Nease midfielder Austin Mills is introduced prior to the 2023 Holiday Cup. Nease High School hosted the third annual Holiday Cup, a four-team doubleheader aimed at raising dollars and donations for charities in Northeast Florida. (Will Borwn, Official Florida FC
Published on December 28, 2023 at 9:25 am
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A St. Johns County high school soccer player is finding a way to give back to his community before he graduates.
Nease midfielder Austin Mills, who plans to attend the Naval Academy next year, played in last week’s Holiday Cup, a charity doubleheader organized by Nease head Coach Fred Hallett.
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Mills says his coach inspired him to do more. He started Pay It Forward last year. The on-campus organization encourages other students to join him in supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.
Mills said the inaugural Holiday Cup, which raised nearly $3,000 in 2021, was a light bulb moment.
“From that I kind of realized ‘Oh, yeah.’ I’ve got a connection with something that’s important to me too, like he did with Soaring High,” Mills said. “And, that kind of made me realize ‘Oh, I can do this.’ And, it’s not too hard to make a difference like that.’
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Mills’ sister was born with dwarfism and a skeletal disorder that required doctor visits across America. His family slept at Ronald McDonald Houses away from home.
The Nease, Creekside, Mandarin and Bishop Kenny soccer teams raised more than $2,500 in this year’s Holiday Cup for Ronald McDonald House and Soaring High, a St. Johns County nonprofit for families.
“I think a lot of people want to do well and want to do good,” Hallett said. “Sometimes, it’s just hard to figure a way to go about doing it. When you see someone taking that first step, they are like ‘Yes, I will step with you.’ That makes me feel good.”
Bishop Kenny soccer coach Matt Case said the cup was a dose of perspective.
“It’s really important to me to be able to show my players the world is not as narrow as their minds think of it right now,” Case said of his team, which has at least three players who live in St. Johns County. “This is a cool opportunity to show them that point blank.”
In three years, the Holiday Cup has given nearly $6,000 and more than 300 blankets to charities.
Mills said the point of the holiday season is to find a way to give to others in whatever way someone can.
“It means the world to me that we can use soccer, and all of this — a sport that means a lot to me — to emphasize something that’s also dear to me and personal to me through my family which has been supported by the Ronald McDonald House.”
Lead image: Nease midfielder Austin Mills is introduced prior to the 2023 Holiday Cup. Nease High School hosted the third annual Holiday Cup, a four-team doubleheader aimed at raising dollars and donations for charities in Northeast Florida. (Will Borwn, Official Florida FC
