Skip to content

Helping Underserved
Student-Athletes
Reach Their True Potential

Learn More About YSF
“What YSF means to me is that Robin Hood is alive and well. YSF takes the playbook used by well-resourced families to get their kids into the best colleges and uses these tools and the mentoring needed to support and elevate soccer student-athletes from overlooked communities. YSF invests in deserving student-athletes, providing them access they would not otherwise have to a college education.”

Jerome L. Simon, Founder

ABOUT YSF

What We Do

Yours in Soccer Foundation (YSF) is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 2014, whose mission is to empower exceptional student-athletes from underserved communities by leveraging the potential of sports to realize their college dreams.

YSF’s Programs advise student-athletes on how to showcase their athletic and academic abilities to college coaches and admissions personnel. By introducing them to the important linkage of sports and academics before they begin the college admissions process, they will be more likely to maximize their potential.

Yours in Soccer Foundation (YSF) is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 2014, whose mission is to empower exceptional student-athletes from underserved communities by leveraging the potential of sports to realize their college dreams.

YSF’s Programs advise student-athletes on how to showcase their athletic and academic abilities to college coaches and admissions personnel. By introducing them to the important linkage of sports and academics before they begin the college admissions process, they will be more likely to maximize their potential.

who we are

Jerome Simon
Founder

Jerome is a life-long soccer enthusiast who believes in sport for youth development and conceived YSF as a force for positive change in the outcomes of deserving yet underserved young people. Jerome founded YSF on the fundamental premise that a capital vacuum exists in competitive youth soccer. It was eminently clear that mainly rich kids were using soccer to get into America’s best schools. Jerome created YSF to level the playing field between rich and poor elite soccer student-athletes. Jerome has been an investment professional since graduating from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1990.

Kerri McClellan
Executive Director

Kerri has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years with a keen focus on using sport to empower underrepresented student-athletes. Kerri’s philanthropic approach is rooted in creating educational opportunities by providing leadership training, access to critical resources, and mentorship to change the life trajectory of student-athletes. Her professional experience has contributed to the success of multiple nonprofits focused on empowering young athletes. Kerri is a graduate of the University of CA, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies, and a minor in Sociology.

Beto Vega
Director, Athletic Program

Beto grew up playing competitive club soccer in San Diego, California and was recruited to play at the collegiate level for Holy Names University, making him the first in his family to attend college. Beto later completed a Masters in Social Welfare at UCLA and gained extensive experience providing social services to diverse populations. At YSF, Beto’s role is to raise awareness about the Foundation’s mission among the youth soccer development and college coach communities. He also guides students and their families throughout the college recruitment process with the aim of helping students identify the best fit college.

Gloria Calderon Vega
Director, College Program

Gloria has dedicated her career to increasing college access by working directly with families and communities who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. She supports YSF’s efforts to reach deserving students by managing the college mentorship program and sustaining partnerships with other nonprofits, academic service providers, and club soccer teams. Gloria is a first-generation college graduate, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies from UCLA and a Master of Arts from Columbia University’s Teachers College.

Carlos Galan
College & Academic Specialist

Carlos is a first-generation college student who emigrated from El Salvador to the United States when he was fifteen years old. He is a Ph.D. student in Higher Education Administration and Policy at UC Riverside. Prior to UCR, he earned his bachelor’s degree in History and Public Policy at UCLA and a master’s degree in Educational Counseling in Higher Education at USC. Carlos has worked with high school students in the greater Los Angeles area as they applied and transitioned into college.

Matthew Dunkle
Student Advisor

Matthew Dunkle is a first-generation college graduate earning his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and master’s in educational leadership from National University. He teaches high school English in San Diego county. Matthew’s dedication to help underserved communities does not stop in the classroom as he has over seven years of experience guiding students and their families through the college preparation process. He enjoys mentoring youth and exposing them to the vast opportunities they have beyond high school.

Rafa Calderón III
Athletic & Recruitment Specialist

Rafa is a former FC Dallas Academy player and Holy Names University student-athlete who competed on the men’s soccer team for four years earning All Pac-West honors. He graduated from Holy Names University in 2021 with a double major in Business Sports Management and Business Marketing. Rafa grew up in the soccer community and is passionate about helping younger generations find the opportunities and resources to combine their academic and athletic talents.

Leslie Donaldson
Secretary

Leslie serves as the assistant to both the president and the executive director of the Foundation. Leslie handles all aspects of the Foundation’s operational and charitable duties. She also works to maintain the integrity of Yours in Soccer’s financial and legal record keeping. Leslie graduated from the University of California, Davis majoring in Psychology and English.

Yedi Wong
Treasurer

Yedi serves as the YSF’s treasurer and oversees the accounting, finance and tax responsibilities. In addition to supervising the annual budget and prioritizing grant making opportunities, Yedi assists the executive director with building strategic relationships and monitoring the foundation’s local and regional impact. Yedi has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting from California State University, Hayward and a Masters of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

Manny Arteaga
Mentor

Manny was born and raised in Escondido, CA. He played competitively in the U.S. Develop Academy and was recruited by Dartmouth College in 2012. During his college career, Manny played for the Big Green, won three Ivy League Championships, and was captain his senior year. Manny discovered that the process of becoming a collegiate student-athlete was extremely difficult for a first-generation Latino. As a result, he is extremely passionate about using the game of soccer as a vehicle for awareness in underserved communities.

