Youth soccer leaders collect 1,300 shoes for charity
On Aug. 11, 14 Aces Youth Leaders compiled, sorted, cleaned and packed 1,350 pairs of shoes to be given to the Share Your Soles organization.
After four hours of hard work packing up a hefty U-Haul truck, the Youth Leaders and program directors Stein Garcia and Kevin Love drove to Alsip, IL, the Share Your Soles processing center and warehouse.
This is the first year of the Elite Soccer Ace Leadership Program, meant to provide opportunities that foster leadership development, youth empowerment and self-reflection. Youth leaders had opportunities to be junior coaches in the Aces Academy, pre-K Soccer Program, and other Elite Soccer programs where they developed and enhanced their leadership skills.
Another main component of the program is a yearly service project. The Shoe Drive project was the result of several meetings where the leaders brainstormed. From creation to delivery of the project, the Youth Leaders put in all their efforts to make it a success.
The service project lasted a little over a month and the Youth Leaders were each responsible for collecting as many shoes as possible. Each leader created their own shoe drive bin that they put at a location of their choice. Youth Leaders handed out fliers throughout their community advertising the drive.
With the cooperation of the Arlington Heights Park District, the leaders also out shoe drive bins at every park center in Arlington Heights.
The goal was to collect 500 pairs of shoes. The Arlington Heights community and surrounding areas were very generous and the Youth Leaders surpassed all expectations.
"I am amazed and impressed at the great things that can be accomplished when you empower youth,"said Stein Garcia, program director and Elite Soccer director of coaching.
"Kevin Love and I are proud of the time and commitment the Youth Leaders dedicated to this great service project and we hope they inspire other young kids in our community with their efforts!"
The Youth Leaders would like to make this a yearly tradition and hope to raise even more shoes next year. They would like to thank the communities of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows and Wheeling for contributing to the great cause.
Special recognition goes to Aces Youth Leaders Megan Balas, Hannah Baldwin, Kathryn Brooks, Matt Bloom, Matt Brant, Caroline Cooney, Sarah Cooney, Michael D'Acquisto, Timmy Griffin, Blake Hansen, Lauren Leipprandt, Rachel Lenke, Richard Lenke, Danielle Papa, Claire Poelking, Becky Santiago, and Juliette Vainisi.
Special thanks to Elite Soccer Staff Coaches Eric Love and Chrissy Peterson for their extra efforts to help the shoe drive, as well as Elite Soccer Directors Mike Steele and Brendan Eitz and Jason Meredith of the Arlington Heights Park District, for their support throughout the project.