OLYMPIACOS USA FOUNDATION SOCCER FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

Olympiacos USA Foundation) is pleased to offer a scholarship program for soccer athletes in need of financial assistance in order to play. The goal of the Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship Program is to make the club soccer experience available to all qualified soccer players who have the talent and commitment, but who may not otherwise be able to afford the experience. Qualification takes into consideration financial needs as well as other factors that may influence a player’s ability to play with Olympiacos Chicago. However, since the financial resources of the Olympiacos USA Foundation Fund are limited, the availability and amount of scholarships is also limited to true financial hardship situations. Scholarships are not always available and vary season to season due to the availability of funds. Each scholarship request will be considered on per season basis. Priority will be given to returning Olympiacos Chicago players. To fairly distribute available funds an in-depth application is required with supporting documentation. Accounts may vary due to individual circumstances and need.

RESPONSIBILITY

Players receiving scholarships and their families are required to exert a maximum effort to do volunteer work for team and/or Club functions as requested. Failure to do so may result in a review of the scholarship granted. Parents/Guardians of scholarship players will be expected to participate in all club and team community programs, events, fundraisers, etc.

DEADLINES

Applications must be received back as soon as possible in order to receive a scholarship. Late applications will be considered only if funds are available. All applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applicants who submit complete, signed applications with all attachments will be notified whether or not their request is approved by the Scholarship Committee within 15 business days of the submission deadline.

NOTE: Applicants must re-apply for a scholarship each season and they must be in good standing with the club (no outstanding due fees) or scholarship will not be considered.

This scholarship assistance is available because of the conscientious efforts of the Olympiacos USA Foundation to manage its financial resources and its fundraising efforts. In return, we expect your player to fulfill his/her player commitment by participating fully in his/her team’s training sessions, games and tournament play. We expect your household to be loyal supporters of Olympiacos Chicago and assist any way possible at the team and club level.

This application serves as the only official application for Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarships. To be considered for a scholarship, athletes must complete an submit this application.

SCHOLARSHIP APPROVAL

Before a scholarship will be awarded, the parents or guardians of the prospective scholarship recipient must complete the scholarship application. If the application is not provided or the Scholarship Committee determines that there is insufficient basis for a scholarship based on need the scholarship will be denied. These decisions will be made on a case by case basis.

All scholarship requests must be approved by the Scholarship Committee. The Scholarship Committee of Olympiacos USA Foundation will review all Scholarship Applications. The Scholarship Committee will then make a recommendation on each scholarship request to the remainder of the Olympiacos USA Foundation Board for approval. The parent will receive notification of the board’s decision whether or not the scholarship is awarded.

Normally, no scholarship will be awarded to cover the cost of the uniforms, camps, or travel costs. However, there may be some extreme circumstances where a child may receive additional assistance. In the event a child meets the Federal Poverty Guidelines as reflected in the Federal Register, a child may receive more financial assistance, including tournament fees, uniform fees and other team activity fees. However, these funds are very limited. A scholarship will not cover cost of additional items purchased, such as equipment bags, warm-ups and other non-uniform items.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All scholarship information is for the sole purpose of helping Olympiacos USA Foundation decide who the neediest individuals are for a particular season. These scholarship requests are strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone other than the applicant and the Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship committee.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What forms and documents do I need to submit to apply for the Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship Program?
   All players applying for the scholarship program are required to complete the official application form and submit signed copies of federal income tax returns (including schedules), W-2 wage statement and other documents may be listed in the application.
2. What is the application deadline for the Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship Program?
   Families must submit their application within 7 days after Olympiacos USA Foundation has submitted Scholarship Application Program details to them. Late and incomplete applications may not be accepted.
3. Do I need to reapply for an Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship each season?
   All players must apply for scholarships in each season of the program.
4. What should we do if our federal tax returns will be delayed?
   Complete the official application by the deadline using estimated information. Submit a signed copy of your federal tax returns as soon as possible.
5. When can I expect to hear about my Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship?
   You will be notified within 15 business days of your submission.
6. Will I receive the same Scholarship amount for each year I play?
   The total dollar amount of the scholarship program is based on demonstrated financial need. Changes in family circumstances, such as an increase or decrease in parent’s or player’s income, assets, family size, number of family members attending college, may affect eligibility for scholarships. If the family’s circumstances do not change significantly, the scholarship package should be comparable provided all conditions of the scholarship are met.
7. What do I do if my family’s circumstances change?
   If you have already applied for an Olympiacos USA Foundation Scholarship and received a scholarship award, you should submit a written appeal which outlines the change to your family circumstances. Your written appeal should include documentation of the change (e.g. loss of employment, unusual unreimbursed medical expenses, change in marital status, etc.). Typically loss of employment, loss of overtime, loss of bonuses will be considered in the following season when the family can provide documentation of the change.
8. If I drop out of Olympiacos Chicago, will that affect my scholarship?
   Players who apply for and receive an Olympiacos USA Foundation scholarship and later withdraw from the club during the year will lose the remaining value of their scholarship and the player will be responsible for the prorated portion of a scholarship, as well as any other financial club obligations, prior to providing a club release to league officials.