Avery Schwartz
Board Member

Avery serves as a mentor to YSF scholars in the Bay Area. He provides advice, support, and guidance to help scholars navigate the college soccer recruiting process. He graduated from Yale University with a major in Economics.

Pedro Lupercio
Student Advisor

Pedro grew up in Dixon, California and was recruited to play soccer at Sac State in 2003. After completing his athletic and educational career at Sac State, he went on to play professional indoor and outdoor soccer and later completed a master’s in performance psychology at National University. At YSF, Pedro’s role is to counsel students and their families throughout the college recruitment process using his education and coaching experience at the collegiate and club level.

Panchito Ramirez Rueda
Student Advisor

Panchito is a first-generation college graduate from Lake Los Angeles, California. He played Division 1 soccer for UC Riverside and earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology & Education. He then went on to pursue a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He enjoys working directly with families and communities who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Panchito has also mentored first-generation high school and college students from Southern California and Detroit, Michigan.
Meet the Team
OUR PROGRAMS

How we do it

College Mentorship

The mission of the YSF Mentorship Program is to help low-income college bound soccer players successfully navigate the college recruitment process. We seek to empower our student-athletes to use this process to build upon their passion for the beautiful game while developing and maximizing their potential as a college recruit.

Learn More

Summer Immersion

The YSF Summer Immersion Program provides a space where students can deeply reflect on their educational path and its connection to soccer and their future goals. Through various activities and a thoughtful schedule for the week, YSF equips participants with accessible tools and resources to help develop a long-term vision of their college goals and take ownership of their recruitment process.
Learn More
OUR NUMBERS
0
Student-athletes have received
free SAT/ACT test prep
0
Student-athletes have committed
to play college soccer
0
Student-athletes benefiting
from Yours in Soccer support
College Mentorship Program Participant Outcomes

Since 2019, College Mentorship Program participants have successfully transitioned to play collegiate soccer with the support of  Yours in Soccer Foundation services.

96% have gone on to attend college after high school. Of those who chose to attend college, 91% committed to a college soccer program by the end of their senior year of high school. 

Since 2019, College Mentorship Program participants have successfully transitioned to play collegiate soccer with the support of  Yours in Soccer Foundation services.

96% have gone on to attend college after high school. Of those who chose to attend college, 91% committed to a college soccer program by the end of their senior year of high school. 

Student-athletes attending college after high school
96.15%
Student-athletes committed to a well-matched soccer college program
91.06%
Student-athletes continuing
their education at a 4-year university
90.82%
Student-athletes continuing their education at a 2-year college with plans to transfer to a 4-year university
9.18%

Our students have committed to the following colleges:

Boston University CSU Monterrey Bay Sacramento State University of California, San Diego
Cal Poly Pomona CSU Northridge Seton Hall University of Saint Thomas
Carolina Coastal CSU San Marcos San Franscisco State University University of San Francisco
Chicago State University CSU Chico San Jose State University University of Birmingham Alabama
Claremont McKenna Duke University Texas A&M Texarkana University of Notre Dame
Columbia University Grand Canyon University UC Berkeley University of Pennsylvania
Concordia University, Portland Harvard UC Irvine University of Portland
Cornell University Hofstra UC Merced University of Saint Thomas
CSU Bakersfield Holy Names University UC Riverside William Pace University
CSU East Bay Our Lady of the Lake UC Santa Barbara
CSU Fullerton Roosevelt College UCLA
Show all

Boston University
Cal Poly
Carolina Coastal
Chicago State University
Claremont McKenna
Columbia University
Concordia University, Portland
Cornell University
CSU Bakersfield
CSU Chico
CSU East Bay
CSU Fullerton
CSU Monterrey Bay
CSU Northridge
CSU San Marcos
Duke University
Grand Canyon University
Harvard University of Portland
Hofstra University of Saint Thomas
Holy Names University
Our Lady of the Lake
Pomona Seton Hall
Roosevelt College
Sacramento State
San Franscisco State University
San Jose State University
Texas A&M Texarkana
UC Berkeley
UC Irvine
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
UCLA
University of Birmingham Alabama
University of California, San Diego
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Saint Thomas
University of San Francisco
William Pace University

Show all
OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES

Student Highlights

student-2-trans
Giovanni
The Yours in Soccer Foundation has influenced my life massively over the years. From the moment I started in 2017, it has been nothing short of a blessing in my life. The selflessness, care, and never-ending support from the Yours in Soccer team has given me a variety of resources and opportunities to showcase my abilities and gather knowledge about the college experience; academically, athletically, and socially. The advice I have received from Yours in Soccer has helped me face adversity in college and overcome obstacles standing in the way of my success as a student-athlete. Yours in Soccer continues to support me as a college student at California State University, Fullerton so that I am ready to face the challenges of life after college.
student-1-trans
Edwin
Before YSF, attending college to play soccer was never something I imagined doing. I had set goals to risk it all after high school to attempt playing professionally. I assumed going to college would be a waste of time. However, YSF connected me with many professional players that went the college soccer route which empowered me to look into going to college. YSF then guided me to find the right fit based on my desires of both high academics and top level soccer. Yours in Soccer changed my perspective of college and college soccer, and they were critical to me attending Harvard.

