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SOCCER LEGEND ABBY WAMBACH COMING TO ILLINOIS ON OCTOBER 13th TO MEET AND PLAY SOCCER WITH ILLINOIS YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS

Arlington Heights, IL – Illinois’ young soccer players have a new friend, soccer legend Abby Wambach, a five-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and Olympic Gold Medalist. Ms. Wambach, along with Illinois Youth Soccer Association, has launched an innovative and fun fundraiser to benefit Illinois based Soccer for Success program. Players who raise $250 will meet and have lunch, with a guest, with the soccer legend herself at the Illinois fundraiser’s celebration, the Soccer Showcase with Abby Wambach. Abby Wambach said, “I’m thrilled to team up with Illinois Youth Soccer Association to raise both money and awareness for Soccer for Success. I can’t wait to meet the young soccer players of Illinois on October 13th!”

Players raising $250 will, with a guest, have lunch with; ask questions to AND EVEN PLAY IN A SOCCER GAME with soccer legend Abby Wambach. The top 64 overall fundraisers will participate in a soccer game with Abby.

The event with Abby Wambach takes place Saturday, October 13 at Libertyville Sports Complex in Libertyville, IL.

Mary Jane Bender, Executive Director of Illinois Youth Soccer Association, says, “We are very excited to introduce Abby Wambach to soccer’s future stars growing up right here in Illinois. We are also thrilled to partner with her to generate funds and increase awareness for Soccer for Success. This is teamwork at its best!”

During the fundraising campaign, as players collect donations they will receive, at the:

$150 level: A flexible wrist band engraved with Abby Wambach’s “Play Hard, Play Fair” message.
$200 level: A commemorative event poster and an event T-shirt.
$250 level: An invitation to attend, with a guest, the Soccer Showcase featuring Abby Wambach including lunch with Abby, pictures and autographs followed by a Q&A and then a soccer game with the top 64 fundraisers and Abby!

The top 10 overall fundraisers will sit with Abby during lunch at the head table. The top 2 overall fundraisers will sit next to Abby at lunch. The top 64 overall fundraisers will play in a soccer game with Abby after lunch!

About Illinois Youth Soccer:

Illinois Youth Soccer Association’s purpose is to operate soccer programs where young people can learn to develop positive character traits, have positive learning experiences to reach their potential. Our mission is to educate coaches, players, referees, parents, administrators; develop and administrate soccer programs and activities for youth players; provide opportunities for participants; promote and stimulate interest in the game of soccer.

Player Development: Emphasis is on the development of players at all levels: Recreational, Competitive, College Level, Olympic Development.
Good Sportsmanship: Create good sportsmanship through a positive learning environment.
Positive Coaching: Encourage kids to have fun.
Everyone Plays: Our goal is for all kids to play soccer.
Open Registration: Our programs are open to all children.
Opportunities: Allow kids to play to their potential.

About Soccer for Success Program:

Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) has conducted FREE soccer programs with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) since 1994. Illinois Youth Soccer conducts Soccer for Success Program to empower children to lead a healthy lifestyle, value education and increase their social and life skills. We also provide job training by offering nationally recognized coaching and referee courses and fun, age-specific, skill learning activities and our Olympic Development Program provides children with the opportunity to reach their potential.

This program provides fun, high quality sports-based youth development skill trainings and opportunities to children in Chicago’s urban communities. This program is a fun, skills and sports-based, development program that empowers children to lead a healthy lifestyle, value education and increase their social and life skills. Program is available FREE to all children regardless of the child’s gender, ethnicity, size, ability level, economic status and is free to all participants.

This program has annually impacted nearly 1000 children and families living in Chicago’s underserved urban communities. 95% are Hispanic or African American and live in disadvantaged communities. 49% are overweight and 25% are considered obese. 55% are girls for whom there are few sport-based team activities.

SOCCER LEGEND ABBY WAMBACH COMING TO ILLINOIS ON OCTOBER 13th TO MEET AND PLAY SOCCER WITH ILLINOIS YOUTH SOCCER PLAYERS

Arlington Heights, IL – Illinois’ young soccer players have a new friend, soccer legend Abby Wambach, a five-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and Olympic Gold Medalist. Ms. Wambach, along with Illinois Youth Soccer Association, has launched an innovative and fun fundraiser to benefit Illinois based Soccer for Success program. [...]

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