Support City Soccer!

As many of you know, Kate and I are thoroughly enjoying our life in Milwaukee. Part of the reason for that is my job working at HOPE Middle School. The ministry here perfectly fits our calling to minister to urban youth and families and is very rewarding and challenging.

This fall at HOPE we will be fielding our school’s very first soccer team for our 6-8th graders. I am very excited about this new adventure for many reasons; primarily because I love soccer and I love coaching youth sports with a focus of using athletics as a vehicle for discipleship. Beyond that, the prospect of introducing the “beautiful game” to students who have traditionally been uninterested in or overlooked by the sport really thrills me. Additionally, any program that gives our students an opportunity to spend their time and energy on something positive (and someday possibly open doors to college) is something I want to be a part of.

All but one of our current students at HOPE Middle School are enrolled in the Milwaukee Parent Choice Program which means that the city pays their tuition to attend our school. Given this context we do not ask our students to pay to participate in our extra-curricular activities. We have an athletic budget, but it is small and is used for all of our sports teams (soccer plus three basketball teams and cheerleading) to pay for referees and equipment. We are literally starting from scratch with our new soccer team and need everything to get started (with the exception of three soccer balls in my basement and a smattering of cones we have been using in gym class). Do you care greatly enough about me, the game of soccer, urban youth or all of these to help us out?

I’m calling this our “Support City Soccer” campaign and would love for you to be involved. Below, I have outlined various ways you can choose to “sponsor” our soccer team. In exchange for your financial support you will receive updates throughout the season on how things are going and a team photo at the end of the year to remind you about the difference you are making in the lives of city kids.

Thanks so much for thinking about how you can help us, God bless you.

*** All donations are eligible for tax deductible status and we can send you a giving statement if you want.
*** Please make checks payable to HOPE Middle School with “Soccer” in the memo

HOPE Middle School
Attn: Christian Arvold
510 E Burleigh St
Milwaukee, WI 53212

A $5 donation would get us…
- 2 “Captain” arm bands

A $10 donation would get us…
- 1 soccer ball
- 1 pair of shin guards
(We hope to have 14-16 players)

A $20 donation would get us…
- 1 pair of soccer cleats
- 1 net for the goal (Need 2)
- 1 mini-goal (For practice in our local park, need 2)
- 2 pair of goalie gloves

A $30 donation would get us…
- 1 goalie jersey (Need 2)
- 1 pair of goalie pants

A $40 donation would get us…
- 1 full kit/uniform
(Jersey, shorts and socks- we would love to have 20 kits)