Starfinder Foundation

⏰ The countdown is on for the 2026 Starfinder Foundation’s Insurance Cup & Cornhole Championship, presented by Johnson Kendall Johnson! With just one month to go, we’re excited to begin highlighting the incredible sponsors who make this event possible. Today, we’re giving a special shoutout to Gold Sponsor: Eastern Alliance Insurance Group! Thank you for your generous support and commitment to Starfinder. We’re grateful to have you on our team and can’t wait for another great year! At this year's Insurance Cup and Cornhole Championship, more than 30 companies from the insurance industry will come together for a day of friendly competition, battling it out in our soccer and cornhole tournaments for trophies and, of course, bragging rights—all in support of Starfinder’s mission. STAY TUNED FOR MORE SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS AS THE EVENT APPROACHES. Interested in getting involved? Contact development@starfinderfoundation.org. #InsuranceCup #StarfinderFoundation #SoccerForSocialChange #CorporateGiving #CommunityPartnerships #jkj #johnshonkendalljohnson

📣 We're hiring coaches! Join Starfinder and use soccer as a way to help young people grow on and off the field! If you believe that soccer is an amazing tool for youth development, relationship building, and creating positive spaces for young people of all ages, then we are looking for you! ⚽️ after-school and evening opportunities 🗓️ come to an info session on September 18 🔗 registration required at bit.ly/coachfall Questions? Email programs@starfinderfoundation.org We can’t wait to meet you!

Some people serve on boards and some people, like Alex Seldin become woven into the fabric of the organization. For years, Alex has been one of Starfinder's biggest champions—sharing our belief that soccer has the power to change lives and working tirelessly to ensure more young people have access to opportunity. His impact reaches far beyond the boardroom. Alex has coached in our programs, built meaningful relationships with our young people, led our Board through a leadership transition, helped guide Starfinder through the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ida, and never stopped believing in what this organization could become. Through every challenge and every milestone, Alex has shown up with steady leadership, thoughtful guidance, and an unwavering commitment to our mission. He has been an incredible ambassador for Starfinder, for the game of soccer, and for young people in the Philadelphia community. As Alex concludes his tenure as Board Chair, and we welcome our new Board Chair, Kimberly Siejak, we simply want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for believing in our young people. Thank you for believing in Starfinder. Thank you for helping build a stronger future where soccer truly belongs to everyone. As we celebrate Alex's service, we invite you to honor his legacy by investing in the future of Starfinder, https://lnkd.in/gP96yX9w

Closing out Caribbean American Heritage Month, we're highlighting Tim Weah, a professional soccer player for the U.S. Men's National Team. Weah has represented the United States on some of the biggest stages in soccer, including the FIFA World Cup, where he scored the U.S. Men's National Team's first World Cup goal in eight years during the 2022 tournament. Throughout his career, he has won multiple Concacaf Nations League titles and established himself as a dynamic and versatile player at both the club and international levels. Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Weah remains committed to giving back. In 2026, he partnered with youth soccer organizations in Queens, New York, to host a free community event that brought together young players and families through the beautiful game of soccer. He has also worked to increase access to the sport and create opportunities for young people to engage with the game. As we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month, we recognize Tim Weah's achievements and the positive impact he continues to make both on and off the field. His journey demonstrates that leadership extends beyond the game and into the communities we serve!

Closing out pride month, we're highlighting Quinn, a professional soccer player whose impact on the game extends far beyond the field! Quinn made history as the highest-drafted Canadian in NWSL history when they were selected third overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2018 NWSL Draft. They went on to spend six seasons with Seattle Reign FC, making more than 80 appearances and helping the club capture the 2022 NWSL Shield. Throughout their professional career, Quinn has been recognized for their leadership, consistency, and ability to elevate those around them. On the international stage, Quinn has represented Canada at multiple FIFA Women's World Cups and three Olympic Games. They helped Canada win a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics and played a key role in Canada's historic gold medal-winning run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. When Canada won its first-ever Olympic gold medal in soccer, Quinn became the first openly transgender and nonbinary athlete to win an Olympic medal of any color. Their visibility has helped create greater representation in sports and has inspired countless young people to embrace who they are with confidence and pride! At Starfinder, we believe every young person deserves to bring their full self to the field, be celebrated for who they are, and feel a true sense of belonging. Join us in celebrating Quinn and the many LGBTQ+ athletes who continue to inspire the next generation through sport!

