Widener Men's Soccer Clinic Serves Community and Raises Nearly $400
CUYS and its sister organization, Youth Development United, are very fortunate to have a great partnership with Widener University on a variety of levels. Many students work as Coach-Mentors in our after-school Soccer for Success program. A number of faculty members have helped host Career Discovery Days for the children and families we serve. The Physical Therapy department has graciously supported our Bike Rodeos and Bike Libraries by providing volunteers, bike helmets and storage space for donated bicycles. And, Widener’s soccer teams have led training sessions, most recently in an event that doubled as a fun soccer clinic for children and a fundraiser for our organization.
For the August 2023 event, donations generated mostly through outreach by Swarthmore Recreation Association and Nether United Soccer Club reached nearly $400. Additional support is still being collected at https://donorbox.org/widener-soccer-clinic All funds will help continue to provide access to soccer for the children of Greater Chester whose families economic circumstances qualify them to receive free or reduced school lunch.
The captains of Widener Men’s Soccer offered the following reflections on the experience of running the clinic:
From Kevin Witkoski
The Youth Clinic went great. I know that I am speaking for the entirety of the team when I say this, we all really enjoyed helping out!
Helping run this clinic reminded me of when I was a young kid playing soccer at the fields. Whenever kids who were older and more experienced helped me out, I looked up to them and loved every second of it. Now that I am older, I have come to learn that the innocence and purity that young players bring to the field is incomparable to any of the work we do as athletes at Widener. I love being a part of this experience because seeing the smiles and enjoyment that the kids have being out there, no matter how hot that it is, bring joy to us as a program. Additionally, being able to be a part of the Chester community that is connected through the sport that I have played with my entire life is a dream and a core memory that I have as a member of the Widener Men’s Soccer team.
From Sean Fatiga
As collegiate athletes, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to our community. The youth clinic allows our teammates to work with the young players to introduce drills that will allow them to become more familiar with the game of soccer and help improve their skill set. Being a part of this clinic allows us to see the excitement the younger generation has for a sport that all my teammates and I have a true passion for. The Widener players were even able to hop in on some drills playing alongside the kids, and it seemed to even provide some entertainment and fun for the kids watching some soccer “tricks” from experienced players. Overall, it was a great opportunity for both sides and we hope to be able to continue community events like this in the future.