Leveling the Playing Field (Marin County)
Where Talent Meets Opportunity
Executive Summary
Every year, gifted young athletes are forced to walk away from the sports they love not because they lack talent, discipline, or heart, but because their families cannot shoulder the overwhelming costs of club volleyball and soccer. Their potential is real. Their dreams are bright. But the doors remain closed.
With your donation, we can change that.
Too often, athletes and their families don’t even realize what opportunities they’re missing until high school tryouts arrive. They see classmates who have played club for years athletes who have benefited from advanced training, expert coaching, competitive tournaments, and year-round development. The gap becomes painfully clear: not in talent or desire, but in access.
Many gifted athletes find themselves unable to qualify for teams simply because they were never given the chance to train at the same level. This program exists to ensure that no child’s opportunity is determined by their family’s income. Your support will unlock access to teams, coaches, mentors, and a future that otherwise remains out of reach. The YES organization is committed to leveling the playing field for talented youth athletes who lack the financial resources to participate in competitive volleyball and soccer programs. We believe that athletic ability, passion, and dedication not household income should determine a child’s opportunity to succeed.
Program Contact:
Brigitte Moran
brigittemoran60@gmail.com
Mission Statement
We exist to level the playing field for promising athletes who lack the means to participate in elite volleyball and soccer programs. Our mission is to remove financial barriers so talented young athletes can pursue high-level volleyball and soccer at the club level. We provide scholarships, resources, and access to competitive training ensuring that ability, passion, and work ethic not family income determine a child’s opportunities on the court, field and in life.
Need Background
For many families, the cost of club sports is simply impossible. Fees that soar into the thousands create a line that separates those who can play from those who cannot. But talent is not defined by wealth and yet opportunity is.
Across our community, we meet young athletes who stay after practice to work on their craft, who dream of college scholarships, who crave a chance to grow but they stand on the sidelines because the system was never designed with them in mind.
Your contribution changes that reality. These costs can run anywhere from $5,000-$15,000 a season, creating significant inequity, disproportionately limiting access for low-income families. Participation in club-level volleyball and soccer costs include:
- Club/team fees
- Uniforms and equipment
- Tournament travel
- Training camps and specialized coaching
These costs create significant inequity, disproportionately limiting access for low-income families. As a result, many gifted athletes are excluded from development pathways that lead to high school excellence, college recruiting opportunities, and long-term personal growth.
Our Solution
We will provide comprehensive support to deserving athletes who demonstrate ability, commitment, and financial need. Our program can include:
- Full or partial club scholarships for volleyball and soccer
- Equipment and uniform stipends
- Travel assistance for tournaments and showcases
- Academic and athletic mentorship
- Recruiting support for athletes pursuing collegiate opportunities
By removing financial barriers, we enable athletes to compete, develop, and thrive in environments traditionally inaccessible to them.
Program Objectives
- Increase access to competitive volleyball and soccer for underserved youth.
- Identify and support talented athletes who lack the means to participate at club levels.
- Create sustainable funding through community partnerships and donor sponsorships.
- Foster personal growth, teamwork, confidence, and leadership skills.
- Support academic success and long-term athletic pathways.
Target Population
Our scholarships benefit: We prioritize athletes from underrepresented communities and households facing economic barriers.
- The communities of Marin City, The Canal, and the City of Novato while remaining open to any players that comes from any other city in Marin County in need. West Marin would be a target as well but transportation to the clubs from west Marin is an issue we have not yet figured out.
- Families experiencing financial hardship, A household income must fall below the HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR) limits for our county. Marin below $154,700 a year
- Youth athletes ages 9–18
- Athletes with proven skill, coach and or club recommendations, and strong commitment to growth
Implementation Plan
- Athlete Identification & Outreach
- Partner with athletic clubs, schools, community centers, and coaches to identify candidates.
- Host open tryouts and evaluation clinics.
- Selection Process
- Holistic review considering talent, need, commitment, and character.
- Placement & Support
- Collaborate with club programs to secure roster spots.
- Provide scholarships, gear assistance, and travel support.
- Ongoing Mentorship & Evaluation
- Academic check-ins
- Athlete progress reports
- College recruiting guidance when applicable
Donation Request
We invite you to join us in rewriting the stories of young athletes who deserve a fair chance. Your investment directly removes barriers and places deserving children in environments where they can flourish.
A donation isn’t just a financial gift it is confidence, belonging, and opportunity placed directly into the hands of a child who desperately wants to rise. You become the reason they are seen, supported, and given a chance to compete on equal footing. We respectfully request financial partnership to expand our scholarship capacity. Donor or sponsor contributions will directly support athletes in need. Funding may be allocated toward:
Impact Measurement
We measure success through:
- Number of athletes funded
- Athlete retention and development metrics
- Academic progress and eligibility
- College recruiting outcomes
- Personal growth and leadership development
- Building strong athletes today, Strong leaders for tomorrow
Why This Matters
Sports are more than games they are pathways to confidence, community, opportunity, and future success. When financial hardship blocks access, entire communities lose out on the potential of these young people.
Together, we can ensure that talent has no price tag, and every deserving athlete can pursue their dreams.