Thanks to a donation from PALMco - a family-owned and operated energy supply company - Up2Us Sports will support and train four coaches in the Baltimore, MD area. All four coaches recently attended an Up2Us Sports Coach Training Institute in Boston. Read about the four coaches below: 

Coach Omar DuPree
Baltimore Lacrosse and Leadership

Omar was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He grew up in very challenging neighborhoods. He believes that his upbringing and certain challenges that he has faced has helped his ability to relate to the children that he works with.  Growing up, he used lacrosse as a platform to travel the world, and further his education. Omar has had the opportunities to play and coach lacrosse at a very high level in several countries.  He credits discipline, a strong work ethic and various connections he has made through lacrosse that has helped make him the man he is today.  He joined Baltimore Lacrosse and Leadership because of their mission to help the youth in the community.  "I was once the children we serve, and they are me"

"Training in Boston is an experience that every coach should attend.  Having that many people from different parts across the country, whom are all working to make society a better place, was truly a remarkable experience."

Coach Katherine Carnevale
Charm City Lacrosse

Katherine played lacrosse all four years at Goucher College. When she graduated she knew she wanted to continue to be involved with lacrosse in a coaching capacity. She became super excited about the opportunity to coach children through the CAA program, and help develop the same passion for lacrosse that she has.

"I really enjoyed meeting so many like-minded people. We all have different backgrounds, but are working towards the same goals."

Coach Patrick Makles
Soccer Without Borders

 Patrick started volunteering with SWB during his Sophomore year at Loyola University Maryland. He initially helped out at the program once a week and by his senior year he began interning during the Spring semester. Patrick just graduated from Loyola University Maryland this past May and decided to take on a year of service at SWB through the CAA Americorps program.

"The CAA training in Boston provided me with new tools to use throughout the year as a coach, but more importantly, provided me with new friendships and connections with coaches from different cities and sports whom I am looking forward to sharing and bouncing ideas off of during the CAA year."

Coach Sarah Ferrari
Soccer Without Borders at the International School at Langley Park

Sarah Worked for Soccer Without Borders (SWB) during college at their Uganda Site, and was thrilled for a second opportunity to work with the organization in the United States. SWB was the start of her passion, interest, and dedication to the people who make up the immigrant, refugee, and asylee populations around the world. Now having the support from two organizations, SWB and CAA, the resources and opportunities are endless. And once such opportunity occurred at  the CAA training in Miami where she learned how to coach and engage with students who have dealt with various traumas and adverse childhood experiences. With this new knowledge she is over the moon excited to be working with the youth at her school and specifically with the High School Girls’ Soccer team this fall.