May 13, 2004 - IT'S A
Festival!!
Oswego is
hosting our 2nd Annual TOP Soccer Festival
on Saturday, May 22nd, 2004 at 4:00PM.
Tim Kehoe has
organized this event to include plenty of
soccer matches, trophies, and Salerno's - a
local Hot Dog vendor, will be out with his
cart and a free hot dog to every player and
buddy.
Bring your
family and your camera, have dinner and
enjoy lots of TOPS Soccer!
We look forward
to seeing everyone in Oswego. Don't
miss it!!!
For questions,
please contact Tim Kehoe;
Telephone 630- 554-7187 or Email:
t.kehoe@comcast.net
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May 3rd, 2004 - The Plant Sale is coming
up!!!
We will be
having our awesome plant sale again this
year, as a fundraiser for our son George.
All proceeds from this sale will benefit
George's therapy fund. The dates will once
again fall on Mother's Day weekend, so if
you or any of your
neighbors/co-workers/friends are in need of
very special perennials, please stop by.
Our
supplier is Golddigger Perennials out of
Woodstock, and she supplies 70% of the plant
materials to the Chicago Botanic Garden~ so
rest assured that we will have some very
unique and highly coveted plants!!
If you would forward this email to
people that you think would be interested,
that would be great! The details are as
follows:
Friday May 7
and Saturday May 8
from 8 am until 4 pm each day
at 1928 Kaneville Road in Geneva
~RAIN OR SHINE~
for any questions, call Teresa Keenan at
232-8846
Please come by, and bring a friend!
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April 24th, 2004 -
In Appreciation
The first annual
raffle was a huge success! Not only did
the St. Charles Celtics Men's Soccer Club exceed
their goal of raising $10,000.00 for ITS, but
the Celtics committed to do this again next
year! The Celtics' efforts have assured
ITS of having sufficient money to buy uniforms,
equipment and start new TOPS soccer teams
throughout the area for years to come!
Please join us in
recognizing the contributions of those who have
made this event successful.
St. Charles Celtics
Soccer Club: Dave Siembieda, George Held,
and Terry Keenan, who orchestrated this first
annual raffle on behalf of ITS. Celtics:
Anders Kauserud and Andreas Stetcher who worked
tirelessly to encourage the players to support
ITS.
Thanks to
Sportsplex and McNally's who allowed us access
to their facilities.
Special thanks to
our many Corporate Sponsors, without their gifts
we could not have sold any raffle tickets.
Zimmerman Ford, Chipotles Restaurant, The
Chicago Fire, Cougars Baseball Team, Kohler's
Resort, Best Buy, McNally's Restaurant, Kurt
Mahrannas, and Taras Konowal.
Finally, we want
every individual who sold and bought tickets to
know we appreciate your efforts and support.
-----
April 12th, 2004 - Noah Academy School
Feasibility Committee is
seeking to start a Christian School for students
with disabilities such as: MR (TMH, EMH), Down
Syndrome, Aspergus, and Autism. In order to
represent the total need for this school, they
need your response to a questionnaire. Please
click here to receive more
information and a questionnaire.
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March 15th, 2004 -
ITS Raffle Drawing Day!!
Every Illinois TOP Soccer
player, buddy, coach, supporter and family member is
invited to an afternoon of celebration!
Since January, the St. Charles
Celtics Men’s Soccer Club has sold raffle tickets to
raise money for Illinois TOP Soccer. With 10 days
remaining, they are within shooting distance of
their $10,000 goal!
What: 1st Annual
ITS Raffle Drawing
When: Sunday,
April 18th, 2004 from 3:00 until everything is
raffled (about 5:00)
Where: McNally’s
Traditional Irish Pub, 201 East Main St., St.Charles,
IL, (630) 513-6300
To Be Raffled Off:
-
30,000 mile tune up from
Zimmerman Ford
-
2 suite tickets to 2004
Chicago Fire game
-
One Month Membership & $30
of apparel from Delnor Health Club
-
Dinner for four from
Chipotle
-
4 tickets to a Cougars game
-
Golf Bag
-
Specialized Driver / Wedge
from the Chicago Fire
-
36 inch HDTV
-
Electric Scooter
-
Weekend at Kohler Golf
Resort from Kohler
-
Gift Certificate from Best
Buy
-
Cigars & Humidor
Entertainment:
-
Free Food
-
Dance Pad with Plasma
Screen TV, join in the dancing! Win the Dance
and take the Pad home!