Yesterday was a big day for the Starfinder community, and a reminder of why our mission is important. Several of our young people had the incredible honor of serving as Quaker Player Escorts, walking onto the pitch ahead of the Curaçao vs. Côte d'Ivoire match. For one, Rocky, it was even more meaningful because he was walking alongside a team that represents his own family's heritage. Our young people even got featured on some of the players' social media posts! At the same time, thanks to the generosity of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and the City of Philadelphia, 50 additional members of the Starfinder community were able to experience the match together from the stands—cheering on their friends and witnessing the world's biggest sporting event in their own city. That's what access looks like. As we've seen in our city and region, it is true...soccer belongs to everyone. When young people see themselves on the field, in the stands, and at the center of moments like these, their understanding of what's possible expands. They begin to believe that these spaces belong to them—not someday, but today. We're deeply grateful to our partners at Quaker, Common Goal, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia™ and to Mayor Parker and the City of Philadelphia for helping make this experience possible. The World Cup will eventually leave Philadelphia, but the confidence, pride, and memories these young people carry forward will last a lifetime. #FootballForGood #SoccerForSocialChange #FIFAWorldCup26 #YouthDevelopment #AccessMatters #Philadelphia #CommunityImpact #commongoal #onephiladelphia

Rocky embodies everything we hope for our young people—confidence, curiosity, joy, and a willingness to embrace new experiences. This is exactly why access matters. Every young person deserves the chance to dream big, be seen, and experience something extraordinary. Rocky is a great reminder of what's possible when opportunity meets potential...and that soccer belongs to everyone! Be sure to check out this feature: https://lnkd.in/eYX99WYS We're honored to be a small part of his journey and can't wait to cheer him on during this once-in-a-lifetime World Cup experience. ⚽🌎💙

Today, on the first day of FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States, we're proud to share that young people from Starfinder Foundation will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as player escorts during the FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia™ matches! Through a partnership between Quaker and Common Goal, young people from Starfinder Foundation will have the extraordinary opportunity to walk players out onto the field during the opening ceremonies. For many of these youth, this experience represents far more than a moment on the world stage. It is a reminder that they belong in the game, that this game belongs to everyone. At Starfinder, we see every day how soccer can create pathways to health, confidence, leadership, and connection. Through partnerships like these, the game becomes more than a sport—it becomes a vehicle to dream bigger, and expand their ability to imagine what could be possible. Together, we're helping young people not just watch history unfold—but become part of it. Help us cheer them on!!! #fifaworldcup2026 #commongoal #worldfootballgivingday #soccerforsocialchange

Today is World Football Giving Day—a reminder that the global game is at its best when it creates opportunity, belonging, and access for young people everywhere. At Starfinder Foundation, we see that impact every day. Recently, one of our graduating high school seniors, Mouhamadou, reflected on his journey at Starfinder. Early on, he struggled to express himself and often withdrew from conversations because of insecurity around speaking. Over time, through soccer, teammates, coaches, and community, he developed the confidence to communicate openly, build meaningful relationships, and grow into a leader. A remark that especially stayed with us: “What now sets me apart is my ability to use my challenges as motivation. I work toward opportunities, not wait for them.” That is the power of access. Access to safe spaces. Access to mentorship. Access to opportunity. Access to a community that believes in young people before the world sees them. As excitement builds toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we are reminded that the future of the game is shaped not only on the world stage, but in local communities where young people are given the chance to grow, lead, and thrive. On World Football Giving Day, please support Starfinder and help us to continue to remove barriers so more youth can experience the transformational power of soccer and community. This game belongs to all of us. Your support helps youth see themselves reflected in the future of the game: https://lnkd.in/etNtQwmr #WorldFootballGivingDay #wearein #SoccerForSocialChange #YouthDevelopment #Philadelphia #LeadershipBeyondTheGame #CommonCommon Goal

At Starfinder, we often say that soccer is just the beginning. For Kimberly, it became a pathway to confidence, leadership, community, and now, college. When Kimberly first joined Starfinder, she was quiet and unsure of herself. Over time, through the support of teammates, coaches, and a community that believed in her, she found her voice—not only on the field, but beyond it. Next month, she graduates as a young leader ready to take on her next chapter at Temple University. We are especially proud to share that Kimberly was awarded the Level Up Scholarship in honor of Rudy Kranys and Sharon Kranys—an investment in young people whose hard work, growth, and perseverance embody the very spirit of Starfinder, that will make the pathway to Temple that much smoother. Stories like Kimberly’s are possible because of a community that believes every young person deserves access to opportunity, mentorship, and safe spaces to grow. As the excitement around #WorldFootballGivingDay and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to build in Philadelphia, we know the spotlight on soccer is growing—but so is the need to ensure that ALL young people have meaningful pathways to participate, belong, and thrive. If you believe in the power of soccer to create social change, we hope you’ll consider supporting Starfinder today. Your generosity helps us continue opening doors for young people like Kimberly—on the field and far beyond it. https://lnkd.in/eV_aJc3j #SoccerForSocialChange #LeadershipBeyondTheGame #YouthDevelopment #Philadelphia #LevelUp #StarfinderFoundationoundation #Worldfootballgivingday