By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
October 6, 2016-Volunteers are the backbone of youth soccer. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is fortunate enough to have over 25,000 volunteers whose endless work, which is not compensated, helps keep the costs of participating in youth soccer low for many soccer families.
Eastern New York is very pleased to announce that Jennifer Graham of the Valley Stream Soccer Club is being honored as our 2016 Volunteer of the Year. Jennifer grew up in Valley Stream, playing for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) club. She started volunteering with the Valley Stream Soccer Club as a parent, when her oldest daughter began playing at the Micros level, and her love for children, soccer and her hometown led her to become a coach and to be elected to the soccer club’s Board of Directors.
In the four years she has been a Board member, registration is the soccer club has increased exponentially from 400 to over 1,000 players. Jennifer is now Valley Stream’s First Vice President and Intramural Coordinator.
Her friend, club Secretary Erica Mitchell, nominated her and wrote, “Jennifer is the glue who holds our club together and it is so incredible how effortless she makes it look…Parents feel comfortable and confident talking to Jennifer. She makes every single player and parent feel welcome and that they are important and valuable members of the soccer club. It seems like she cannot go anywhere in the community without being recognized.“
Additionally, Jennifer finds the time to volunteer as a Girl Scout leader and with the local PTA. She will be formally honored by Eastern New York at our Holiday Party on Sunday, December 4 at Marina del Rey in the Bronx.
Congratulations to Jennifer Graham, Eastern New York’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.