The Michigan Football Club (Michigan FC) is a unique nonprofit organization established in 2017 by Iraqi American Engineer Abbas Al-Wishah, to helps many kids through soccer program and education to stay clear of drugs and crime. Al-wishah is an Iraqi native who came to the U.S. in 1993 after the Persian Gulf War when he was 9 years old. He is an Iraqi refugee that turned struggles into success through his education journey from Elementary School in Erie, PA all way up to Wayne State University, Detroit MI, which he earned his B.S and M.S in Electrical Computer Engineering.
Michigan FC Featured in The Detroit News
Larry O’Connor from the Detroit News took the time to get to know Coach Abbas and the Michigan FC program, and published “Dearborn-based nonprofit soccer program caters to refugee children” in May of 2018. A lot has changed since then as we continue to grow our footprint in the community but we appreciate the help in spreading the word about our work.
TE Connectivity awards Michigan FC coaches Volunteer of the year
Each year TE presents the Community Volunteer of the Year Award to select employees from across TE’s regions. We understand our employees make an impact on their communities through their lives outside of work, and we want to recognize those who dedicate personal time and effort working with local nonprofit organizations to improve the lives of their fellow community members. 2017 Community Volunteer Award Winner for North America, awarded to Michigan FC for their effort to help and support a the community in Metro Detroit.
Michigan FC unleashes potential of soccer kids in U.S., through mentor ship and leadership
Michigan FC unleashing potential of refugee kids in U.S., through soccer and mentor ship and leadership. Abbas Al-Wishah, field application engineer, Industrial & Commercial Transportation, knows what being a refugee is like. When he was 9 years old, he and his family escaped danger in Iraq after his father helped the U.S. Army in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. Fast forward Abbas is helping refugees in his community in Detroit, Michigan, and his efforts have caught the attention of the ESPN global sports network for their award winning E:60 series.
