This Valentine’s Day we want to share our SOS story of love.
As many of you may know, some of our children who have lived at the Village and age out of care at eighteen, have the opportunity to become a part of our Next Steps program where we offer a continuum of services and support to help them thrive. There is no cut off age for this program and our young adults are a forever part of our SOS family. Support services decline as everyone becomes self-sufficient, but the relationship bond remains.
This is Roberto’s story and how he found his love.
THE EARLY YEARS
Roberto came to SOS in 2008 at age thirteen with his brother Leoni who was nine. A few months later they were joined by two more brothers. Their mother passed away and the boys were adopted, except for Roberto who aged out at eighteen.
During his time at SOS, Roberto became incredibly involved in sports by playing football, and basketball, which later led him to attend the University of West Florida to play football where he received his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity.
THE PROPOSAL
Let us start with Roberto shared that he is not all that romantic. We beg to differ!
To share his story, we must backtrack for a bit. Roberto and Alexa met initially when he was nineteen and she was fourteen through his adopted mother who was friends with Alexa’s mom. There was no romantic interest at this time as Roberto was much older and living away at college with the only intention of playing sports, getting his education, and enjoying college life. It was not until many years later that Alexa reached out to Roberto on Snapchat, and he started giving her relationship advice, that their friendship grew into something much bigger. When asked how he knew it was love, Roberto’s response was “I had a weird feeling she could be the one.”
The proposal included a custom-made ring, assistance from cousins, and a trip to the Georgia Aquarium. While walking around the aquarium, he was unsure that he would find the perfect spot for the ask, until they arrived at the Whale Shark exhibit where he felt a sense of calm and proceeded to ask her to be his wife. Everything was caught on film by the cousins, including the marine backdrop.
THE WEDDING
The couple married on January 4th, 2025, surrounded by close family and friends, Roberto was especially moved to see his SOS family in attendance. SOS CEO, Jillian Smath who had seen Roberto grow up, and Board members Larry Buck and Greg Zeiger who have been mentors, were all in attendance with their spouses. It was a heartfelt moment for everyone to be a part of such a special and intimate moment in Roberto’s life.
LOVE FOR COACHING
Roberto is a High School football coach and has an unwavering passion for his work. “What I love about sports is that it creates skills and a mindset for facing adversity. Sports is life changing, and being involved in sports has made me the man I am today. Being a coach is gratifying as I help shape lives. The impact coaches have had on me throughout my life has made me a better person.”
FUTURE PLANS
The young couple plans to purchase a home and have children. Alexa will work on her EMT license and Roberto aspires to become a college or NFL coach. While growing together is important, Roberto notes that individual growth and them supporting each other in this area is also key.
We wish them well with all the blessings of a promising future where their dreams are fulfilled. We also wish them and everyone A HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!
