2008
Alumni in Action!
In the News! (Click to read about recent Alums)
A cornerstone of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy is "LIVE. LEAD. Pass it ON!". We believe that leadership is personal, not positional and the biggest challenge is just taking that FIRST step. Often, leadership is inspired by hearing a story, reading an article, and learning from other acts of leadership around us. During our week together at the JFSLA, we help our students develop a "Leadership Project" that they will initiate in their own communities. They pick the project, develop a plan of action, and then bring their project to life in their communities. Here is a sample of some leadership projects that some of our students have initiated in their communities. We are proud of their decision to CHOOSE TO MATTER! Their actions will inspire more to take that first step.
A cornerstone of the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy is "LIVE. LEAD. Pass it ON!". We believe that leadership is personal, not positional and the biggest challenge is just taking that FIRST step. Often, leadership is inspired by hearing a story, reading an article, and learning from other acts of leadership around us. During our week together at the JFSLA, we help our students develop a "Leadership Project" that they will initiate in their own communities. They pick the project, develop a plan of action, and then bring their project to life in their communities. Here is a sample of some leadership projects that some of our students have initiated in their communities. We are proud of their decision to CHOOSE TO MATTER! Their actions will inspire more to take that first step.
From Sarah Rose: 2008 Peddie JFSLA
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This is Sarah Rose, and I just wanted to e-mail you guys and update you with
my community service project. This year for my project I am helping to send
the soldiers in Iraq, "wants and necessities" that they will enjoy come
Christmas time.
I just received my letter to myself from camp, and I thought that this would
be a good time to give you an update :
* Received an Internet list
* Contacted CSI (college of Staten island)
* Collected money on campus
* Went shopping
* Brought purchases back to CSI
* Bagged all of the goods
* Shipped them off to Iraq
This week I am doing a letter writing campaign to thank soldiers and wish
them Happy Thanksgiving (via Internet). In 2 weeks we will do the same for
Christmas greetings. This will be organized at Notre Dame Academy.
I am really looking forward to June 28th. I hope that you are feeling well
Julie and will bring the new baby to meet all of us at camp.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Your soon to be 3 time camper,
Sarah Rose
F.C Copa Real U14
From Missy Wentz: 2008 Peddie JFSLA
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From Alanna Lynch: 2008 Peddie JFSLA
Girl kicks in for charitable cause
By Susan Silvers
STAFF WRITER
Posted: 02/14/2009 01:50:05 PM EST
TRUMBULL ---- Soccer has always been a ball for Alanna Lynch. And she'd like others -- especially the disabled -- to enjoy it just as much.
So the Hillcrest Middle School eighth-grader has made it her mission to raise money to ensure youngsters with disabilities can play on a local team of their own, while making it possible for parents of players in the regular recreation program to save money.
In March, she will collect used soccer equipment for re-sale at a discount just as the local recreational program gets under way. Proceeds will go to finance TOPSoccer, The Outreach Program for Soccer, that caters to both mentally and physically disabled youths and expects to start a program in Trumbull this year.
Alanna plans to publicize the location of collection boxes to placed throughout town, including at the Board of Education administration building and other locations that are being worked out. The drive will take place from March 16 to 27, giving her time to sort and clean the equipment so it will be ready for sale before the local soccer season gets starts, something that can vary because of the weather.
Alanna said ..."I know how fast I grow out of or wear down equipment and how expensive it all is," said Alanna in a letter to the school administration. "So that is why the prices for equipment will be very low, so it is affordable for the average soccer family."
Her passion for soccer has led her to New Jersey and the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, a program run by the former co-captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer team. Alanna, who has attended for the last two years, said in addition to sessions on soccer skills, there are also presentations and community service projects. Her first year, she went to Goodwill, where she sorted out donations. Last year, she went to a day-care center, where she played with youngsters, worked with them on arts and crafts, and also helped put them to bed at nap time.
The camp encourages participants to create their own community service projects. So, Alanna figured, what better cause than to raise money to help break down barriers so that others can enjoy the sport she loves so much?
When she learned about TOPSoccer, she loved the concept since her family volunteers at the Connecticut Special Olympics.
Joan Dosky, president of Trumbull United, which is Alanna's league and like TOPSoccer is part of the Connecticut Youth Soccer Association, said her project couldn't come at a better time as TOPSoccer was looking to get off the ground locally later this year. "It takes a very special person," she said, praising Alanna's initiative. Dosky said the local TOPSoccer program will be a broad program aimed at those from 4 to 17 years old.
In fact, whatever the equipment drive's success, Alanna is looking forward to more.
"It's good seeing other kids getting the chance to play," said Alanna.
It's not clear how many youngsters will participate, but town Recreation Department Director Mary Markham said she gets calls periodically from parents interested in a regular program for disabled youngsters. Although there has been a private one-week local camp, parents have had to go to other communities like Westport for seasonal programs.
