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UPDATE AS OF 4/26:

A generous supporter, who wishes not to be named yet, has pledged to Jake that the majority of tuition cost of the program will be covered. Both the supporter and our family are hoping that the community will continue to rally with donations, so the supporters' impact can stretch even further towards the community need in the future.  In other words, we are hoping to continue to raise ffunds beyond the necessary amount so that we may give back to the program for future recipients in our area. 

 Al Tower of Numed also made an incredibly generous contribution of $5000!!  Our current balance still needed to be met is now only around $15,000.  How incredible is that?!?!  Thank you to an amazing and generous community for rallying behind our son, we are beyond humbled & forever grateful! 

~Mr. and Mrs. Benware

My name is Jacob Evans, and I am asking for your assistance with achieving my dreams. From the first moment my foot touched a soccer ball, I knew exactly who I was. My earliest years of training were a mix of local grassroot teams run by volunteer parents and enrollment in summer camps. I went annually to the Lake Placid Soccer Centre camp at St. Lawrence University where I worked and trained with the University's coaches, their current players, and some of Europe's top coaches and players. The core focus of their program centered around the Coerver Coaching Method, which is widely known, used, and respected around the world. This was the foundation of my training in soccer that instilled a deep love and passion for the game.

Since then, I've played for various local men's travel teams as well as my high-school varsity teams; my first year being at St. Regis Falls Central School and the remaining three at St. Lawrence Central High-School. In my freshman year while playing for St. Regis Falls, I helped my team win their first game in four years after making the winning shot in over time. In my time at St. Lawrence Central, I was awarded 2nd team all-northern, 1st team all-northern, and best offensive player (MVP) for my division in Section X. Collectively our team achieved the Sportsmanship award for all three consecutive years. Independently I continue to train with my coach, Ba Demba who is also the assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Clarkson University which is where I learned about the Eture Gap Year Soccer Program, recently applied, and was offered an acceptance letter.  This is a huge accomplishment as they only accept 40 athletes per year. (Checkout this awesome video about the program!)  

While training and playing full-time, I will also be working on completing The Global Sports Performance and Management Undergraduate Certificate (GSC), created and offered exclusively by ETURE SPORTS, in partnership with Missouri State University. The credits I earn from this Undergrad certificate would count as 18 credits towards my Bachelors in Sports Management when I attend college the following year.  Simply put, there is no other program in the world like Eture that can push me to be my very best and equip me with the tools necessary to achieve my career goal of becoming an elite soccer player, and eventually a coach.

If you have read this far, I truly appreciate you taking the opportunity to learn my story and hear my dream.  I have been working my entire life for an opportunity like this but it also comes with a cost that isn’t covered by traditional financial aid, loans, scholarships, and most grants due to it being a gap year program.  I still have several milestones to overcome, the next major one being June 1st, when another substantial payment is due toward the total cost of the program. So far my mom has a spaghetti fundraiser dinner planned on April 13th at the Pit Stop Diner in North Lawrence, a couple of raffles, a joker board, and she has a dodgeball tournament in the planning phase along with doing a bottle drive. If you decide to donate to my cause and help me achieve this dream, I am so incredibly thankful and I will surely pass it forward in our community when I am able to do so.

Much Respect and Gratitude,

 #9