By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
August 25, 2026-Although October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, August is an important month on the soccer calendar for this worthy cause as two local soccer events are utilized to raise money for breast cancer support.
The 19th Annual Goals For Hope Tournament, featuring many alumni from the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League (HVYSL) and other Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) leagues, was played on Sunday, August 2 at Stringham Park in LaGrange. Six men’s teams and 15 women’s squads had fun on a cloudy day in the Hudson Valley.
Through tournament sponsorships, donations and raffles (US Men’s National Team player Tyler Adams of Poughkeepsie even donated items), money was raised for the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. This wonderful non-profit organization supports and provides services, financial aid and resources for those affected by breast cancer in the nine counties of the Hudson Valley. Miles of Hope has raised and given away over $4 million since its founding in 2004.
Refs from the Hudson Valley Soccer Referees Association (HVSRA) donated their services to the tournament.
The 20th Annual Pink Ribbon Soccer Festival, organized by the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) and Estée Lauder, was played on Saturday, August 8 at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview. 25 LIJSL teams played 3v3 and four coed teams from Estée Lauder had fun in small-sided games on a sunny day on Long Island.
“It was a wonderfully pink day at the park,” LIJSL League Programs and Events Manager Stephanie Hernandez said. “No scores, no standings, just lots of fun raising money for a good cause. Our partnership with Estée Lauder has turned into years of friendship that continues to grow.”
Through player entry fees, breast cancer support merchandise sales and raffle tickets, $5,438 was raised for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded by Evelyn Lauder in 1992.
Refs from the Long Island Soccer Officials (LISO) donated their time in refereeing.
Juan Castillo, Estée Lauder’s Executive Director of Quality Assurance at the Melville office, explained, “The energy from work is here. What the volunteers do is the backbone of the tournament. We have mothers, sisters, wives who are all impacted. Because of you, they are not alone.”
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, east of Route 81. ENYYSA encourages 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 US Soccer and US Youth Soccer. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/