SBC Founders Gary and Carine Ireland created The Soccer Fund in 2018 to focus on something that is close to their hearts - using soccer as a vehicle for development and wellness in the most disadvantaged areas throughout the world. We are committed to improving lives, and in particular that of youth and females, in order to help advance and strengthen communities by translating the best practices and lessons of sport and play into everyday lives. The Soccer Fund programs foster the healthy physical, social and emotional development of youth and building safer and stronger communities by providing facilities, collaborating with local organizations, and supporting these programs through coaching, education and connecting a global network of people with the same goals and interests. Over the years that I've been involved in nearly every facet of football as a player, coach, administrator, director, business consultant, volunteer and fan, I have had the privilege of meeting many compassionate, successful, generous and brilliant people. I've enjoyed getting to know people from all walks of life, from a multitude of backgrounds and countries, who have been brought together by this wonderful sport. While we are fortunate here in our community, in many communities across the country and around the world, due to lack of funding, political and socioeconomic challenges, numerous children do not have the same basic opportunities to play and enjoy the benefits of a game, and do not know what it means to realize their potential on the soccer field and in the classroom and in their lives. Our focus is at grassroots level in the communities we work with by developing long-term relationships and supporting local soccer organizations and academic institutions, partnering with health providers and providing more opportunities for children to get access to play through soccer. We suggest short and long-term fundraising strategies and identify prospective donors and partners, including potential non-profit, government and for-profit partners to help us achieve our strategic objectives as well as developing media support and connections. We continue to do a variety of projects in the non-profit space, using soccer as the vehicle for social good. We aim to make The Soccer Fund an organization that will have a continuous and long-term positive impact through the game of soccer and in the world of soccer. With your support, we could make our dream a reality and any assistance you can provide and contribution you make will be greatly appreciated. and continuing our involvement with various charitable projects, along with our lifelong passion and commitment to soccer/football and our work teaching, coaching and mentoring young female soccer players through our own soccer club, served to help motivate us to re-evaluate our impact on the community and through the sport. We felt deeply compelled to make a bigger effort to utilize our own resources and the support of our friends, family and acquaintances at a local and international level to help improve communities and lives through the sport of soccer.