A Goal for Chapman Partnership!
At Chapman Partnership, we’re all about empowering our families and individuals to overcome homelessness and achieve long-term self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. We prioritize the wellness and health of our children and families every day through various initiatives. Lately, we’ve dived into the world of soccer by partnering with community leaders to host soccer clinics for the kids at our Family Resource Center (FRC).
These clinics are fantastic opportunities for our kids to learn new skills on the field while staying active and socializing with their peers. We’re thrilled about these partnerships that help us meet the recreational needs of our FRC children.
One of our soccer clinics took place on a rooftop at the Sportunity Soccer Academy. Many Happy Hearts, a longtime partner of ours, discovered Sportunity on Instagram and immediately thought of our kids at Chapman Partnership. Sportunity is an organization that teaches soccer to children aged 3-10.
Janet Lorenzo from Many Happy Hearts wanted to share the love and awareness of soccer with our kids. She reached out to Coach Luis Gomez from Sportunity via Instagram, and he was instantly on board. They had several meetings—through FaceTime, Zoom, and in person—to put the program together. Many Happy Hearts funded the entire program, covering costs for coaches, water, the venue, and their time, with support from private donors. It was a great team effort.
Once they had a budget, they presented it to Carlos Castro, our Lead Child Development Specialist, and Jill Mendez, our Family Resources Supervisor and set up dates that worked for our FRC, and the rest is history!
“The kids really love the soccer program. It’s giving them an opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge about the game,” said Castro.
Having a soccer field on a rooftop gives our kids a unique perspective on the endless possibilities life has to offer. This collaboration between Chapman Partnership, Many Happy Hearts, and Sportunity Soccer Academy is a beautiful example of how our community partners help inspire and elevate our youth. These soccer clinics are essential for the children’s wellness and show them that being active can be fun.
Another soccer clinic was hosted at Barry University for the second year in a row. The Barry University men’s soccer team organized a day of joy and recreation for over 40 children from our Homestead and Miami Centers. The kids had a blast and enjoyed a pizza lunch sponsored by Scooter Steve. These athletes served as role models, showcasing their dedication to community service.
We are grateful to them and Head Coach Petsa Ivanovic for their time and kind hearts. This activity was a fantastic experience for the children, enhancing their soccer skills and teaching them teamwork on the Barry University soccer field.
Opportunities like these are what Chapman Partnership is all about. Providing our youth with different wellness and recreational activities allows us to teach them the importance of movement and self-care.
Want to help us host more sports clinics like these?
Contact Candice Myles, Community Relations Manager, at cmyles@chapmanpartnership.org
Writer: Najely M. Deleon
Email: ndeleon@chapmanpartnership.org
LinkedIn: Najely Deleon – Development Coordinator – Chapman Partnership | LinkedIn