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A freshman engineering student at the University, Souza was stabbed to death at a residential hall. A fellow student, 20-year-old Michael Roque of Massapequa in Nassau County, was arrested Monday in connection with Souza's death.
Souza, a 2017 graduate, and former Rye Brook resident was a soccer standout and a three-year starter on the varsity boys soccer team. He also was a star player in the New York Soccer Club in Scarsdale and a member of Blind Brook’s Autism Speaks chapter.
The fund was originally set-up to help cover funeral and travel expenses for his family, who returned to their native Brazil, following his graduation from high school.
But his parents, Alexandre and Renata Souza, said at a gathering in their son's honor on Wednesday, that they would like for the funds to be used to help underprivileged children in Brazil learn soccer, the page said.
The GoFundMe page says: "The family has expressed that the money raised be donated to a fund in Joao's honor to help underprivileged children in Brazil pursue their dreams of playing soccer, the sport that brought so much joy to Joao in his short life.
The page continues: "The family feels that such a fund would honor Joao's memory by helping others do what he loved most. More details regarding the specific fund will be provided shortly."
His parents are expected to travel to Binghamton to make final arrangements.
As of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the fund had raised $25,000 of it $30,000 goal.
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