Minor soccer players kick keep-ups for Canadian campaign : King Weekly Sentinel : https://kingsentinel.com

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Minor soccer players kick keep-ups for Canadian campaign

Girls between the ages of 10-13 raised almost $900 for Plan Canada's “Because I am a Girl” foundation on Monday, earning the money by juggling soccer balls as part of the Alex Rosati Soccer Camp in Vaughan.

By Jake Courtepatte
Philanthropy comes in all shapes and sizes, and a group of young soccer players from King proved you're never too young to give.
Only a few handful of girls ages 9-13 earned almost $900 for a good cause, in a fun and interactive way that had them learning both morally and athletically.
Rino Bifolchi, who runs the Alex Rosati Soccer Camp in Vaughan, was presented with an offer to outfit his players with shorts on the bill of Kapp Contracting, a firm also located in Vaughan. The camp, named for a young soccer player that died of a brain aneurysm, had different ideas.
“His whole philosophy was for everybody in the game to be welcome, and that everybody makes mistakes,” said Bifolchi. “It's got to be a place of unity, and teamwork. He was a brilliant, loving guy.”
And the girls have taken that philosophy to heart.
Bifolchi said the players jumped at the opportunity to use the money for a greater good. They chose the charity “Because I am a Girl”, a campaign run by Plan Canada to address the issue of gender discrimination around the world.
“It's insane that in some parts of the world girls still can't go to school, can't go to work, can't vote,” said Bifolchi. “Plan Canada gives these girls a chance.”
“We know, that if girls and boys, women and men, are all given a chance, then a lot more can be accomplished.”
The players, all from house league programs, mostly draw from King. Through working on skills like dribbling, ball control, and passing, Bifolchi said they are getting opportunities that otherwise are left out of the house league programs.
“We all know, most of the money goes to rep. They're here, they're thrilled, and they're making bonds that otherwise wouldn't happen for them in the winter months.”
To raise as much money for Because I am a Girl as possible, the girls were challenged to “juggle” a soccer ball as many times as they could in a 90-second period, with Kapp Contracting donating a dollar for each keep-up.
And a minute and a half later, girls in underdeveloped countries around the world were $884 richer.
Emelia, one of the players in the program, has been playing soccer her whole life. Coached by her sister Julia, she said she was happy to get “as many juggles as she can” in during the time limit.
“The more times we can do it, the more money is raised, so it makes it fun for us, too.”

Excerpt: Philanthropy comes in all shapes and sizes, and a group of young soccer players from King proved you’re never too young to give.

Post date: 2016-01-13 09:36:29
Post date GMT: 2016-01-13 14:36:29
Post modified date: 2016-02-24 10:24:26
Post modified date GMT: 2016-02-24 15:24:26