Soccer changed Maribelia Avalos’ life when she arrived from Mexico to the United States. And now, she is using the game to positively influence the next generation.
Thanks to her athletic skills, Avalos lettered in four sports and earned enough academic and athletic scholar- ships to pay for school at Adams State University. Her hard work in the classroom led to Avalos receiving a bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from Adams State where she studied business, finance, economics, accounting, marketing, mathematics, and Spanish. “Sports changed my life when I got to this country. I made friends, and I became more confident, thanks to sports,” said Avalos in an interview with LaVozColorado.
After seeing the positive impact soccer had on her life, Avalos wanted to create a program to help children in the community have opportunities to go to college and earn scholarships. So, she founded the Colorado Athletic Soccer Academy Futbol Club —(CASA FC) a Denver based, Latino founded nonprofit organization that offers authentic, inclusive, and values-driven athletic experiences for children ages four to 18 years old.
By founding the organization, Avalos has given area youth a chance to develop their life skills and become compassionate future leaders of our communities.
“If you work hard, you’ll get good results, and you can do bigger things and get further in life. It’s a life skill that you learn on the field that the harder you work, the more benefits you get out of your body,” said Avalos. “It teaches a lot of leadership to kids. It’s a life skill they take on for the rest of their lives.”
At any given time, the Colorado Athletic Soccer Academic Futbol Club (CASA FC) has anywhere from 800 to 1,200 children participating in its competitive and recreational leagues and tournaments for beginner to elite athletes. Today, the organization has become one of the most competitive clubs in Colorado and in the country and has seen its players recruited to play at the highest level of their age group, like MLS Next — a youth soccer league in the United States and Canada that is managed by Major League Soccer.
Most of the participants in the Colorado Athletic Academic Futbol Club (CASA FC) are Latino, but Avalos said everyone is welcome. “We want to encourage these kids to go to college, because having an education is essential in this country. And having an education is something nobody can take away from you,” said Avalos. “It’s a big step in life, and I believe we are here to encourage them, to guide them. Our goal is to keep them in school, then push them toward college.”
Children are not the only ones who can benefit from the Colorado Athletic Academic Futbol Club.
Parents can too. The organization provides parents with opportunities to understand the impact sports can play in their child’s life and their education. Speakers and community leaders often speak to parents about fitness, mental health, nutrition, and academic advancement for their children.
To learn more about Colorado Athletic Academic Futbol Club, visit CASAFC.us.
