Breakaway's Big Year

Breakaway College Access Project, an afterschool program setting kids’ sights on college while playing ball, is having a big year.

The program, designed for students with a soccer background, is one part soccer skill building and one part academic assistance. Breakaway’s staff is persistent about getting students to think of college as something they can achieve.

Breakaway will host its first annual soccer fair this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at . Youth ages 6-18 can participate in skill, agility and fitness testing and games. There is a $10 fee for participating youth.

“It’s a chance for the community to come together around soccer, have fun, and test individual players skill, fitness and agility," executive director Carol Schimke said. "We also want to focus more attention on fitness and well-being, so we are inviting local fitness organizations to have booths providing information about their programs.”

But first and foremost, Schimke said, Breakaway is a gang prevention program.

“It’s a safe place for youth to receive help and build relationships with adult mentors through soccer,” said Schimke. “We also aim to improve academics through homework assistance. Ninety percent of participating youth meet their daily homework goals. Each day, the student sets goals of what they hope to do that day, and at the end of the day they reflect on whether they meet their goals.”

And the organization scored a $12,500 equipment grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation in January that helps make it all possible.