PA Rush soccer club’s Thunder/TOPS special needs program received a grant check for $2,500 Saturday, Sept. 10.
The TOPS (Total Outreach Program for Soccer) began in the fall of 2018 and provides an environment where special needs players with mental and physical disabilities can participate in soccer practices and games.
TOPS is self-funded by donations and is composed of volunteers, coaches and buddies to provide a memorable and educational soccer experience for the TOPS players.
This donation was awarded by the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) Grow the Game Fund; a program directed to support local, EPYSA member programs looking to include more people in the game of soccer. PA Rush Thunder/TOPS program was awarded the grant for 2022. These funds will be used to purchase equipment to help facilitate training and games the program does with the Special Needs community (i.e.: cones, pinnies, soccer balls, and much more).
The TOPS program is one of the largest in PA and runs through the spring and fall. TOPS program coordinators were able to keep the program running through COVID and were able to accommodate players and families whose programs were shut down. TOPS currently has 45 players and 47 buddies enrolled in the program, all at no charge to them.
Volunteers and coordinators who organize the program include Betsy Grove, coordinator; Jim Skene, lead trainer; Sharyn Gogel, Buddy coordinator; and Alyssa Gogel: Buddy coordinator.
For information about volunteering, sponsoring/donating, or playing in the Thunder/TOPS program, contact Grove at bgrove@parush.com. You do not have to be a part of PA Rush Soccer Club to join this program.
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