"WHERE DOES ALL THE MONEY GO?": (08-31-05) Often we are asked as an organization, "Where does all the money go"? This is a valid question and one that we want to make sure we answer.

    Tallmadge United Soccer Club (T.U.S.C.) is a completely NON-PROFIT organization. As a league, 100% of all money goes back into the our program in some form. There are no paid employees. All board members, coaches and support staff are strictly volunteers.

    We raise money through four primary ways each year. Our revenue streams consist of a very small portion of the registration fees, merchandise and concession stand sales, and two major fundraisers. The main events for T.U.S.C. are the two events we sponsor, which are the Circle City Tournament in the spring and the Reverse Raffle in the fall. These two events alone account for the largest percentage of all the money that keeps our program running. Maintenance of all of our fields is a significant expense. If not for these fundraisers, we would not have the ability to improve the drainage systems, fertilize, line and seed the fields that we all play on. The excellent condition and the overall maintenance of our fields is a huge undertaking  and a even bigger expense.

    As with everything, our equipment wears out and gets broken. We try to maintain it when possible but if needed, we purchase new equipment. (i.e goals, nets, coaches medical kits, practice jerseys, cones etc.) Leaving equipment out through out the summer it is subject to weather and vandalism, which is a huge problem. We hope to be able to solve this problem with the construction of the new storage barn at the Summit County Fields. Again, 100% paid for by T.U.S.C.

    Giving back to the kids is important to all of us. Each season our club sponsors our coaches, as well as players, in there desire to improve there soccer abilities. Through other club's tournaments, indoor practice fees, skill clinics or coaching classes, T.U.S.C supports everyone in our organization. Recently, G.A.A.S.A. required ALL competitive league coaches be licensed. T.U.S.C. re-embursed any coach that wished to attend any required licensing courses.  Our league also sponsors various soccer clinics, as we did earlier this year with the free clinic put on by The University of Akron at our field.

    Finally, Tallmadge United Soccer Club provides several player scholarships (registration fees/uniforms) each season for children in the community who couldn't normally participate within our program. In exchange, these players are required to donate time back to our organization. We also partially subsides our teams to participate in outside tournaments.

    From our uniforms to our fields, in the day of "pay to play" and ever decreasing athletic budgets in schools, we hope that our program is something that everyone can be proud of. We do, because we care! The work that we do as an organization is completely oriented towards providing your child with a first class soccer program and valuable life lessons. Our continued goal for this program is to give the children in the Tallmadge and surrounding areas, everything they need to succeed in soccer, to the extent of their desire. We continue to ask for your support now and in the future.

    As always, if there a soccer related request that you have or you would like to see us become involved in, please do not hesitate to contact any one of our board members.