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Monthly Memberships l $5 for Kids l $10 young adults (18-25) l $20 for Adults

Our Mission and Values

Our Mission

Make the game of soccer accessible
to all kids who want to play

Our Values

Pick up play, every day with
an expanded field of opportunity

Soccer in its purest form, played simply for the joy of the moment, often gets overlooked when the game is paired with the pursuit of specific outcomes. While we recognize that structured athletics is a powerful tool for youth development, we also emphasize pick-up soccer to allow kids the freedom to just have fun. We are committed to providing space for pick-up games seven days a week.

Pick Up Play, Every Day

Soccer in its purest form, played simply for the joy of the moment, often gets overlooked when the game is paired with the pursuit of specific outcomes. While we recognize that structured athletics is a powerful tool for youth development, we also emphasize pick-up soccer to allow kids the freedom to just have fun. We are committed to providing space for pick-up games seven days a week.
Youth sports are becoming less accessible as the costs of registration fees and travel continue to increase. We encourage kids of all ages and abilities, and from all backgrounds and communities, to access our facilities and join our programs. We are committed to affordable, neighborhood-based soccer programs that deliver a high-quality experience and allow kids to take the game as far as they want.

Expand the Field of Opportunity

Youth sports are becoming less accessible as the costs of registration fees and travel continue to increase. We encourage kids of all ages and abilities, and from all backgrounds and communities, to access our facilities and join our programs. We are committed to affordable, neighborhood-based soccer programs that deliver a high-quality experience and allow kids to take the game as far as they want.

History

The Colorado Soccer Foundation is the work of many people, over the course of nearly a decade, serving thousands of kids across Colorado with soccer programming.

Beginning in the fall of 2012, a group of committed soccer professionals working with the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club began delivering after school programming in Denver Metro area schools with high free and reduced lunch rates. The program was an immediate success and began to grow in scope, notably due to key partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the Colorado Health Foundation. The program that started in 9 schools has now expanded to over 30 partner schools.
 
We gradually established a solid reputation in the community and grew our network of supporters. In 2020, we were fortunate to receive support for the construction of Soccer City Aurora and begin the parallel project of launching our own non-profit entity known as the Colorado Soccer Foundation. With the opening of Soccer City Aurora, our work is entering a new chapter. We will continue to provide after school programming, and in addition, operate a world-class facility that will serve as both a community hub and base of operations.
 
We are forever grateful for all of the people – past, present, and future – who believe in us and our work. You make it possible.

TO EDIT (UPDATED HISTORY)

Meet Our Team

Curtis Gardner Exec. Director

About Us
Curtis is a seasoned non-profit executive having led multiple organizations across the globe. He played a key role in launching the collaborative effort to form the Colorado Soccer Foundation. He focuses much of his time on administration, strategy, finance, and risk management.

Wilmer Barrera Engagement

About Us
Wilmer is from Honduras where he grew up in a poor and dangerous area of the city, eventually making his way to the United States to pursue soccer opportunities and higher education. He now works as a teacher and coach at Cherry Creek HS.  For Wilmer, soccer is a passion and way of life.

Jodi Asarch Development

About Us
Jodi comes from a Development, soccer and youth engagement background, having previously served as a Major Gifts Officer. She has coached for the last 25 years and is the girls’ varsity soccer coach for a division 2A high school. Jodi is a Colorado native and still enjoys a game of pick-up soccer.

Emily Fay Programming

About Us
Emily played Division II soccer at Colorado State University-Pueblo while earning a degree in exercise science and health promotion. She completed a Master’s in educational leadership and policy studies in 2022 and is part of the US Youth Soccer Grassroots Symposium Planning Committee.

Meet Our Board Members

Andy Stine Board Chair

Andy Stine has worked in the government and non-profit sector for twenty years, often with a focus on supporting underserved communities across the state. Andy has played soccer his entire life and coached his two sons through their early years, watching them develop the same life-long love of the sport. As a product of Aurora Public Schools, Andy is excited to be a part of Colorado Soccer Foundation and help bring more opportunities for kids to play at Soccer City Aurora.