-
The Chicago Fire’s mascot
Sparky will be there!
-
Free gifts for the
children!
Directions to McNally’s:
McNally’s Traditional Irish Pub, 201 East Main
Street, St. Charles, Illinois. Three blocks east of
the Fox River, on Main St (Rt 64) in downtown St
Charles.
Special Needs Access &
Parking: Park on third level, just behind
restaurant, level access to McNally’s.
In Appreciation:
Please join us in recognizing the contributions of
those who have made this event successful.
St Charles Celtics Soccer Club:
Dave Sambieda, George Held and Terry Keenan, who
orchestrated this first annual raffle on behalf of
TOPS. Celtics: Anders Kauserud and Andreas Stetcher
who worked tirelessly to remind the players of our
goals and objectives as a club.
Thanks to Sportsplex and
McNally’s who allowed us access to their facilities.
Special Thanks to our many
Corporate Sponsors, without their gifts we could not
have sold any raffle tickets. Zimmerman Ford,
Chipotles Restaurant, The Chicago Fire, Cougars
Baseball Team, Kohler’s Resort, Best Buy, McNally’s
Restaurant, Kurt Mahrannas, and Taras Konowal.
Finally, we want every
individual who sold and bought tickets to know we
appreciate their efforts and support.
Thanks to all for your help.
See you at McNally’s!
-----
February 15th, 2004 - IT’S A
Raffle! A group of gentlemen from the St
Charles Celtics Soccer club (an “old man’s” club)
approached us several weeks ago and expressed their
interest in having a fund raiser for our TOPS soccer
program. We’ve met, agreed to what would be done and
we’re off and running. The raffle will be in early
April. It is a “man’s raffle” no girly Mario Tricoci
stuff, all “manly stuff” like big screen TV’s, Oil
Changes, Chicago Fire box seat tickets, etc. Of
course women are absolutely welcome to buy tickets!
The goal is to raise a minimum of $10,000 between
now and April 15th. All proceeds will go
towards ITS uniforms and equipment. We’re working on
a place to have the raffle; it might be McNally’s
Restaurant in St. Charles. A Chicago Fire player
will draw the winning tickets. It is our intention
to sell 1,000 tickets at $20 each. So, we’re looking
for 100 people to sell 10 tickets each. We’re still
planning, obtaining commitments for raffle gifts,
etc. As part of this planning stage we’re looking
for people willing to get involved, accept the
responsibility of selling 10 tickets (or more!), and
perhaps spend some time looking for suitable
donations of cash or raffle prizes. Please contact
Dave Siembieda (das330@ameritech.net),
Gary Sanders (gary@caplend.com)
or Bob Masterson (bobm@harbouronline.com).
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October 11th, 2003 - ITS in Print!
(The
following article was written and submitted to several
area newspapers by
Tom
Bennett. Tom’s son “TJ” plays for our Batavia team.)
Illinois TOP Soccer
Association
October 11, 2003
SOCCER MOM ‘SPECIAL’
This is fall and
everyone thinks of Football, Baseball play-offs time,
and Soccer game schedules to meet. We have the new term
‘Soccer Mom’ taking root in American culture. This is
the overachieving young working mother doing it all to
help her kids be involved in everything. The term fits
millions of American households. Young boys and girls
are deeply entrenched with being active.
Let’s take a moment to
think about the kids that may have a different set of
abilities. There are kids and families that don’t quite
fit that mold of going from school to a rapid chain of
activities for practice, chores, dinner, homework then
to bed to rest up for the next days hectic in/out of
scheduling and the minivan.
Actually they do more.
How about going from school, to an array of therapeutic
appointments, to monthly doctor appointments, to chores,
dinner, homework, more at home therapies, and then,
exhausted, going to bed to rest up for the next days
hectic in/out of scheduling and a ‘modified’ minivan
with wheelchair lift or scrunched into the back of the
family four-door (adapted vans can cost $40,000 or
$50,000)?
