Thank you to our teams:  U.S. Naval Academy, University of Maryland, Villanova University, College of William and Mary, Loyola University, DC United Women, WPSL Maryland Capitols and the Women's Professional SuperGroup.

Join DC United Women on May 12th as they play the Boston Breakers as a portion of the funds will be donated to Headers For Hope!

Ticket locations are:

Section 550, Row 12, Seats 20-23 

Tickets available for sale HERE! 

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Founder of Headers For Hope and long-time soccer sports industry veteran Louise Waxler created the Foundation in loving memory of her many friends who lost their lives to this deadly disease. By combining her passion for sports and her passion for helping those win their fight against cancer, Headers For Hope was born. 

Headers For Hope works with tournaments and teams across the country and within each sport to raise funds, which is donated back to a local cancer charity or organization.  HFH is a registered non-profit corporation in the State of Virginia.

It is with your help that we can make a difference! For more information on how to get involved, please contact louise.waxler@headersforhope.org.  

By incorporating the love of the game with the desire to help those in need, Headers For Hope works with tournaments from every sport to develop and execute events that give back for a good cause.

Funds raised and donated in the name of Headers For Hope will help to assist communities improve the cancer experience of those affected with this life challenge. 

Event advertises that a charity will be identified and a competition will be held between the teams attending the event to raise funds for the [Headers] for Hope.

a.    A [name] can be selected to identify with the sporting event – mutually agreed with Headers for Hope

b.    Event selects a local Cancer program for the funds to be allocated – Hospice, Children’s Hospital, etc.

c.    The Event advertises on all event materials (registration, web site, postings) identifying [name] for Hope is collecting donations for X local organization.

d.    Teams raise funds before arriving to the event –

e.    Event and Headers for Hope establishes contest rules for the attending teams to be posted in prior event materials. A list of the competition rules and potential prizes for a team that raises the most donations and a prize for the club that raises the largest amount will also be published in pre-event materials. Two tier structure – more winners, more reason to fund raise

f.     Identify a pin or plastic bracelet to represent [name] for Hope program

g.    Event provides a booth for Headers for Hope to display programs and for the local charity to provide information on their work

h.    Event gets to use Headers for Hope identification on their event materials and web site

i.      80% goes to local charity & 20% goes to Headers for Hope for overhead

Event advertises a dedicated percentage of all entry fees to be donated to the [Headers] for Hope.

a.    A [name] can be selected to identify with the sporting event – mutually agreed upon with Headers for Hope

b.    Event selects a local charitable cancer program for the funds to be allocated – Hospice, Children’s Hospital, etc.

c.    80% of proceeds will be awarded to the locally identified charity (cancer related organization)

d.    20% goes to Headers for Hope for overhead expenses and event materials to be distributed

e.    Event provides a booth for Headers for Hope to display programs and for the local charity to provide information on their work.

f.     Event has the ability to use Hope identification on their event materials and web site

The Allan D. Brooks, Jr.

Education Financial Aid Scholarship 

Established in the fall of 2009, the Allan D. Brooks, Jr., Education Financial Aid Scholarship was established at the Pennington School in NJ. Allan’s daughter, Amber Brooks, an alumni of Pennington and current player at the University of North Carolina lost her dad in the spring of 2009. Jean Brooks, Allan’s wife, currently serves as the USYS Region I ODP Girls Administrator taking over the helm at the request of her long-time friend, Charlotte Moran, who passed away 5 weeks after Allan. 

In memory of Allan, HEADERS FOR HOPE, is supporting this worthy cause by selling Nike mini-balls ($15.00) to help raise funds towards supporting the Financial Aid Scholarship at Pennington.   The Allan D. Brooks, Jr. Scholarship supports a student meeting the School’s admission criteria and in need of financial aid. First preference is given to a qualifying student of Costa Rican descent who would not otherwise be able to attend Pennington. The scholarship was awarded for the first time during the 2010–11 academic year to Luis Mena ’15, who entered the School as an eighth-grader this year. Luis receives $2,500 from the Brooks Scholarship toward his Pennington tuition as part of his financial aid. A native Costa Rican, Luis lives in Trenton, where he had been attending the Emily Fisher Charter School. Luis is an excellent student and a dedicated soccer player. The Admission Office described his teacher recommendations as “positively effusive.” 

The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs, with a current enrollment of 484 students. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service, and the creative and performing arts. Within the curriculum there are also specialized programs for international students and for students with learning differences.

Please contribute to the Allan D. Brooks, Jr., Education Financial Aid Scholarship and purchase your Nike mini-soccer ball today!

More than two years ago, I was moved by the generosity of several friends in the soccer community that joined together and raised more than $3000 in 48 hours to help one of our friends. Charlotte Moran, long time Region I ODP Administrator and advocate of the women’s game at all levels, had been diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer. So, instead of raising money for research, “we” raised money for Charlotte…for a person battling cancer…for a person needing comfort and support…for a person we loved.  You see, our funds went directly to helping our friend. I commend and support every organization leading the charge to find a cure, but we were committed to making Charlotte’s remaining time on this earth as comforting as possible. It was a time when we told her that we loved her, we cared about her and we were here to help. We knew that we couldn’t make the cancer go away, we couldn’t make it all better, but we could help make her feel safer. The funds were given to a wellness center that our friend frequented during her last 6 months of life.   

Since Charlotte’s passing more than two years ago, a cure has not been found; people are still struggling with the pain of cancer and the crippling effects of chemo. And, so, for me, it was time to empower and share with others. Hence, Headers for Hope was born.  

If you or your organization would like to host a Headers for Hope event, please contact me at louise.waxler@headersforhope.org.

Headers for Hope Launches First Event 

Saturday night, Oct 8^th, I headed over to the University of Maryland’s Ludwig Stadium for the Maryland women’s soccer game versus Wake Forest.  The game brought in a crowd of nearly 2,000 fans who watched the eleventh ranked University of Maryland soccer team  and the sixth ranked Wake Forest team battle to a 0-0 tie. Despite the lack of goals it was a very exciting game with a handful of great chances on goal, some terrific attacking sequences and quality goalkeeping.  The crowd was energetic and active and a good mixture of young and old, individuals and teams, boys and girls.  

 The game also happened to be the initial fundraising event for Header’s for Hope. The Maryland team dressed in pink uniforms to raise awareness for breast cancer and in support of the new charity. They also donated a pink Maryland team jersey, which was autographed by the entire team, and brought in an additional funds through a silent auction. I bid on it, but was beaten out for it pretty quickly. The staff at Maryland had also planted hand painted signs around the facility reminding people of the importance of breast cancer awareness and supporting research; the pink jerseys on the field and the bench were also a clear reminder.  

At the press conference after the game, Brian Penske, the Maryland coach, who spearheaded the efforts was asked about the pink jerseys and Headers for Hope. He said, “We talk all the time about perspective. And, this is a good reminder. Winning and losing are not what matters.  What matters are the people who are suffering from breast cancer, and any other form of cancer. We are honored to do our part.”      

So, with great gratitude to the University of Maryland, the staff and players and all the fans that took part on Saturday night we have now launched our first event.   

If you would also like to host a local event with proceeds returning to your local community, please contact us. All proceeds from this Maryland event will be designated to the Header’s for Hope inaugural college tournament this spring. If your team is interested in participating in that tournament, or hosting an event, please contact Louise Waxler at louise.waxler@headersforhope.org.