The Hempfield Soccer Club recently presented a $17,000 check to Special Olympics of Lancaster County, bringing the total funds raised by the club’s Kicking For Kids event to $253,000.  On left:  Kicking For Kids coordinator, Dave Lewandowski, and top fund raisers, Carter Groff and Drew Nyguist.  On right: Special Olympics athlete, Emily Hartman, and fund raising coordinator, Bud Heinley

Kicking For Kids Surpasses Quarter of a Million Dollars in Total Funds Raised

 Event Has Raised $253,000 in Its 13-Year History, All of Which Goes to Special Olympics of Lancaster County

A quarter of a million dollars!!!

          That’s the milestone Kicking For Kids, the fund raiser conducted by the Club for the benefit of Special Olympics of Lancaster County, surpassed this year.

              The 2006 event, which was held in October, raised over $17,000, bringing the total to $253,000 over the 13-year history of the event.  All of the funds raised go directly to Special Olympics.  None have ever gone to the Club. 

              Nearly 500 Hempfield players participated in the 2006 event.  The top fund raisers were Carter Groff in the Under-8 Division and Drew Nyguist in the Over-8 Division.

             Team awards, which are based on a combination of funds raised and player participation, went to coach Mike O’Hearn’s Under-12 travel team in the Girls Division, coach Dave Hess’s Under-12 intramural team in the Boys Division and coach Dave German’s 2nd Grade girls team in the Under-8 Division.

Unique Fund Raiser Established in 1994

              The Club began Kicking For Kids in 1994 as a means of giving something back to the community in which our players live. 

              “When we began the event, neither we nor Special Olympics had any idea how long it would last or how successful it would be,” states Dave Lewandowski, the event’s creator and coordinator.  “Well, thirteen years and a quarter of a million dollars later, I suppose we can now look back and say we had nothing to worry about!”

            It’s also important to note that Kicking For Kids is not a county-wide event. 

            This makes the $253,000 total even more outstanding because all of the funds have been raised in Hempfield by Hempfield players. 

             As a result, all the players, parents and coaches who participated in the event over the years should be quite proud of the effort they have put forth so that the mentally handicapped athletes of our county can enjoy sports such as soccer.

Funds Benefit All Special Olympics Activities

             Bob Lopez, Special Olympics of Lancaster County’s manager, agrees.  He explains that the funds raised by the event are used to pay the costs of expenses such as equipment, uniforms, facility rental and transportation not only for the soccer program, but also for many of the other programs that the organization provides. 

“Over the years, Kicking For Kids funds have enabled us to greatly expand activities for our athletes,” he states.  “Based on benefits like these, you can see why we’re so grateful to the Hempfield Soccer Club for creating Kicking For Kids.  The club is doing something very special for some very special people.”

              The Hempfield Soccer Club was named the Outstanding Sports Organization in the state by Special Olympics of Pennsylvania in 1994 for its efforts on behalf of mentally disabled athletes.

     Top Teams (Fund Raising)

Top Shooters

Top Players (Fund Raising)

Kicking for Kids 2005

(December 19, 2005) Top fund raisers, Renee Vance of East Petersburg and Tyler Jackson of Landisville, display the $18,000 check that was recently presented to Special Olympics of Lancaster County as a Christmas present from the Hempfield Soccer Club.  The funds were raised as a result of the club’s 12th Annual Kicking For Kids Weekend.