There are kids that have
strong desire to be the ‘best they can be’ overcoming
limitations of abilities. They too have overachieving
‘Soccer Moms’ but their roles in life as a mom have been
hectic from the get-go! They have been joggling therapy,
doctor, and specialist schedules from the moment they
had the devastating blow that their child will have or
has special needs. The dreams of most parents expecting
a child can go quite wide for their upcoming anticipated
life with their child. Reality changes all of those
dreams, however, for those special parents on birth to
one of how can we ‘make it day-to-day’.
A Soccer League does
exist which gives the opportunity for these kids to ‘be
the best they can be’! Yes, there are “Special” Soccer
Moms/Dads that make this possible. In the Fox Valley
area, two local men (Bob Masterson and Gary Sanders)
realized that there are kids that could benefit from the
modern tradition for all ages and abilities. Things that
the typical modern families enjoy should be available
for all families.
After some development
time the league started out in the fall of 2001. Modeled
after professional soccer leagues, TOPS Soccer League,
was launched with 12 families.
Knowing the kids would
need supports, the men contacted area schools and Soccer
Associations from Wheaton, Geneva, Oswego and Naperville
for a system of student ‘buddy’ partners. The student
‘Buddies’ are what makes it work for the kids with
needed supports. This gives the overachieving Special
Soccer Moms and Dads a chance to see their years of
effort with their kids of differing abilities truly
enjoy life in the main stream.
Organizations that have
been a big part are the Chicago Fire MLS, Delnor
Community Hospital program sponsors. The Daily Herald,
Batavia Park District, and many individuals like Bob
Masterson, Gary Sanders, Tim and Kathy Tumminaro (parent
activists), Pat McConnell (Occupational Therapist at
Delnor Hospital), Addidas, US Soccer Association,
Panther Soccer (Oswego), and many individuals and parents. The
names of the Soccer Buddies should be listed but there
are so many, and parents really appreciate the break and
assistance they provide.
New leagues are just
starting in other cities across the area and more are
expected to join in as children with disabilities are
located across the State. October is play-off days so
find out the schedule from contact information below and
go to a game to see this truly real enthusiasm. Better
yet, to get involved or just to see kids really trying
to make the best of their abilities come out to a game
and watch (just as the hundreds of Special Soccer
Moms/Dads) can now enjoy and they see the honest joy on
the kids faces; for them it isn't all about winning.
This is a chance for the
Special Soccer Moms and Dads to see their child do the
things other kids do and shine at it. A chance for TJ,
my son, (with ‘Soccer Buddy” Merry from Wheaton Academy,
on her way to University of Chicago) and a host of
others to get a workout other than their daily
therapeutic workouts! One player has just become a
goalie for his regular Jr-High and all of the other
special players go from not wanting to play to not
wanting to stop for anything.
Illinois TOP Soccer
Association is a 501c3 Tax Exempt Corporation.
To be a part of this
great life changing activity contact and/or send much
needed donations to:
Gary Sanders (630)
240-7070 <gsanders@capeland.com>
League address (ITS
Soccer)
1729 Pheasant Run Place
Geneva, Illinois 601 34
To Start a new league in
your area:
Bob Masterson (630) 235-8513
bobm@harbouronline.com
-----
We're ITS
To
better reflect who we are, we've changed the name of our
organization to Illinois TOP Soccer and our web address
to
www.illinoistopsoccer.org. As we continue to
grow outside the Fox Valley, our new name will better
reflect those activities. (August 18, 2003)
-----
Help Wanted – Marketing
Professional
Illinois
Top Soccer is looking for a volunteer Marketing
Professional to provide advice and assist in coordinating
its various marketing opportunities including fund
raising, advertising, partners, and supporters. Candidates
will have considerable marketing experience and may be
either an individual or a marketing company. Please
contact Bob Masterson @ (630) 235-8513 or
bobm@harbouronline.com. or Gary Sanders
@ (630) 240-7070 or
gsanders@caplend.com. Thank you.
