About Rush C.A.R.E.s.
Rush C.A.R.E.S. (Community – Advocate – Respect – Educate – Succeed) is Northeast Rush's nonprofit arm, established with the goal of offering resources, opportunities, and need-based assistance to underserved families throughout Rush's numerous communities. Players in need receive support in a variety of important ways, including:
- Player Scholarships
- Inner City Initiatives
- Tournament and Event Support
All donations help support Rush players who seek financial help through Need-Based Assistance, Tournament and Event Support, Inner City Initiatives, and more. Because Rush C.A.R.E.S. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all support and donations are tax-deductible.
Northeast Rush's player-centered approach, elite-level coaching, and positive playing and learning environment encourage long-term player development and personal growth. NE Rush provides top-quality opportunities for players at all levels.
NE Rush is keenly aware of the need for financial and program support for families and players in its local communities. In response, the organization offers need-based scholarships, free soccer programs, inner city initiatives, and tournament and event support. Anyone can give to the Rush C.A.R.E.S. program through its secure online donation portal. Additionally, donors can specify a player to assist or the NE Rush branch they want to receive their gift of assistance.
Supporting Underserved Populations
Youth soccer is a wonderful part of many kids' lives, with many players beginning their soccer journeys as young as four years old and often extending beyond their high school years. Soccer offers fun competition, physical activity, camaraderie, and confidence-building, as well as family involvement by numerous family members and friends.
For many families, the cost of participation — whether it's for a single season or more than a dozen years of play — can be prohibitive. Equipment, uniforms, travel, and regular season and tournament participation fees all come with a price tag that can be out of reach for families whose budgets are already tight. Fortunately, Rush C.A.R.E.S. is a program that is ready to step in for these families, enabling every child who wants to play soccer to take part without financial stress on their families.
Free Soccer Programs
Through various inner-city initiatives, Northeast Rush provides free soccer programs to the residents of its underserved local communities. These initiatives also provide an alumni mentorship program to guide young soccer players.
In addition to their top-level soccer coaching skills and talent, many NE Rush coaches are fluent in Spanish, Italian, Greek, and Portuguese, among other languages. This allows them to effectively teach, coach, and encourage many young players whose first languages are those other than English.
Support For Financial Challenges
Through Rush C.A.R.E.S., Northeast Rush assists families in overcoming financial obstacles that could be standing between them and allowing their children to play soccer in one of NE Rush's branches:
- Connecticut East: South Central (North Branford), Northeast (Canterbury), and Southeast (Montville) branches
- Connecticut Select branches
- Connecticut West: South Branch, Central Branch
- Massachusetts North
- New York: Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Select, Westchester
Soccer Player Scholarships
Northeast Rush scholarships assist families facing financial obstacles by helping their young players to take part in Rush soccer programs. The Rush Scholarship program is designed to assist in the following areas:
- Scholarships to help pay registration fees
- Funds to pay for uniforms and training gear
- Prep school recruitment
- Access to C.A.P. (College Advisory Program)
The C.A.P. program offers resources to advance players' personal development, grade-appropriate educational support, and support in college selection, recruiting, highlight videos, and eligibility information. C.A.P. courses also cover key areas such as time management, managing social media, the family's role in the recruiting process, and determining playing level.
To be eligible for a Northeast Rush scholarship, all applicants must be in good standing with their Rush club, team, and coach, both financially and in terms of their character. All scholarship applications must be fully completed online, including providing all required information and documentation. Incomplete applications won't receive consideration until they are completed.
All applicants who receive scholarship assistance from Northeast Rush are responsible for paying the deposit (first installment), the mandatory uniform package fee, and any tournament and other fees not included in the covered tuition. While Northeast Rush reviews the scholarship application, families are asked to cover the registration fee and deposit. Any approved assistance will be applied to the balance following the registration process.
If families need additional assistance in paying the deposit, they are encouraged to contact their branch’s director of coaching. Applicants who seek tuition support must cover the initial deposit, and the club will then adjust the balance of the tuition.
After the application is fully completed and submitted, Northeast Rush may request financial information to verify the applicant's income. Joint or separate W2s may also be needed for the verification process.
Northeast Rush does not consider race, color, religion, gender, age, marital status, or sexual orientation when reviewing scholarship applications.
Tournament and Event Support
As young soccer players advance in their skills and competitive abilities, participating in tournaments becomes an important part of their development as players and individuals. Tournaments range from local events to state, regional, and even national and international events. Families facing financial challenges must often choose to miss out on these valuable experiences.
Aside from the tournament fees, which can range from $600 to $1,000 and up, the cost of travel, hotel, and meals can place considerable pressure on a family's budget. Rush C.A.R.E.S. offers a variety of ways to help families afford tournament participation, including:
- Travel and accommodation cost assistance (including youth events and college visits)
- Fundraising opportunities to offset tournament expenses
- Guest player program opportunities
Donations can be made through the secure Rush C.A.R.E.S. donation portal. Donations can also be made to a specific Northeast Rush player and/or Northeast Rush Home Branch in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Northeast Rush's Inner City Initiatives provide free soccer programs to the residents of its underserved local communities. The organization’s initiatives also provide an alumni mentorship program.
Northeast Rush is committed to supporting diversity in the communities that it serves. In addition to the organization’s top-level soccer coaching skills and talent, many NE Rush coaches are also fluent in Spanish, Italian, Greek, and Portuguese, among other languages. This allows them to teach, coach, and encourage young players who speak first languages other than English.
Having active and vibrant soccer clubs in the community can be instrumental in bringing together young players from a variety of backgrounds. Establishing a wonderful blend of diverse languages, experiences, and cultures can create a community of understanding, tolerance, and bridge-building on and off the soccer pitch.
Northeast Rush provides multiple ways to help families afford tournament participation and offset expenses, including organizing fundraising opportunities within their local communities to directly help clubs and individual players in need. Rush C.A.R.E.S. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which means that all material and monetary support as well as donations are tax-deductible.