Ele Corporation Contributes to SAFE Foundation's Soccer Program for Underprivileged Kids in Cicero

McCook, IL – Elé Corporation, a McCook-based manufacturer, has made a $5,000 donation to the SAFE Foundation’s soccer programs being held for underprivileged youth in the Hawthorne Park District in Cicero, IL. Since 1984, the SAFE Foundation and Soccer Made in America (SMIA) have been providing free soccer camps, clinics and training to children in need in the Chicago area as a means to motivate them to achieve higher educational goals, be more motivated as students and athletes, and stay off the streets.

Locally, SAFE/SMIA soccer camps and clinics have been held in La Grange, Lyons, Summit, La Grange Park, Western Springs, Berwyn, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Hickory Hills, Palos, Justice and a variety of other suburbs as well.

According to Hawthorne Park District Executive Director Dennis Raleigh, the SAFE Foundation soccer programs, founded by former professional soccer star Aleks Mihailovic, have been helping kids in his District get a boost in exercise and self-esteem for the past 12 years. Raleigh said the young players, aged 4 to 14, “come from disadvantaged families who cannot otherwise afford our programs, but truly need what Aleks is offering them.”

SAFE Foundation funding goes directly towards providing children with academic tutoring, uniforms, soccer training/coaching by a professional, an organized league for competition, tournament and college showcase exposure, and the cost of transportation to such tournaments. Its “High School and Beyond” program specifically encourages students to achieve concrete goals in elementary school, high school and beyond. Both SAFE and SMIA are partnered with the National Collegiate Scouting Association.

A 2013 report from the Institute of Medicine asserts that “children who are more (physically) active show greater attention, have faster cognitive processing speed, and perform better on standardized academic tests than children who are less active.”

“We are grateful that Elé Corporation’s executives value the connection between soccer, physical fitness and education, just as we do,” said Mihailovic, who conducted his first program in 1987 for children living in Chicago’s Cabrini Green public housing projects. Mihailovic is the former National Director of Coaching for the U.S. Adult Soccer Association, and played professionally in the North American Soccer League.

“This contribution will allow many children to achieve their goals both on and off the field,” Mihailovic continued, explaining that Elé Corporation will join the ranks of other SAFE Foundation supporters, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, SMIA, Wal-Mart and American Express.

“We are thrilled to be supporting SAFE Foundation’s unique and proven programs,” said Michele Eubank, Vice President of Elé Corporation. “Not only is it a fantastic way for us to support our community, but it’s also an investment in the future success of our children. What’s more compelling than that?”

Eubank added that she believes the SAFE Foundation programs are so effective in reaching a broad range of children with its unique approach to athletics and education that she wants to find other ways to support it, and encourages other local companies and individuals to do so as well.

According to SAFE Foundation’s website, studies indicate a direct correlation between the involvement in sports and the reduced potential for youth to become involved in drugs, sexual promiscuity, crime and gang-related behaviors. The website also cites that “the economic, social and personal value of ‘investing’ in the development of children in a positive and constructive manner avoids the social and penal system costs that may later result.”

Hawthorne Director Raleigh said both Elé’s donation and Mihailovic’s program will continue to provide “a safe haven for kids who really need it. We couldn’t be more grateful for such generosity.”

Elé Corporation is a leading ISO 9001:2008-certified global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in consumer products and industrial applications. . The company provides products to companies in a wide range of industries around the world, including polyurethane, metal working, personal care, pulp and paper, agriculture, household, industrial & institutional (HI&I), coatings, inks, and food processing, among others. All Elé products are manufactured in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.elecorporation.com.