About the YSI Foundation
The YSI Foundation was established on the belief that every child who wants to play the beautiful game should have the opportunity to do so, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Unfortunately, the cost of participating in organized soccer continues to rise, making it increasingly difficult for many low- and middle-income families to afford quality training and competitive opportunities. As a result, too many children are forced to give up the sport they love. Research has shown that children who participate in sports are more likely to lead healthier lives, perform better academically, develop confidence and leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships.
Recognizing this need, YSI parents and founders came together to create the YSI Foundation. Our mission is to remove financial barriers so that every child has the opportunity to experience the many benefits of soccer. Beyond the game itself, we strive to provide young people with the mentorship, support, and sense of community they need to succeed both on and off the field.
Our Staff
Joaquin Uribe
"KINI"
PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER & HEAD COACH
Joaquin honed his skills in the farm systems of various professional soccer teams in Spain. After moving to the USA at the age of 20, he continued to play soccer for fun. He has coached both the Boys' and Girls' Soccer Teams at Alcott Elementary School in Chicago, as well as the Boys’ Soccer Team at the Lab School of the University of Chicago.
Joaquin holds a “D” License from the US Soccer Federation and is a certified Grassroots Referee. Before fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a soccer coach and mentor, he was a lead engineer for a major manufacturing company in Chicago. Joaquin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Rolando Paz
"ROLO"
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD COACH
Rolando Paz grew up in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, and moved to New York City at the age of 14. He played for multiple amateur teams and leagues at competitive levels. He was named “Rookie of the Year” his first year playing for City College of New York (CCNY) and was MVP for 3 consecutive years. In 2002, he was inducted into the CCNY Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2002, he traveled to Portugal to compete against teams from Norway, England, Portugal and Sweden.
While living in New York City, he had the opportunity to coach children with special needs in a summer program in the Bronx and a women’s team in Manhattan. Rolando is certified by the US Soccer Federation as an “D” License coach and he also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from CCNY.
Jose Piña
"PECO"
CO-FOUNDER & HEAD COACH
José Piña grew up in Chile and has played soccer all his life. He holds that South American passion for “the beautiful game.” In Chile, he played at the college level, and until recently, he played at the highest amateur level in the State of Illinois. In 2011, Peco graduated from the Master's of Sports Administration program at Northwestern University.
In 2012, he obtained his Coach License with the Illinois State Soccer Association (ISSA), and he completed his certification with the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) for coaching children in the U-10 and U-8 divisions. Peco is certified by the US Soccer Federation as an “E” License coach and also a FA/CPR/AED certified. Peco is the co-founder of Funfundamentals, a former CPS after-school provider, serving more than 300 students between 2012 and 2014.