“Coach Jake is helping these kids in giving them an opportunity to succeed.”
Mission
Our Mission: The Coach Jake Foundation is an advocacy organization that provides legal, educational and social service support to at risk youth soccer players.
“I love to see the MLK kids that are on the right track...doing incredible things.”
Philosophy
The Coach Jake Foundation is founded on the principle that everyone deserves to "Have a Better Life." With soccer as a vehicle, we are advocates for our under served urban youth with the goal of fulfilling their dreams and improving their futures. Our organization provides the service of supporting our community's youth in succeeding in life.
The Coach Jake Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that believes in assisting our urban youth with legal, educational and social challenges. Our vision has been fostered on this premise that all children, no matter where they come from, deserve the opportunity and should be given the means they need to develop into exceptional and productive citizens.
“See a brighter future through the world’s greatest sport: soccer!””
Many young people in and around cities are at risk of
dropping out of school, suffering in poverty, and living
with violence within their communities.
Services We Provide...
Your Donations At Work!
Education Advocacy and Support:
The Coach Jake Foundation is working to create and insure a culture that values education for our targeted at risk youth, as well as enhance their future educational goals.
Social Service Advocacy and Support:
The Coach Jake Foundation is working with our targeted at risk youth and their families to insure equal access to the resources and opportunities that allow them to meet their basic needs.
Immigration Advocacy and Support:
The Coach Jake Foundation advocates and assists in legal aid for our at risk youth to insure they have the opportunity to be given a chance to pursue their dreams and improve their lives.
““We are on earth for two reasons: to learn life’s lessons and to help others””
Our Advisory Board
The Coach Jake Foundation's Advisory Board is a powerful and influential group of leaders in their industry. We are committed to our organizational goals, as well as the mission of creating positive social change.
Richard Nightingale
A business development specialist with extensive experience working for and with leading
brands, retailers, and organizations in the sports industry.
Founder of the RPN Sports Group, a consulting company based in Jacksonville, Florida that
provides situational, tailored and timely solutions for clients in the global soccer community.
Richard first became aware of MLK Soccer back in 1996 when he was General Manager of Nike
Soccer, and over the subsequent years has remained friends with Coach Jake, awed by his
incredible passion to impact the lives of so many students-athletes, through the ‘beautiful game’.
Kimani Calnek
New York native Kimani Calnek has been coaching youth soccer in the Tri-state area since 2004, with a passion for youth development and creating opportunities for young persons in historically disadvantaged communities.
He is currently is the Youth Development Director at Martin Luther King Jr. Boys High School soccer program. He has also coached High School soccer at the United Nations International School, Riverdale Country Day School and Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Coach Calnek is also the Technical Director for the U23/U20 Mens team at Downtown United Soccer Club ( NYC ).
Ray Selvadurai
Ray enters his eighteenth year at Manhattan Soccer Club as a head coach, and fifth as Director of Coaching.
Currently, Ray serves as an Executive Board Member of EDP (Elite Development Program), DOC Leadership for the New York City FC Youth Affiliate Program (MLS), and has been selected for numerous US CLUB SOCCER Camps.
Claudio Alejandro Reyna
Claudio Alejandro Reyna is an American former professional soccer player and United States National Team Captain. A former midfielder, he spent most of his professional career in Europe, playing in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg, the Premier League for Sunderland and Manchester City, and in the Scottish Premier League for Rangers.
He currently serves as the Technical Director for MLS Club Austin FC.
“ I have my priorities set out: family first, education, and then soccer comes after that.”