Our Partners

YOURS IN SOCCER FOUNDATION
is proud to work with the following partners

Click logo to flip

OAKLAND ROOTS

Roots SC harnesses the magic of Oakland and the power of sports as a force for social good.
Website

OAKLAND GENESIS

Is a tool to empower, educate, and inspire Oakland's leaders of tomorrow.
Website

ACCESS U FOUNDATION

A non-profit organization designed to help educate Hispanic soccer players
Website

RIGHT TO DREAM

Redefining excellence through football
Website

MANHATTAN SOCCER CLUB

The largest and most comprehensive soccer club in new york city
Website

SOCCER SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

Provide mentors and educational resource opportunities
Website

FutureMap

FutureMap provides first-generation college students career readiness curriculum and internship opportunities through partnerships with college access nonprofits.
Website

PRESTIGE PREP

Leading NYC tutoring center for academic and test prep tutoring
Website

THE PRINCETON REVIEW

Offers test preparation services, admission resources, tutoring, and online courses.
Website

AJ TUTORING

We’re passionate about education and encourage students to fully engage in and take ownership of their learning
Website

PEREZ SCHOLAR-ATHLETE FOUNDATION

Provides financial assistance, mentoring, and counsel to accomplished student-athletes

UBUNTU FOOTBALL

Ubuntu Football's mission is to mentor and educate the next generation of great African leaders, society-changers, and footballers.
Website

Computers 2 Kids

We hope to place computers in the homes of all deserving families who want to enrich their education through technology.
Website

Testimonials

What people are saying about YSF

SSF
Soccer Scholars Foundation
Yours in Soccer has helped Soccer Scholars Foundation support and place more than 70 student-athletes over the past five years. Without both the mentoring and financial support from YSF, many of these student-athletes would not be on the right path to playing in college.
Linda Ramsbottom
Executive Director and Co-Founder Soccer Scholars Foundation
LAG
LA Galaxy
Yours in Soccer has been a fantastic support for our student-athletes in regards to college preparation, admissions, and recruitment. Our students who are working with YSF are more knowledgeable about college-related tasks and processes that must occur while in high school. Ultimately, YSF has empowered the student-athletes to take ownership of the path to being collegiate student-athletes.
Stefanie Baduria, Ed.D.
LA Galaxy Academy
MSC
Manhattan Soccer Club
Manhattan Soccer Club is a youth soccer club that is home to more than 1,300 travel players. Prior to Manhattan Soccer Club partnering with YSF, far too many scholar-athletes with financial hardships were falling behind as they advanced through middle and high school. Thanks to the generous support of YSF, we now offer our scholar-athletes much needed hands-on assistance with academic test prep and a better high school track over multiple years of service.
Rich Corvino
Executive Director
PPEE
Prestige Prep
Prestige Prep is thrilled to partner with YSF in the initiative to offer academic test prep and overall support to a specific eligible audience within the Manhattan Soccer Club. We feel extremely fortunate to be able to touch the lives of young scholar-athletes as they begin the search for the right high school which can lead them to college and beyond. Preparing students for academic success alongside their soccer journeys is a pairing we believe in – and we are thankful to YSF for this shared vision and important partnership.
Phil Cohen
CEO & Founder
OGSC
OGSC
Oakland Genesis is a youth soccer club using the game of soccer as a vehicle to improve the educational achievement of its participants. Over 90% of the youth in our program come from low-income households and over 75% are first generation children of immigrants aiming to be the first in their family to attend higher education. Working hand in hand with YSF, Oakland Genesis offers a curriculum for middle schoolers that continues through high school. YSF’s support is a pillar in our efforts to graduate 100% of program participants from high school with college eligibility.
Matt Fondy
YSF-sq-blk-crcl-2
YSF has made such a large impact on myself and my family over the past 5 years. The Foundation has helped me realize my dreams of playing college soccer and has given me so many opportunities to help me make those dreams into a reality someday. YSF has made me a better student by helping me with a PSAT course and since working with YSF, my grades have exponentially grown over the years. I now hold myself to a very high standard. It has given me these amazing, once in a lifetime opportunities to change my life for the better. For that my family and I are forever grateful for everything Yours in Soccer has done for us.
Jack Maynes
YSF Beneficiary

Please join us as we work to provide resources, education, and inspiration to first generation low-income scholar athletes who are passionate about the game of soccer and their education.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.
By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

ACCEPT

By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

ACCEPT