This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Imagine trying to play soccer with a ball that has burst at the seams! Or a ball that is so hard, it hurts your foot every time you kick it - help our team get their first real soccer balls!
As stated before with our team, we are entirely minority - an eclectic group of Africans, Hispanics, and African-Americans who love the game and have come to care deeply about one another and our team.
Last year, we bought brand new uniforms for the first time using money the players earned through their own fundraising - seeing their eyes light up when they finally arrived was a once in a lifetime experience. Furthermore, seeing them put those uniforms to good use in making the playoffs and playing with exceptional sportsmanship made me proud to be their coach.
Now they want to take the next step and they need real, high-quality soccer balls to do that.
My Project
Soccer balls are the most basic need in the sport - without a ball, you can't play. Last season, we had combined practices for the girls and boys teams. Altogether, we would have between 30-40 players and just 7 balls that we borrowed from the gym classes. By mid-season, only 5 of those balls were in usable condition.
I would routinely have to request that any visiting team bring a "game" ball in order to account for this issue. More importantly, my players never were able to have a fully inclusive practice or feel as though they were playing at a high level. Every team we faced had the equipment they needed. I know that with these high quality soccer balls, my players will seize every opportunity to use them to better their skills and themselves.
This is the last piece of equipment our team needs to be ready for the season and on an equal playing field as those teams we will face.
We have the uniforms, we have the practice cones, we have the socks - all because of generous donors like yourselves. Now we need the key to the whole equation - the soccer balls. Help us make it happen!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Cohen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.