Programs - R.E.A.C.H.
Rush Equipment Assisting Children (R.E.A.C.H.) is a program that collects used or unwanted soccer equipment from Rush and other community members to donate to underprivileged children throughout the world. From tsunami victims to Russian orphans to the children of war torn Iraq, all benefit from the generous donations from Rush soccer and it's members. The simple thing of a soccer ball or soccer shirt can make a world of difference to a child that is gong through troubled times.
Rush Soccer, under the R.E.A.C.H. program has implemented a used uniform collection program. REACH 's goal is to provide uniform kits and training gear to orphanages in communities in need, both in the U.S. and abroad. The largest push for donations of complete kits will be in the spring when teams acquire the new gear, girl's in odd years, boys in even years. There is a $20 refund from the cost of the new kits, offered through Eurosport and Nike, if the used kit is donated. A kit being 2 shirts and 2 shorts.You can turn in anything from soccer balls-any size, backpacks, shorts, jerseys, (even from other clubs), cleats, shirts and sweatshirts-soccer related, ball pumps, etc. There is a collection box in the Rush office at the Tanglewood Dome.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Alaska Rush Soccer Club R.E.A.C.H. Volunteer Coordinator Tami Aspelund or Technical Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
About the Program
"Going beyond boundaries and exceeding expectations."
RISE UP (Rush International Soccer Equipment and Uniform Project).
Mission Statement: The mission of RISE UP is share love and compassion with marginalized youth throughout the world by providing soccer equipment and uniforms to youth soccer clubs, local schools, and villages in third world countries as well as need based communities in the United States. Furthermore, RISE UP strives to be advocates of community development by enriching the lives of youth both locally and abroad through service, education and soccer.
Objective: Using the REACH Program as its backbone, the objective of RISE UP is to collect used Rush Kits from Rush Clubs located throughout the United States and redistribute them to four international locations: Brazil, Nicaragua, Mali and China. RISE UP will also partner with designated need-based communities in the United States to distribute used Rush Kits. Furthermore, RISE UP will bring teams of Rush Soccer players to these locations in order to help in the redistribution of the used Kits. These Rush Soccer players will also participate in community development, education and soccer both locally and abroad. RISE UP seeks to change the lives of not only the people receiving assistance, but also to educate and increase social awareness of the youth from Rush Soccer in order to promote total character development.
R.E.A.C.H. News
From Hope to Peace: Operation Iraq II...we REACHED our goal!!
Colorado Rush: 78 Rush team Ambassadors, ages 5 to 17, made a commitment to our military contacts in Iraq to collect 20,000 soccer balls, shoes and uniforms to send to the Iraq children. From September 2006 to May 2007, with the help of our sister Rush clubs--Virginia Rush, Texas Rush, Pikes Peak Rush, Michigan Rush, Hawaii Rush, Alaska Rush and New Mexico Rush--these kids tirelessly gathered up the equipment to meet our ambitious goal. With the gear collected, Sky Link Air Service completed the mission by flying the donations over to Iraq in August 2007. All that remains is for the military to distribute the soccer gear to the Iraq children, which will take place in a few weeks.
"These Ambassador's are incredible and went beyond the call of duty." says Donna Pettigrew, Public Relations Manager for Colorado Rush.