Paola Ramirez Vice Chair

Paola Ramírez is the Director of Family and Community Engagement and Partnership for RESCHOOL Colorado, which partners with a variety of families and out-of-school providers to explore out-of-school learning opportunities for young learners. Paola also serves on the Park Hill Neighborhood for Equity in Education Steering Committee, Museo de las Américas Strategic Committee, the Mountain Mamas Board, is a Fellow in the Climb Higher Systems Impact Institute, and is a Denver Public Schools Middle School Mentor. Prior to joining the Donnell-Kay Foundation and RESCHOOL Colorado, Paola was able to stay home with her children, teach them Spanish, and shuttle them to soccer practice and games.

James Davies Secretary

James Davies has been a nationally licensed club and high school soccer coach for close to twenty years, with both the USSF A license and USC Premier diploma. He teaches coaching and interviews professionals around the world to help further the development of local and international youth coaches. Previously James was Director of Soccer at Broomfield and FC Boulder, including directing the development of their Sports Performance Center and two of the largest tournaments in the state.

Aaron Nagel Treasurer

Aaron Nagel is currently the Executive Director for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club, a non-profit soccer organization serving 10,000 members across the Front Range of Colorado. Mr. Nagel holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, with professional certifications in Volunteer Administration, Fundraising, and Parks and Recreation. Mr. Nagel has four children, one boy and three girls, and currently coaches three of his children’s soccer teams.

Sharon Schneider Board Member

Sharon Schneider is an entrepreneur, impact investor, philanthropy expert and strategy consultant to the next generation of social impact founders and family offices. Sharon is the Founder and Principal of Integrated Capital Strategies. Previously, Sharon served as the founding Director of the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group and founder and CEO of the for-profit social enterprise Moxie Jean. Before starting Moxie Jean in 2011, Sharon spent 12 years as a staff member and consultant to private foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and dozens of small family foundations, on issues ranging from strategic planning and outcome management to engaging your family in philanthropy.

Jeff Chapman Board Member

Jeff Chapman worked in residential construction for twenty-five years before becoming the Director of the Swallow Charitable Foundation, which focuses on youth sports initiatives. Throughout his life, sports have been the one constant in Jeff’s life, from ski racing and baseball as a youngster, to football and lacrosse as a high-school athlete, to rock climbing, mountain biking, and now motocross racing as an adult. Four years ago, Jeff decided to change careers in order to help give underserved kids the opportunity to realize a passion for life through sport. Having raised two soccer-playing daughters, he has developed a deep appreciation for the game of soccer and all it has to offer.

Evan Husney Board Member

Evan is a passionate member of the Colorado soccer community and an experienced attorney. His legal experience includes representation of clients with respect to general corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing transactions, contract drafting, negotiation and review, entity formation, corporate governance, joint ventures, licensing and other general corporate legal matters. Having joined the Board in June 2022, he is excited to support the mission and the vision of the organization.

Lee Zarzecki Board Member

Lee Zarzecki is a former professional soccer player and currently serves as the City Attorney for Commerce City. He has a deep appreciation of our mission and brings a wealth of experience working in local government, previously serving as the Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City and County of Denver. As a lifelong fan of the game, he believes that youth sports and organizations like the Colorado Soccer Foundation have an important role to play in society through the many positive ways they can support youth development.

Emily Garnier Board Member

Emily Garnier is a second-generation business owner and a retired professional soccer player. She currently works as a business analyst at Epilog Laser with a focus on Sales and Marketing. She has an MBA from the University of Colorado Denver and is a passionate member of the Colorado soccer community as a player, ambassador, volunteer, and Board Member. Emily believes that the Colorado Soccer Foundation plays a crucial role in society because sports have an immense impact on kids as they develop.

Work With Us

Interested in joining our team? Learn about
our current job opportunities below. 

Our Partners

Our work is possible thanks to the support from our amazing partners.

The Colorado Soccer Foundation takes steps to ensure that any child who participates in a CSF program or utilizes our facilities is safe and protected from any form of sexual harassment or assault. Our Risk Management Policy is reviewed regularly and approved by the Board of Directors.

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