Union Berlin Supporters Raise Money for KSC Programs
In April, The Union Berlin Supporters of America raised money for Kensington Soccer Club programs in an online fundraiser. They are a group that started in Philadelphia, but have members from DC to Boston that gather to attend Union Berlin games together and raise more awareness about the team.
In celebration of the sucessful fundraiser, the Union Supporters gathered at Brahaus in South Philly to enjoy traditional German Faire and watch the game together.
The fundraiser was hosted in the beginning of recreation season. Travel and Recreation Director Tim Summiels, and Facilities Director Carlos Acosta
- Why is this fundraiser important to you and your organization?
- What was your favorite part of your visit?
- What more did you learn about KSC during your time with us?
Why is this fundraiser important to you and your organization?
We believe that soccer is fundamentally a social good. One of the big things that’s emphasized in German soccer is that the fans and society get a seat at the table, not just investors. For example, the fans own many of the clubs, and are very active in different charitable activities that tie the club to the community. That’s especially true at Union Berlin, which is what attracted us to the club in the first place. Of course, we’re not an official club channel, just a loosely organized group of fans, but Union has a very do-it-yourself spirit—once, the fans even rebuilt the stadium. So between this idea that soccer not only can but should be a force for social advancement, and the idea that we have to rely on ourselves for positive change, doing a fundraiser was the obvious choice. One of our members from Philadelphia suggested Kensington. We thought it was a perfect—not only does Kensington have a positive social mission, it’s soccer-focused and centrally located for fans from the mid-Atlantic area. To find an organization that believes in positive social change via the sport we all love, that was also centrally located? Hard to do better than that.
Visit:
We really enjoyed watching the kids scrimmage. It’s the absolute basic building block of the game, and with kids, it’s just pure joy. So much of the “fun” of soccer is alienated from actually playing the game: a big new signing, a rich sponsor, a new jersey design. Really, it’s about kicking a ball into the other team’s net and celebrating with your friends. There were no tactics, no finesse, just pure fun. One kid scored a goal at the absolute end of the scrimmage and we were all floored. It can be that simple: every goal is beautiful. Whether it’s seen by millions or just a handful, it’s a wonderful feeling. It’s important to have moments like that, to stay connected to the sport itself, and the lessons we can learn from it as individuals. Coach Tim had an amazing quote: “Just give them a ball, let them play and they’ll get better”. It was such a simple philosophy, but true on multiple levels. Because they won’t just get better at kicking a ball, they’ll be more gracious winners, more patient losers, and better human beings.
KSC:
We learned a lot about how fragmented the soccer landscape in Philly is. It was really surprising to hear how little connection there was between soccer in the city and soccer in the suburbs. We all have a general idea about how ridiculous the system is in the US, but hadn’t come to grips with the fact that teams 30 minutes away from each other wouldn’t play. On a brighter note, it was cool to hear about Kensington’s growth. To hear that even a few years ago there weren’t enough soccer balls to go around, while looking at a field veritably littered with them—and all kinds of other equipment too—was proof that something is going right. Even hearing about how Kensington was bringing on new staff with experience coaching elsewhere spoke to the quality of the organization. We also learned about various costs and that definitely gave us some ideas about how to support Kensington in the future, which I think is something our little fan group is 110% behind, after seeing Kensington in action.
Areas of Support:
Explain that Rec season starts in mid-April and needs support in the way of donated cleats. I could also get a sense of sizes needed. If it is fundraising, that can be done at any time. They could also participate in our Family Day by donating something or fundraising (mid-June).
At KSC, it costs:
$150 for a player to register for our recreational league
$200 to put a child through our 5-week summer camp
$85 per week, on average, to pay a travel coach
$3300 to register all travel teams for one season in Philadelphia's Parks & Rec league
The high fives, goals scored, friends made, and memories created are abundant and priceless.
Support KSC today!