iU x Ragga Surf Cafe

How our non-profit, Inter United Soccer Club, and our for-profit business, Ragga Surf Cafe, work hand-in-hand together:

Inter-United Soccer Club, lovingly known as iU, was founded in 1997 to facilitate a travel soccer club in our small community of Apopka, FL. The club quickly grew to support a very large number of local kids playing soccer. Our influence as a soccer community began to spread to other parts of the world. We discovered that soccer was not the singular driving force behind our growth and influence. Soccer is a universal language that helps to cultivate friendships that last a lifetime.

The needs of our friends locally and around the world initiated many good works and projects. These initiatives nearly always had a price tag attached to them. As a result, we endeavored to invite people into our work by asking them to donate, as most non-profits do, with the benefit of a tax write-off as iU is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 

Frankly, asking people to donate their hard-earned money is something I least enjoy in life. It’s never-ending because inevitably the funding runs out and you have to go ask for more. There is no FUN in Fundraising for me!

I decided to take a different approach. I abandoned the “begging people to give campaigns” and instead adopted an approach that’s dependent on businesses donating a portion of their profits to support our humanitarian, social aid, and service projects through our non-profit. I found that quality businesses were a way to fund sensitive projects more sustainably – partnering to provide both local and global impact.

The reality, of course, was a different story. As businesses, and those making the all-important financial decisions, changed hands, so did the contributions to iU, thereby making the continued support of iU’s endeavors exceedingly difficult.

Then I had an epiphany - ‘What if I started a for-profit business that understood and was committed to the value and power of friendship?’ 

So, with the help of 4 young couples who just happen to be close friends and family, RAGGA SURF CAFE was born!  Ragga is a for-profit business that consistently donates a good portion of its profits to the mission of iU. This mechanism allows for missions locally and around the world to continue and grow. It gives me great comfort to be able to help fund our Ohana Education Centre in Kenya, provide local soccer scholarships, support growing youth soccer programs in Nicaragua, support humanitarian aid in Peru – and so much more – through our own business and hard work. 

Now, we can give back without solely depending on the generosity of others. 

Today, Ragga Surf Cafe donates 10% of its profits back to iU annually.

At our inception, Ragga Surf Cafe decided not to use the trendy marketing model of many other compassionate companies - “For every Dawn Patrol sandwich you consume, here’s a child who benefits from your purchase.” No. We wanted you to eat and shop at our small business because you love the products and services. If you happen to find out that your purchase supports our mission, well, that’s a good thing too! 

At the heart of it all, Ragga Surf Cafe and iU are fully invested in seeing the next generation learn how to love each other not because they have to, but because they want to. Out of this bond, we believe nothing is impossible.

A wise man once said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

We’ve taken this idea to heart.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.

Jim Powell

Founder & President, Inter-United Soccer Club

Co-Owner, Ragga Surf Cafe