Soccer is a universal language. In 2004 the Eastside FC B-U17 team from Seattle went to Brazil for a soccer and cultural experience. During their stay in Brazil, the team was coached by Romildo de Araujo, "Mido" for short. Mido is the founder of Learning by Playing, a soccer academy for under-privileged children in the city of Sao Roque.

Staffed by volunteers and financed through donations, the program provides organized team soccer to needy children. Children must earn their participation by attending school, maintaining good grades and exhibiting good citizenship. The objective of the program is to encourage success at school, leading to employment and the chance for a better life.

In July 2005, Mido brought a soccer team to Seattle, hosted by the Eastside B-U16 and B-U18 teams. The players stayed with local families for 18 days and participated in soccer tournaments and clinics as well as typical summer activities like picnics, a Mariner's game, Sounders games and sight seeing. The Seattle families had the opportunity to better understand the challenges these children face in Brazil. As a result of this experience, The Stone Flower School Foundation was created with the mission to provide financial support for the underprivileged youth of Brazil, offering supplemental education, health care and nutrition.