Thank you for your 2011 sponsorship in the Emily Johnson “Play it Forward” Fund.

In November 2008, our community lost a dynamic young woman, Emily Johnson, who was a student at Coal Ridge High School.  Emily was always interested in caring for others and making a difference in the world.  She was also very passionate about the sport of soccer, and to honor her memory and reinforce that passion in others, friends and family are once again organizing the Play It Forward 3v3 Soccer Tournament at Gates Soccer Park at Colorado Mountain College-Spring Valley Campus in Glenwood Springs.  The tournament will be held on the weekend of June 1-3, 2012.

Last year, with your generosity we had the pleasure of presenting $3,000 scholarships to two Coal Ridge students. The creativity scholarship was awarded to Cody Lyon and the soccer scholarship was awarded to Ashlie Bowles. We awarded a third scholarship to a valley wide soccer player in the amount of $2,000 to Dalton Handy from Roaring Fork High School. Also, in Emily’s spirit we made a $1,000 local donation to Feed My Sheep, a local organization which helps the homeless. Each year we send the extra tournament t-shirts to some part of the world that has experienced a hardship hoping in some small way to give back. This year we sent the extra t-shirts to Japan.

Because of the success of the June 2011 tournament and fundraising we will award three $4,000.00 scholarships to the graduating class of 2012, bringing our three year total to $30,000 in scholarships…WOW!

In order to repeat this success, we continue to seek financial assistance from our local sponsors.  The tournament is a volunteer effort. Sponsor contributions will be used to purchase/replace tournament materials such as goals, field paint, and advertising. All money not used in the staging of the tournament will be funneled into the scholarship fund. Scholarship amounts are determined by the success of our fundraising. In addition, we would again like to honor Emily’s spirit by contributing to a local and/or global charity.

The tournament committee anticipates a high level of interest in the community, and potentially high visibility for all event sponsors. Below are the contribution levels:
$500 and above: If we receive your contribution by March 15th we will be able to include your name/business on the event poster and all subsequent advertising.
$250: Your name/business will be on the event T-shirt.
$100: Your name/business will be on the event sponsor board.
All other levels will be publically thanked in the Glenwood Post Independent.

All contributions are tax deductible as funds will be administered through CharitySmith, a 501c3 public charity organization, federal tax id 87-0636433.  Please make all checks payable to Emily Johnson Fund and payment may be sent to:
Emily Johnson Play It Forward
P.O. Box 584
Silt, CO 81652

All questions or concerns may be directed to Brian Blair, CRHS soccer coach, at 303-332-8751 or by email to playitforward@sopris.net.   For more information about the tournament please go to:  www.EmilyJohnsonPlayitForward.org

Thank you! Your generosity insures our success!