About two years ago, community volunteers and local soccer moms began to notice a trend that needed to be addressed.

Families in Redmond’s growing low-income population were itching to send their kids to play soccer, but simply couldn’t afford the fees and necessary equipment.

Through some community partnerships and a lot of volunteer hours, One League for Everyone (OLE, pronounced oh-LAY) was born.

“The (Lake Washington Youth) soccer association (LWYSA) has always done a generous reduced fee based on the district’s free and reduced lunch policy, but that’s where it stopped,” explained Leslie Andrews, one of OLE’s founding members. “There wasn’t money for the kids’ gear, there weren’t resources for the parents to sign up – it was all done on computer, in English. OLE has put in bridge measures, making it more accessible to families.”

A COMMUNITY SERVICE

According to local soccer mom Robbi Stewart, who is on OLE’s committee, many people don’t realize the financial obligation that cash-strapped families must endure to have their kids play soccer.

“(Registration) is $100 to $150 depending on age level, and then it’s another $45 for cleats, $15 for shinguards, $10 for socks,” Stewart said. “It just goes to show, in Redmond there are people that can afford that, but there are a lot of people who can’t that deserve the same chance.”

Currently, OLE provides gently-used gear that has been donated at the end of soccer tournaments, and through the LWYSA office. The organization is also working on fundraising to help support the OLE coaches towards purchasing necessities such as uniforms, end-of-the-year trophies, and snacks – which will add up when it’s your turn to feed 18 hungry, energetic kids, according to Stewart.

In addition to the soccer, OLE prides itself on going beyond the field and connecting families in other aspects of their lives.

“(OLE families) come in through soccer, but they’ve come in with questions about their kids’ homework, questions about summer school, they’re using us as a bridge to further education for their kids, because soccer was a commonality,” Stewart explained. “It’s about getting people out, and assimilated into the community.”

OLE student volunteer Nicole Kollar, a senior at International Community School in Kirkland, originally began as a coach, but over time noticed that her relationship with the organization had grown into something much bigger.

“I’ve connected with a lot of their families – I’m at a lot of their birthday parties… and we started the homework club,” Kollar said. “After practice on Mondays, we’d all help them with homework. Things like that, the girls don’t really get help with at home.”

Additional benefits the group provides are transportation – helping arrange rideshares and carpools – and translators, as many of the OLE families are of Hispanic or Latino background and may need assistance to communicate with coaches.

And perhaps the most thankful group of all are the parents of the kids who are playing soccer through OLE, many of whom would not get to play an extracurricular sport any other way.

“Before OLE, we didn’t know there was a way to play soccer for less money,” said Dulce Antonio through OLE committee member and interpreter Monica Trujillo. “It has changed us. My kids are excited about the sport and getting to move around, they’re just looking forward to being out there and having the right equipment to play.”

‘AN INVISIBLE POPULATION’

At a recent community meeting that several OLE committee members attended regarding Hopelink, a Redmond-based social services organization that assists low-income families, they were shocked to hear an attendee state that there was “no poverty in Redmond.”

In many areas within city limits, that statement may be true, but some of the numbers elsewhere may be surprising.

At Rosa Parks Elementary, located in a new development on Redmond Ridge, just two percent of the students are on the Lake Washington School District’s free or reduced lunch program.

At Einstein Elementary just off Avondale Road, that number jumps to 36 percent, and the highest rate of all is at Redmond Elementary near downtown, where 40 percent of the kids get financial assistance for their daily meals.

“It’s an invisible population,” Stewart said. “People drive by, and don’t realize there are pockets of people who want what we all want – the best opportunities for their kids.”

On the whole, the Redmond community has embraced OLE with support, as local businesses have realized the need and jumped on as corporate sponsors.

“We’ve developed some really nice partnerships,” Stewart noted. “We’ve been working with Arena Sports, Shamrock Charities… we’re forming a partnership with Redmond Kiwanis, we’ve also worked with Lake Washington Youth Soccer, particularly the rec program… and Magellan Architects.”

But as OLE grows and more families look for help, they will likewise need to build the support level in order to keep up with increased demand.

Families and businesses can get involved by inquiring through the OLE website at www.oneleagueforeveryone.org, and they will also have a booth at the upcoming Derby Days festival on July 9.

In addition, OLE will also be holding a fundraiser at 60 Acres Fields on Monday, August 15 from 5-7:30 p.m. which will feature the live band Fusion, kids’ activities and concessions, as well as as a silent auction to raise money for the organization.

As far as long-range goals, Stewart said that OLE wants to ensure that all kids have access to better soccer at the recreational level, so they will be able to move up to premier and select teams as they develop their skills.

“The talent these kids bring to the field is phenomenal,” she said. “They’ve raised the bar of skill level so immensely, that they really need to be coached at a higher level. We need funding for that, we need sponsors who see the potential of these kids and the talent that’s out there, to tap in and help us bring this to fruition.”

And as any coach knows, the lessons and work ethic learned through being part of a team sport will freely translate into other aspects of the athlete’s lives, building a foundation for success.

“When they get that self-esteem, and they’re part of a team that believes in them, their esteem goes up, and they do better in school,” Stewart explained. “Kids that were shy and reserved and had no self-confidence, are slowly, little by little, gaining respect for self and others – team values which also carry into the community.”

For more information, visit OLE’s website at www.oneleagueforeveryone.org.