On October 5th, over 120 students from five Chicago public schools gathered at Midway Plaisance Park for the 11th Annual Connection Cup, an event celebrating diversity, culture, and connection through play. The day was brought to life by 30 dedicated volunteers, including UI associate board members from Chicago’s corporate, nonprofit, and fitness communities, as well as the Loyola Men’s Basketball team.
Patrick Mahal, a Vice President at Antares Capital and long time member of the Associate Board (AB), shared his passion for the event. “The joy on the kids’ faces when they step onto the field—it’s priceless. You see them breaking through barriers, neighborhood lines disappearing, and friendships forming. It’s a powerful thing to witness.” Patrick’s dedication and enthusiasm along with the 20 other members of the AB have helped shape the Connection Cup experience, allowing students to see their city in a new, unified light.
Samantha Tado, Performance Coach, LuLuLemon Ambassador and Founder of the Move Medicine Collective spent the day supporting communications by capturing video of the event. Beyond being present at Connection Cup Sam recently joined or associated board. “I want to create a space where children of the city can have a safe place to play and be involved in activities that all children deserve the opportunity to participate in.”
And we can’t forget about the Loyola Men’s Basketball team, who showed up in full force, joining a community of college teams that give back with us throughout the year. Special recognition goes to Miles Rubin, Loyola’s center and a proud graduate of Simeon Career Academy—a high school we currently partner with through our Coach for Success program. Seeing a Chicago native come full circle and give back as a volunteer underscores the impact our organization is making in the community.
Looking Ahead: How You Can Get Involved —> If you missed the October Connection Cup, don’t worry! Our next big volunteer opportunity is coming up on May 17th, 2025 and we need over 100 volunteers to pull it off. Sign Up Now.
Can’t wait until May to join the best team in town? Join us for a night of celebration at the Soccer Ball our annual fundraising gala where you can party with our crew and celebrate the work we’re doing to empower Chicago’s youth. Visit www.uisoccerball.org to learn more and get tickets.
