Local man uses the NFT project’s cryptocurrency funds to upgrade stands, sports equipment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former coach is leading an effort to improve a park in Duval County.

Omar Perez created an NFT project in the cryptocurrency world and began using the funds to pay for sports equipment for children, and now new stands at the Argyle Athletic Association.

Perez and his team checked out the bleachers in the park, and some had no wood, others were run down and nowhere near good enough to sit on.

He decided he wanted to help build new bleachers around the baseball field at the park off Old Middleburg Road.

“Having the stands alone adds that value and makes it more comfortable for the crowd to enjoy the game and support their loved ones while they play,” Perez said.

But that’s not all Perez does. He has already sponsored 10 children’s participation costs, including equipment and registration fees.

Perez said the reason he chose to start the sponsorship with baseball was because he was a former softball coach at Oakleaf Junior High School. However, his team plans to expand its sponsorship to other sports in the future.

Advertisement

“We sponsor any sport, it doesn’t matter what sport you play, but as of right now that’s where I started because that’s my realm: baseball and softball,” Perez said.

“You see that many children do not have the ability or the finances to play recreational ball. In the U.S., the average cost is $200 and the economy is going down, the first thing families are cutting back on is recreational activities,” Perez said.

Perez said what got him involved was passion.

“It’s been fantastic. It’s well received, you know. People always see things like this, and that’s good. It’s good for us. It is good for the community. It’s good for the kids, Perez said. “And those kids who didn’t have the opportunity to play, the parents are very grateful for that, so that’s very rewarding in itself.”

He said he has also been able to purchase equipment for some of the coaches, including a hitting net, heavy balls, cones, speed ladders, parachutes and exercise bands.

Advertisement

“Some little things go a long way,” he said.

Perez said this is not the end of giving back. They will help children with spring sports as well.

If all goes well, the NFTs or Non-Fungible Tokens a record attached to a digital or physical asset will sell, creating money from the cryptocurrency world and Web 3. It will help children in need, in the real world.