer organizations in other states.

When Dabby began organizing Every Kick Counts, he had never planned a fundraiser. He had never recruited sponsors, coordinated volunteers or managed an event.

“I had to learn everything,” he said. “And it’s a little daunting when you start. Everything was new, so that was a little tough and sometimes a little frustrating.”

Rather than letting those challenges discourage him, Dabby tackled each new task one step at a time.

Professional perspectives

Throughout the process, Dabby collaborated with professionals from U.S. FootGolf and U.S. Youth Soccer, who helped develop Every Kick Counts’ brand identity and educational materials. He also worked with New Jersey Youth Soccer staff to launch the event’s registration and donation platforms as well as conduct outreach to Challenger Sports and TOPSoccer communities across the state.

Still, the vision – and the work – remained his.

Watching that growth has been especially meaningful for his father, New Jersey Youth Soccer CEO Evan Dabby, who NJBIZ has previously interviewed and featured.

While Evan offered guidance along the way, he said Every Kick Counts has always been Zack’s project.

“He’s very capable and he can do it. And we can be honest that any 16-year-old has different priorities in life,” Evan told NJBIZ. “At the end of the day, he buckled down, he got friends involved. It was his best, closest friends and others. He stepped up and made it happen – and this success is certainly from effort.”

That effort included an estimated 100 hours as Zack organized the inaugural event.

“The reality is that he had to learn everything. He hadn’t done it before. He had to listen, ask questions, respond and persevere. I think it probably looked easy because you’re out there playing FootGolf,” said Evan. “But nobody knows the 100 hours that led to going out there and just playing FootGolf because you have an event that runs the way it’s supposed to.”

Building the event meant convincing others to believe in it.

So Dabby started knocking on doors.

Gaining traction

Armed with flyers and a pitch, he visited local businesses himself, introducing Every Kick Counts and asking for sponsorships.

“It was a little nerve-racking,” he said of those early conversations, using the example of a first visit to Ray Catena Auto Group (Lexus, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz). The company came on board and is now one of the biggest supporters of the initiative as it continues for year two.

Instead of seeing his age as a disadvantage, many businesses viewed it as part of the story.

“I think the fact that I went in there as a young kid who was pitching his own idea, I think that gave us a lot of traction,” said Dabby.

That grassroots effort helped Every Kick Counts build a growing network of supporters.

RWJBarnabas Health served as title sponsor for the inaugural event and has returned this year. Event sponsors, in addition to Ray Catena Auto Group, also included the New York Red Bulls, SCORE Sports, WeDo and Toyota.

Additional support came from the Vin Gopal Civic Association, the NYNJ World Cup Host Committee, U.S. Youth Soccer, MLS GO, Gotham FC, Wegmans, PRIME, Central Jersey Pools and Print2Go.

The inaugural fundraiser generated approximately $10,000. Dabby expects that total to approach $20,000 this year.

‘Everyone gets it in the hole’

Held at Bel-Aire Golf Course, the inaugural event brought together more than 50 players, families and volunteers.

Rather than emphasizing competition, Every Kick Counts paired volunteer buddies with young athletes with disabilities as they navigated a nine-hole FootGolf course – a sport combining soccer and golf.

Dabby intentionally chose FootGolf because it can be adapted to participants of virtually every ability.

“That was one of the main things we wanted to do – give everyone the opportunity to play. And FootGolf, it can be played at all levels,” he said. “However strict or loose, however you want to play it.”

The event also featured former U.S. Men’s National Team captain Tab Ramos, who played alongside participants, signed autographs and posed for photos throughout the day before later agreeing to serve as an ambassador for Every Kick Counts. Jonathan Yee, chair of NJ Youth Soccer’s TOPSoccer program, was among the volunteers who served as buddies on the course.

That was one of the main things we wanted to do – give everyone the opportunity to play. And FootGolf, it can be played at all levels.
– Zack Dabby, Every Kick Counts founder

That spirit of inclusion quickly became the defining characteristic of the day.

“Everyone gets it in the hole. You saw them get it in the hole. Everyone cheered, so there was something about that satisfaction, gratification,” said Dabby. “It wasn’t about a score; it wasn’t about competition. It was about the event.”

After months of planning, Dabby finally had a chance to stop organizing and simply enjoy the event.

Offering an assist

As the final group prepared to tee off, he spotted Jack waiting at the first hole.

“It was definitely after we got all the groups through; there was one group left, and I saw Jack waiting at the start,” Dabby recalled. “I was able to relax, walk over and just play. I got to see the benefits of all my work, and I even got to play with my friend who was one of the main reasons I did this. So that was definitely the best part.”

Costantino later described the day as “really, really fun,” saying his favorite part was kicking the ball as high as he could and getting to run like Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. His mother, Michelle, called the event “phenomenal” and said the friendship between Zack and Jack, “two young people learning from each other, was powerful.”

The inaugural event proved to be more than a successful fundraiser.

Interest has since emerged from youth soccer associations in Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut, which are exploring their own versions of Every Kick Counts. Dabby said the organizations have been in touch throughout the year as the idea continues to gain momentum beyond New Jersey.

Building out the team

Back home, Every Kick Counts has continued to evolve.

Friends who volunteered during the inaugural event have stepped into leadership roles overseeing fundraising, participant recruitment and the organization’s website.

“I realized it’s important to get other people involved and not try to take the entire thing on myself,” Dabby said. “A big part of growing is being able to delegate some tasks. And I’ve been lucky, many of my friends have been interested, engaged, and they’re ready get to going.”

Permanent investments

The World Cup 2026 matches may be over, but the long-term investments around the state remain. Read about the tournament’s lasting legacy here.

As Every Kick Counts prepares for its second annual event Aug. 7, it comes just weeks after the FIFA World Cup put New Jersey at the center of the global soccer stage. Dabby hopes the excitement surrounding the sport carries into an event focused on something much closer to home.

He isn’t measuring success solely by attendance or fundraising totals. Instead, he hopes Every Kick Counts becomes a tradition that families look forward to each summer, creating the same kinds of friendships that inspired it.

“I hope it becomes kind of like an annual event,” Dabby said. “Not just for us, but for all our participants who look forward to it every summer and keep coming back.”

Setting goals

For Evan, watching the project come together was about seeing his son experience the process behind building something from scratch.

“I think we look at people who are successful, whether it’s the Michael Jordans of the world, and you see them at the end, and you don’t see the journey,” said Evan. “For me, I think it’s most rewarding that he’s seen a process. The more you put in, the more you get out. And that’s true – it applies here.”

I think we look at people who are successful … and you see them at the end, and you don’t see the journey. For me, I think it’s most rewarding that he’s seen a process.
– Evan Dabby, speaking about son Zack

One year after Every Kick Counts began as a 16-year-old’s idea inspired by a friendship, that journey is already creating opportunities for countless others to build friendships of their own.

Asked what he hopes people understand most about Every Kick Counts, Dabby doesn’t talk first about fundraising or FootGolf. He talks about opportunity.

“We’re all about creating opportunity for everyone,” said Dabby. “We want everyone to have the chance to come out and play and feel like they’re part of it. They’re able to come out and just play a round. That’s what everything’s about. We want everyone to have the same chances to come out and kick around.”