Welcome to Macklin's SBU Fundraising Page
Macklin Willigan
Macklin Willigan
Over the years, there are few things I've spent more time doing than going to school and playing soccer. That's why I'm thrilled to run the 2022 New York City Marathon on behalf of South Bronx United (SBU), an organization that seeks to elevate both experiences for the student-athletes they serve.
I had the pleasure of coaching one of SBU's U16 Boys teams in 2018, and every year since I have hoped to continue my support in just this way. Seeing firsthand how important SBU's programming is to the community it serves--leaving aside how formative both soccer and education have been in my life--I know every dollar raised by this campaign will be meaningfully spent.
More information about SBU and its impressive accomplishments? Glad you asked! A nonprofit youth development organization, SBU uses soccer as a tool for social change. This year, more than 1,300 young people, from those in primary school to college, will have participated in SBU programs on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in the community.
Founded in 2009 to address a lack of youth athletic programs in the South Bronx, the organization's programs have grown to combine soccer with academic enrichment, college prep, mentoring, leadership development, health and wellness programs, immigration legal services, and other family and youth support networks. The SBU Academy has a 100% high school graduation rate and 94% college matriculation rate. College-readiness rates of graduates are three times the rate of their peers.
As the South Bronx has disproportionately been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, SBU has continued to adapt programs and services to reach more young people and their families in new ways. In 2021, SBU strove toward providing college access programs to 150 additional teens through the Global Youth League, creating a more level playing field by recruiting and retaining more girls across SBU's programs, and creating a home-away-from home for young people to reconnect with their peers, coaches, and staff after a tumultuous year.
As SBU continues to adapt to changing circumstances, your support can make a real difference. I know it to be true. The SBU cause strikes a personal chord with me, and I would greatly appreciate any amount of support you are able to pledge.
Thank you,
Macklin
I had the pleasure of coaching one of SBU's U16 Boys teams in 2018, and every year since I have hoped to continue my support in just this way. Seeing firsthand how important SBU's programming is to the community it serves--leaving aside how formative both soccer and education have been in my life--I know every dollar raised by this campaign will be meaningfully spent.
More information about SBU and its impressive accomplishments? Glad you asked! A nonprofit youth development organization, SBU uses soccer as a tool for social change. This year, more than 1,300 young people, from those in primary school to college, will have participated in SBU programs on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in the community.
Founded in 2009 to address a lack of youth athletic programs in the South Bronx, the organization's programs have grown to combine soccer with academic enrichment, college prep, mentoring, leadership development, health and wellness programs, immigration legal services, and other family and youth support networks. The SBU Academy has a 100% high school graduation rate and 94% college matriculation rate. College-readiness rates of graduates are three times the rate of their peers.
As the South Bronx has disproportionately been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, SBU has continued to adapt programs and services to reach more young people and their families in new ways. In 2021, SBU strove toward providing college access programs to 150 additional teens through the Global Youth League, creating a more level playing field by recruiting and retaining more girls across SBU's programs, and creating a home-away-from home for young people to reconnect with their peers, coaches, and staff after a tumultuous year.
As SBU continues to adapt to changing circumstances, your support can make a real difference. I know it to be true. The SBU cause strikes a personal chord with me, and I would greatly appreciate any amount of support you are able to pledge.
Thank you,
Macklin
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