"I wanted to be different," she said.
As for her own soccer ambitions, Alanna isn't counting on an Olympic appearance, knowing few make that elite team. "I would like to but it's one in a couple of million," she said.
From Gabriela Guefen, 2008 St. Mary's JFSLA
Dear Julie,
When I left for camp I was shy and not very outgoing. I was always afraid to go up to new people and introduce myself and I was often afraid to share my ideas with others. Well, the words shy, not very outgoing, and scared don't really describe me anymore. After attending your camp I learned so many life skills that normally would have taken me years to learn. Thank you so much. You changed my life. I learned about choosing to matter and I always loved doing community service but I never really understood the impact I had on others. Your camp taught me that. I had so much fun and I met so many new friends some of which I still keep in contact with. I learned many new skills from great coaches as well...You gave me the confidence that I never knew I had and inspired me in ways that I could have never imagined. I have a really cool project that I am doing for my I am the change project that I am super excited about and I wanted to share it with you.. I am starting a soccer camp for kids with arthritis age 7-14. I am holding it at Rancho Park in Los Angeles California on December 20-21 from 9-12. I have secured sponsors like Fiji Water, Morry's Fine Foods, Internal Groove, Matt Gee and Associates, and Scholastic Books as well as many more to make donations to my camp. Scholastic is donating books. I want each child to leave the camp with a copy of the book "Oh the places you'll go!" By Dr. Seuss. Hopefully I can find someone special to sign them all. I am calling my camp Camp Courage Dare to Dream BIG!! in honor of the courage kids with arthritis must have everyday.
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By the way, Gabe was recently named the Youth Honoree for the 2009 Arthritis Walk in Los Angeles! Congratulations!!
Twelve players from the JFSLA in Moraga, CA worked with their teammates at home to organize fundraisers for their coach, recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The amount raised was actually closer to $10,000.
From the Pali Post, September 2008:
U-13 Girls Score Big for Coach
The Santa Monica United Girls U-13 team scored their biggest victory of the season on Sunday (Sept. 21), raising more than $8,000 at a benefit car wash to help their coach, Corrine Briers, in her fight against cancer.
The girls, their families and members of the Palisades/Brentwood soccer community, turned out in full force for the 7-hour event. Approximately 60 people pitched in to wash 205 cars and sell baked goods and fresh raspberries donated by local merchants and families.
Coach Corrine has been a fixture on the local girls’ soccer scene for the past several years, running training clinics and serving as a Palisades AYSO All-Star coach. When her U-12 AYSO team decided to “go club” with Santa Monica United last spring, she went with them.
“She’s been a terrific role model for our daughters,” said soccer parent and Palisades resident Jim Oswald (parent JFSLA '08). “The fact nearly 500 people from the community came out to show their support for her this weekend underscores just how many lives she’s touched.”
Briers, 25, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She shaved her head after the first treatment, and now coaches games from the sidelines wearing one of three wigs purchased by her team – including a platinum blond Marilyn Monroe and a purple Gwen Stefani.
Sunday’s car wash at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Monica was conceived and organized entirely by the girls.
“We wanted to help Coach Corrine because she’s helped us so much and we all love her,” said teammate Maya Schneiderman (JFSLA '08), a 7th grader at Paul Revere Middle School. Proceeds from the car wash/bake sale will help defray the costs of Briers’s medical treatment.
From Taylor Van Zile, Peddie JFSLA 2008:
My second project was purely volunteering. After doing my community service day at the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership camp, which was working with the Special Olympics session, I thought doing something like that again would be a good idea. I found a group called TOPS, which is a soccer program for challenged children in the area and volunteered in the fall for several sessions. It was a great experience. I am definitely going to volunteer with TOPS in the spring.
There was one last project that I picked up along the way by chance. I helped raise money for a family on my sister's soccer team because they have an ill family member. After writing letters, we were able to get autographed woman soccer items donated. We went to different venues and sold chances to win one of these awesome items. We were able to raise about 800 dollars by selling tickets. The supporters were happy to win such great things and help a great cause, we felt good about helping out and the family appreciated the generous donation very much.
I feel that these projects helped me in setting goals, both long and short term ones, and reaching them. Although it took much determination and some help from my family, it felt so good to finish the projects and look back and know that I made a difference.
Hope to see you next year,
Taylor Van Zile
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from Jennifer O'Reilly, Associate Director of Save Barnegat Bay:
Dear Miss Van Zile,
We are so impressed with you, Taylor, for all of your hard work on behalf of Save Barnegat Bay. It was great to hear all about the fundraiser that you put together – complete with soliciting local sponsors, and it sounds like your ambition was rewarded nicely. Kudos to you for your success and originality! Your donation of $200 will help us to accomplish our program goals in support of our mission.