-----
Help Wanted – Parents
The
Daily Herald is hosting the Tri Cities Youth Sports Expo
and has invited Fox Valley TOP Soccer to participate. We
are looking for two or three parent volunteers to take
over responsibility for this event. The Expo is being held
at the St. Charles Mall on May 18th, 2003. You
will be asked to take complete responsibility for this
event, including booth preparations and tending the booth.
If interested, please contact Bob (630) 235-8513 or
bobm@harbouronline.com. or Gary Sanders
(630) 240-7070 or
gsanders@caplend.com. Thank you.
-----
April 7, 2003
- Registration News
Fox
Valley TOP Soccer registration remains open throughout the
season. Pre-season registration is complete and we are
pleased to announce our largest enrollment yet; Thus far
there are 17 players in Batavia, 13 in Naperville, 19 in
Oswego and 12 in Wheaton participating in the program this
spring.
Our
sincere “thank you” to our partners;
Delnor Community Hospital, the Chicago Fire, Adidas, and
our newest partner The Daily Herald Newspaper, without
whom the program would not exist.
-----
March 20th, 2003 - Register Now!
The 2003
spring season starts in one month! Please send your
registrations in now! To register visit our FVTSA
Registration page, print the three forms, complete and
mail them in, then show up on the first day of practice.
Just that simple!
-----
March 1st, 2003 - Western Dupage Special Recreation
We are
pleased to announce our affiliation with Western Dupage
Special Recreation (WDSR)
www.wdsra.com Western Dupage Special Rec will
bring a host of benefits to our Wheaton & Naperville
programs including players, Recreation Therapists,
assistance with playing fields and general knowledge of
the area. We look forward to working with Western
Dupage!
-----
March 1st, 2003
Mailing Address Change
Please
notice we have closed our P.O. Box. All registrations and
other mail should now be sent to 1729 Pheasant Run Place •
Geneva, Illinois • 60134 Thank you.
-----
August 31st, 2002
– Oswego Joins TOPS
Through the cooperation of the Panther Soccer Club, The
Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPS) is kicking off in
Oswego
September 21st, 2002. Practices and Games will
be held at the Oswegoland Park District. If your son or
daughter is interested in playing, please complete and
mail in the registration forms…It’s that easy!
-----
August
27th, 2002
- Naperville Joins TOPS!
TOPS is coming to
Naperville! The season starts September 21st,
2002. Practices and games will be held at The Calvary
Church Fields located at
1155 Aurora
Avenue near downtown Naperville. If your son or daughter
is interested in playing, please complete and mail in the
registration forms…It’s that easy!
-----
July 28th, 2002
– 2002 Fall Schedule
Practices will be held at
4:00 p.m. on
Saturday, September 7th, 14th, 21st,
28th, and October 5th, and 19th,
2002. We look forward to seeing everyone again!
-----
May 30th,
2002
Special Announcement:
One of our player’s mothers
asked us to spread the word…………
American
Hyperbarics, Inc. will be
offering hyperbaric oxygen treatments in
Joliet, Illinois, beginning
June 26- July 18. Their staff specializes in treating
patients with neurological injuries; Cerebral Palsy, M.S.,
and Stroke. For additional information please contact
Keshea at 334-673-1490 or
email
kesheag@hotmail.com. Treatment times are limited.
Patients can do either one
or two treatments per day (4 hours between treatments is
required, however). The times are tentatively set for
9:30, 11:00,
2:30, and 4:00. Patients can secure a spot with a $500.00
deposit. They can contact our office at 334-673-1490 or
email
kesheag@hotmail.com. Treatments are $110.00 per
treatment for 20 TX and $100.00 per treatment for 40 TX.
-----
May 16th, 2002 - Family Picnic
Sorry,
the picnic has been postponed due to rain. It will
be re-scheduled. Please check back in the near
future.
-----
May 1st,
2002
– Family Picnic
Thursday, May 16th, 2002 at 4:00 we will hold a
special practice at Memorial Park, Batavia with our
partners; The Chicago Fire!
Several
Chicago Fire players will join us for practice and a
picnic. There will be opportunities for the players, their
buddies, and families to practice, socialize, have
pictures taken and simply enjoy an evening of fun with
Chicago Fire players.
We look
forward to seeing all of our players, their buddies and
families at the picnic!
