Printer Friendly Version - RJ’s Goals: Fostering Kids’ Love of Soccer, One Ball at a Time

To honor the legacy of the late Robert Joseph “RJ” Giammattei and his love of soccer, his mom, Dawn Saczynski; and siblings, Vincent Giammattei, Jr., Michael Cross Giammattei, and Marina Giammattei; have founded a charitable organization, RJ’s Goals. Dawn (right) is shown here with daughter Marina. Photo courtesy of Dawn Saczynski

By founding RJs Goals, the family of the late RJ Giammattei (shown here playing soccer for Branford High School, right) is working to honor his legacy. Photo courtesy of Dawn Saczynski

RJ Giammattei (right) with his three siblings. To honor RJ’s legacy, his mother Dawn Saczynski (not pictured) and siblings founded a charitable organization, RJ’s Goals. Photo courtesy of Dawn Saczynski

By fostering a love of soccer among kids, one ball at a time, the family of Robert Joseph “RJ” Giammattei is honoring the legacy of a former Branford High School (BHS) soccer standout whose love for the game began at a young age.

In Sept. 2023, RJ passed away suddenly at the age of 27. To help deal with their grief and to honor RJ’s legacy, his mom, Dawn Saczynski; and his siblings, Vincent Giammattei, Jr., Michael Cross Giammattei, and Marina Giammattei, founded a charitable organization called RJ’s Goals.

“I felt like the best way to deal with our grief was for my children and I to form a foundation to honor their brother,” says Dawn. “I have always believed that taking the focus off yourself and being of service to others is the best way to deal with grief and life in general.”

Starting this spring and going forward, RJ’s Goals hopes to present specially made, regulation (size 3) soccer balls to every Lil Kicks (ages 4-5) player signing up with the Branford Soccer Club.

RJ’s Goals was launched in Sept. 2023. At that time, in addition to collecting funds to support the Lil Kicks goal, the family also collected and donated over 60 soccer balls during the holidays.

The soccer balls were donated to Child Life at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, a program that the family has helped support for some 17 years.

RJ’s little sister Marina was assisted by the program at the age of 2, following the removal of a benign tumor in her neck.

“The Child Life program provides toys that can help with rehabilitation,” Dawn explains. “And after her stay there, every holiday season we would do a collection, as a family, to the program.”

The new soccer balls contributed to the program by RJ Goals in Dec. 2023 were gathered in collection boxes that the family set up at their work and school locations, including Yale University, the University of New Haven, and Sacred Heart University. Additionally, a family friend, the owner of Studio 117 Salon in Branford, also set up a collection box.

Marina is at Sacred Heart University and a member of the Pioneers’ cheerleading team, which won its fourth-straight national title at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) competition in Orlando, Florida in January. As a member of the BHS Class of 2022, Marina was an All-SCC diver and swim team captain. She grew up participating soccer and cheerleading through grade school. Dawn says that Marina’s earliest sports experiences were with soccer, thanks to RJ’s influence.

RJ starting playing soccer at age 3. His first organized play was as a Lil Kicks player with the Branford Soccer Club. From there, he went on to play in several Premier leagues and as a BHS player as a member of the Class of 2014. RJ ‘s passion for the game continued after high school as a player in various men’s leagues, as well as, “... any pickup game he could find,” his mom says.

“He always had cleats and a soccer ball with him,” Dawn says. “The soccer field is where he truly shined.”

In addition to RJ’s profound passion for soccer, Dawn says that her son was funny, charismatic and was “absolutely loved and adored” by his teammates, friends, and family.

RJ’s Goals is currently in the process of obtaining 501c3 status. To assist the organization’s mission of fostering kids’ love of soccer, one ball at a time, checks can be sent to: RJs Goals, PO Box 714, Branford, CT 06405. Contributions may also be made through Zelle to rjs.goals96@gmail.com. Follow @rjs.goals on Instagram for updates and more information.

Dawn says the collaborative effort that she and her children are putting in to support the work of RJ’s Goals is also helping the family to cope with their loss, while honoring RJ for years to come.

“It’s been a great outlet to stay busy and to do something in remembering RJ,” says Dawn. “Even though everybody’s grown and doing their own thing, this has become a way to come together and to continue to share memories of him and to honor his memory.”