“Do you have any books about kids who look like me?”

This heartfelt question from a 5-year-old at Kensington Soccer Club’s outdoor Free Books display years after KSC first opened its doors reaffirmed why we created SAVE (Soccer Athletes Value Education). This simple question highlights the critical importance of selecting books that reflect the identities, experiences, and dreams of our youth—books that tell them, “You belong. Your story matters.”

For us, choosing the right books is an act of love. It’s a commitment to affirming the identities of our youth, nurturing their dreams, and expanding their horizons through diverse perspectives. Representation in literature is not just important—it’s essential.

This weekend, February 1st, marks the 33rd Annual African American Children’s Book Fair at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Kensington Soccer Club is raising funds to purchase books for our youth, ensuring they have access to stories written by Black and Brown authors. Events like this are vital because they allow us to intentionally select books that resonate with our community while directly supporting Black and Brown authors, whose voices and stories enrich the literary world and inspire the next generation.

These books are distributed at signature events, competitive team gatherings, our Juniors program, summer camps, after-school tournaments, community events, and through KSC Prep, a teen program. In 2024 alone, KSC distributed over 5,000 books to our athletes and families.

Your generosity makes this possible. Every donation helps us provide the gift of representation and the joy of reading to even more young minds.

Please consider making a donation today. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact.

Thank you for your kindness and support.

Barbyose Noisette

Executive Program Director