Lacrosse nonprofit building community on and off the field
Nonprofit Greater Good Lacrosse players, parents, siblings and coaches packing meals for Lifeline Christian Mission.
Lacrosse coach and self-proclaimed “proud lacrosse dad” Eric Manzanares is an avid proponent of the sport because of the opportunity it presents to not only build champions but also community, both on and off the field.
While the Denver metro area has several competitive youth lacrosse leagues, Eric identified a missing component for him in these programs. Thus, in a flurry of activity in October 2024, Greater Good Lacrosse (GGL) was born, and with it, the fitting tagline, “For love of the game, not for profit.”
“The idea with Greater Good Lacrosse is that we’re trying to grow the sport within Colorado in a more responsible way,” said Eric
GGL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Highlands Ranch made up of dedicated players, parents, coaches and volunteers united by a shared passion for redefining the traditional club lacrosse experience. GGL’s mission is twofold: to make competitive lacrosse more accessible by providing resources for training, scholarship opportunities, and a clear pathway to competing at the highest levels of the sport; and to instill values of selflessness, teamwork and community involvement.
“Having the opportunity to use coaching as a platform to help shape boys into young men and prepare them for the world ahead is one of the greatest responsibilities I have ever been given, and I feel blessed to be a part of it,” said Eric. “Greater Good Lacrosse can be a platform to create an even larger and more lasting impact.”
Some recent GGL projects include collecting more than 1,000 clothing items and 200 toys for Clothes To Kids of Denver; collecting 200 food items for Backpack Society; and packing more than 6,000 meals to help Lifeline Christian Mission.
GGL is working with the Douglas County Parks and Trails Division to arrange a beautification project in area parks later this month. Partnering with Les Schwab Tire Center in Highlands Ranch, GGL has created a seasonal tire storage service and fundraising program.
A special fundraising event is planned for Monday, May 26––Memorial Day. The Farm House Restaurant at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton will host local band The Dirty Turkeys (see related story in The Connection last month). Concert goers can make a $25 donation on the GGL website and receive a Dirty Turkeys tee shirt at the show. All proceeds from shirt sales and a portion from food and beverage sales will help support GGL’s mission.
For more information, visit greatergoodlacrosse.org.
Founder of Greater Good Lacrosse Eric Manzanares celebrating with team members.
By Sara Goodwin; photos courtesy of Greater Good Lacrosse
