About Us

After participating in a local church outreach distributing basic necessities to families in Houston's Chinatown area, our founders, Marcelo and Lisa Galvao, felt a deep calling to do more for the community.

What began as a simple act of service soon became something much bigger.

The Galvao family started spending time in the cul-de-sac of an apartment complex where many recent immigrant families lived. Coach Marcelo and his two sons would gather the boys and play soccer together, while Lisa and their daughter would spend time with the girls—jumping rope, playing hopscotch, reading books, and building friendships.

What began as informal play quickly grew into a powerful opportunity to connect with children and families in meaningful ways.

Officially launched in July 2014 as an initiative of the Stoller Foundation, ANSA hosted its first community event in September of that same year. Shortly afterward, ANSA began offering its developmental soccer program — a free in-house league designed to provide both athletic training and Biblically-based life coaching — at two locations in Houston:

• Sharpstown / Chinatown
• Spring Branch

Within just three months, 408 youth registered and were given an opportunity to participate.

On January 20, 2015, ANSA officially received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the United States government. That same spring, the program expanded with two additional sites in the Alief school district, and by June 2015 ANSA had 587 registered youth and 129 volunteers serving the growing community.

Since the summer of 2015, ANSA — through partnership with the Stoller Foundation — has provided nearly 100 children and youth with overnight summer camp experiences, many for the first time in their lives.

That same year, ANSA partnered with Revival Sport to launch the annual Houston Community Cup of Nations, and has played a key role in developing the Youth Cup of Nations futsal tournament, bringing together players and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds.

By 2016, ANSA had grown to 849 registered youth and 214 volunteers. During that year, the organization also launched its competitive soccer program, now known as the ANSA Lions, designed to provide advanced development opportunities for players ready to take their game to the next level.

Beyond competition, the program created a platform where youth and families from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds could connect, grow, and build community through sport.

In 2017, ANSA introduced College Soccer Nights, helping high school athletes learn about pathways to collegiate soccer. That same year, two ANSA competitive teams — made up of players who had grown through the developmental program — earned first place honors in their respective divisions.

In March 2018, ANSA expanded again with the launch of its recreational program, The Cubs and Cubbies, designed specifically for children ages 4–10, creating an early introduction to sport and character development.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ANSA operated:

• Seven developmental program sites
• Two competitive program sites
• Two recreational program sites

Together these programs served more than 400 children and youth weekly.

Each month, ANSA also hosts Discovery Events, providing safe and welcoming environments where entire families can gather, participate in activities, and learn about the values and hope that inspire ANSA's mission.

As the organization has grown and its programs have expanded, the heart of ANSA has remained the same — meeting people where they are and sharing hope that reaches far beyond the playing field.

Today, ANSA has evolved into a global catalyst for impact, helping other organizations and communities launch similar programs across Texas, Florida, Chicago, the United Kingdom, Africa, Asia, and South America.