Directions:
From 88, take 31 North, just past (North of) downtown
Batavia. On Route 31, as you drive north from downtown
Batavia, you will cross Main Street, Wilson Street, McKee
Street and then Illinois Street. Turn
left (west) onto
Illinois.
The park is about four blocks west.
-----
April 24th, 2002 -
Chicago Fire Game Day
We are pleased to announce that the
Chicago Fire will honor FVTSA at its game against the
Columbus Crew on
June 2nd,
2002. Tickets for all FVTSA players are being
provided courtesy of the Chicago Fire. Tickets for all
FVTSA Buddies are being provided by
Delnor
Community
Hospital.
We look forward to seeing the
families of everyone connected to FVTSA at this game; it
should be a great game!
For tickets, please contact Mr.
Gary Sanders at
630-240-7070 or email him:
gsanders@caplend.com
For more information about our
partner The Chicago Fire, please click on the icon to the
left.
See you at the game!
-----
April 18th, 2002 -
Practice Change
The practice originally scheduled for
this Saturday, April 20th, 2002 has been
rescheduled for Saturday, May 18th, 2002. On
Wednesday, the Wheaton Academy Varsity Women’s Soccer
Team, of which most of the “Buddies” are members, was
informed of their obligation to play a tournament game in
Barrington at 4:00 P.M., on Saturday. We regret the need
for this schedule change and do not expect to change the
schedule again this season. Thank you for your
understanding.
-----
April 13th, 2002 - Our First
Practice:
Our first practice was a huge
success!
Present were 12 pre-registered
players, two walk-on’s and about 17 buddies. Pat McConnell
briefed the buddies prior to beginning. The theme of the
practice was dribbling. Relationships were formed between
the players & buddies. We worked on shooting, dribbling
and then scrimmaged. Everyone, including the parents,
enjoyed themselves.
A beautiful 8 year old downs syndrome
little girl who is nearly non verbal, and very, very shy
summed up the practice neatly when she looked up at her
buddy at the end of practice and spoke to her for the
first time saying….”I smile”.
Without the Chicago Fire, Delnor
Community Hospital, Patrick McConnell, Abe Contreras, The
Batavia Park District, United States Youth Soccer and
Illinois Youth Soccer, soccer would not be available to
these children. We appreciate their support!
-----
March 25th, 2002 –
Registration Closed
FVTSA has closed its formal
registration period for the Spring 2002 season. We are
pleased to start our first season with twelve players. Any
player wishing to join mid season may do so by contacting
Gary Sanders.
-----
February 28th, 2002
– Chicago Fire Partnership
FVTSA is very pleased to announce it
has signed a partnership agreement with The Chicago Fire.
As part of our agreement the Chicago Fire will provide
FVTSA players with jerseys, send players to our family
picnic day, honor FVTSA at a Fire game and provide free
tickets to each of our players. We are very pleased to
have The Chicago Fire as our partner!
-----
January 31st,
2002 - Patrick McConnell
Commits
Mr. Patrick McConnell an
Occupational Therapist employed by Delnor Community
Hospital has committed to join the FVTSA staff. Pat will
guide us in developing drills, games and practices
appropriate for each of our players. Pat lives in the Tri
Cities, has two children, coaches one of his children’s
Tri Cites soccer teams and has previously been involved in
Illinois Special Olympics. Please join us in welcoming Pat
to our team!
-----
January 28th, 2002
– Delnor Hospital Partnership
Delnor Community Hospital has
committed to a partnership with Fox Valley Tops Soccer
Association. Delnor brings to our relationship the support
of the Fox Valleys finest medical facility. We will
benefit from their Occupational Therapists and look
forward to their joining in our family days with the
Chicago Fire!
-----
January 23rd, 2002 –
Web Site Completed
Abe
Contreras has built our web site for us completely free of
charge! Please check our web site at
www.fvtsa.org
it’s terrific! If you have web site development work,
please support Abe’s company:
www.ten15tek.com
-----
November 6th, 2001 –
Batavia Park District makes Fields Available
The Batavia Park District has
committed to making Engstrom Park available to FVTSA for
our practices and games. We appreciate Batavia’s
generosity and looking many fun filled afternoons on their
fields!
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