With COVID-19 stifling the world around, we wanted to provide an update on where our community projects and initiatives stand at this point. If you're an avid reader and follower, you will know that Valor Christian High School cancelled their trip to Costa Rica. The houses still got built, but the team that was to leave back in mid-March had to return the requested soccer gear. We still have a fulfillment waiting for new project requestor, Musana; however, the delay with lockdown measures has meant that the containers are behind in being finished and with the country of Uganda shut down as well, there haven't been approvals for the shipping manifesto and the soccer items that we've currently got waiting

Soccer Chaplains United's Director of Counseling, Brooke Ewert, recently took part in an interview series with the Colorado Rapids. With the month of May being known as Mental Health Month, the Rapids have been doing a series, entitled, Mindful Monday. The interview style stories on the website featured Brooke and others working in the field of mental health and sport. Read the interview here. Part of the vision of Soccer Chaplains United is to work closely with counselors in order to provide necessary clinical interventions that support the whole person. While chaplains often provide spiritual help and support, there are times when it is important to refer the athletes, coaches, staff, and their family members on to a trusted counselor

It's my pleasure to announce that Travis Eliason, brother to current board member Geoff Eliason, has joined the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors. Travis brings a wealth of legal experience and knowledge as an attorney in Illinois. He is a partner with Quales and Brady, LLP and graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law. His legal specialty areas include focuses on representing lenders and other secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases and complex commercial litigation. His undergraduate studies were at Wheaton College where he played soccer on the men's varsity team.  Travis and his skill set fill a vacancy left by former board member, Darren Dragovich, who moved on earlier this year. When I asked him what he is looking

It's my pleasure to announce that Matt Kaufman, principal of Milliman Financial Risk Management LLC, and friend of current board member Geoff Eliason, has joined the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors. Matt and Geoff got to know each other and work with each when they both worked for PowerShares — an exchange-traded fund company based in Chicago. Matt has been in the financial services field since graduating from  Cedarville University in 2004. His work has been to mainly build investment products and consult with asset managers and insurance companies. When I asked him what he is looking forward to most with joining the board, Matt shared, Over the last year, the Lord has been pressing on my heart to serve in a ministry. I feel

Hello, friends. We want to inform you about some giving and donation impacts that are coming from the newly resolved Cares Act. Universal Charitable Deduction A new deduction is available for 2020. A few years ago (2017), charitable deductions changed for taxpayers. The increased "standard deduction" meant that many donors no longer benefited from itemizing charitable giving. This new deduction allows for all taxpayers to deduct for charitable giving and have impact on the "top" and "bottom" of one's tax responsibility. For taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions, there is an "above-the-line" adjustment to income that will reduce a donor's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and consequently taxable income. The adjustment is available for cash gifts up to $300 per