Community Corner

Harvard Soccer's Newest Player Is 8-Year-Old Needham Boy

The team signed Charlie Peary as the Team IMPACT Player.

The gathered with Peary to sign him as the newest member during a signing day ceremony.
The gathered with Peary to sign him as the newest member during a signing day ceremony. (Harvard University Men's Soccer)

NEEDHAM, MA — From Needham to Cambridge, 8-year-old Charlie Peary is unstoppable. The Needham native just became the newest and youngest member of the Harvard Men's Soccer team, signing as the Team IMPACT player.

Peary is a member of Team IMPACT, a program that pairs children with chronic illnesses with college sports teams. Charlie was joined by many family and friends as he received his Harvard jersey and signed his letter of intent.

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams. The goal is to form lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,900 children with more than 600 colleges and universities in 48 states, reaching over 55,000 participating student athletes.

Find out what's happening in Needhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

IMPACT's mission is for the child to join the athletic team and in turn, that the student athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.

Peary can add Crimson to his support system, on and off the field.

Find out what's happening in Needhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Needham