On August 11, fourteen Aces Youth Leaders compiled, sorted, cleaned and packed 1,350 pairs of shoes to be given to the Share Your Soles organization. After 4 hours of hard work, the Youth Leaders and program directors Stein Garcia and Kevin Love packed up a hefty U-Haul truck and drove down to Alsip, IL, the Share Your Soles processing center and warehouse.
This is the first year of the Elite Soccer Ace Leadership Program. The program’s goal is to provided opportunities and experiences 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 Program 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 and agreed upon this cause. 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. Some leaders put their bins at their parent’s work, while others had it outside their house. Youth Leaders then handed out flyers through their community advertising the shoe drive. With the cooperation of the AHPD, the leaders were also able to place 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 were able to surpass all expectations.
“I am amazed and impressed at the great things that can be accomplished when you empower youth. 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!” Stein Garcia, Program Director and Elite Soccer Director of Coaching.
The Youth Leaders would like to make this a yearly tradition and hope to raise even more shoes next year. The Youth Leaders 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 for the extra effort from our 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, Arlington Hts. Park District, for their support throughout the project.
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