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.
Helping Underserved
Student-Athletes
Reach Their True Potential
Jerome L. Simon, Founder
What We Do
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.
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 20 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
Gloria Calderon Vega
Director, College Program
Carlos Galan
College & Academic Specialist
Matthew Dunkle
Student Advisor
Leslie Donaldson
Secretary
Yedi Wong
Treasurer
Pedro Lupercio
Student Advisor
Panchito Ramirez Rueda
Student Advisor
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.
Summer Immersion
free SAT/ACT test prep
to play college soccer
from Yours in Soccer support
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.
their education at a 4-year university
Our students have committed to the following colleges:
Boston University | CSU Fullerton | Sacramento State University | UCSD |
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | CSU Monterrey Bay | San Francisco State University | University of San Diego |
Cal Poly Pomona | CSU Northridge | San Jose State University | University of Birmingham Alabama |
Chicago State University | CSU San Marcos | Seton Hall University | University of Notre Dame |
Claremont McKenna College | CSU Stanislaus | Texas A&M Texarkana | University of Pennsylvania |
Columbia University | Duke University | The University of Tulsa | University of Portland |
Concordia University, Irvine | Grand Canyon University | Transylvania University | University of Saint Thomas |
Concordia University, Portland | Harvard University | UC Berkeley | University of San Francisco |
Cornell University | Hofstra University | UC Irvine | University of the Pacific |
CSU Bakersfield | Holy Names University | UC Merced | UNC Chapel Hill |
CSU Chico | Our Lady of the Lake | UC Riverside | William Pace University |
CSU East Bay | Roosevelt College | UC Santa Barbara | |
Coastal Carolina University | Portland University | UCLA |
Student Highlights
Giovanni
Edwin
Our Partners
YOURS IN SOCCER FOUNDATION
is proud to work with the following partners
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