OLYMPIACOS USA FOUNDATION ANNUAL FUNDRAISER RESPONSIBILITIES

In order to help set up fundraising campaigns to offset the rising costs of just about everything we have created Olympiacos USA Foundation which is our Not-For-Profit arm.  As a non-profit organization Olympiacos USA Foundation has the ability to offset the cost of club soccer to those families in our Club requiring financial assistance - the scholarship you are applying for is funded by this fundraiser.

This is where we need your help in making every year a fundraising success. Each player on a scholarship program must sell a minimum of 20 tickets. Each ticket is worth $20. If the tickets are not sold the scholarship will be revoked and the player will need to pay the remainder of the clubs fees to cover the rest of the season. 

OLYMPIACOS USA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

I, the parent of the child identified on this page, am requesting a financial scholarship to cover registration fees for my child to participate in the Olympiacos Chicago soccer programs. 

Olympiacos Chicago Premier and Competitive Program scholarships cover only items included in the Olympiacos Chicago registration fees as listed on the club registration details website page (https://www.olympiacoschicago.com/registration/), up to a 80% maximum. The scholarship application review will determine the actual scholarship amount offered. Scholarships DO NOT include uniforms, fees for additional tournaments beyond what is specifically covered by the Olympiacos Chicago registration fees, player travel expenses for any tournaments, additional indoor league participation (if applicable), School and any other items not specifically mentioned in the club registration details website page. Local league fees (IWSL, YSSL, NISL) ARE included; any other leagues (MRL, National League) are NOT included.

The completion/submission of this form in a timely fashion and approval by the Scholarship Committee is the only method that registration fees can be reduced or waived. Applicants who submit complete, signed applications with all attachments will be notified in writing whether or not their request is approved by the Scholarship Committee within 15 business days of the below submission deadline.

To apply for Scholarship assistance:

1. Upload employment information for ALL working family members (paycheck stub or W-2) and a copy of your previous year tax return. PLEASE BLACK OUT ALL SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS BEFORE UPLOADING PAGES OF TAX RETURN.
2. Please use separate application forms for each applicant.

Deadline for submission of COMPLETE application:  7 days from original receipt from club.

Late applications will be considered only if funds are available.

Please explain why this player should be considered for scholarship assistance at this time. Note any special circumstances that are affecting the family and any changes in these circumstances that are expected during the upcoming soccer season.

The information contained in this application is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.

• I understand and agree that all information furnished in this application may be investigated by Olympiacos USA Foundation or its authorized representatives. I also understand that if any false information is provided and the club now or later comes to learn the information is or may be false a player could be suspended from play while being investigated and the final outcome could be grounds for the player’s scholarship tuition program to be revoked.
• I hereby authorize Olympiacos USA Foundation or its authorized representatives to obtain a credit report on my behalf.
• I hereby authorize my current and/or past employers or its authorized representatives to release salary and wage information, including work history.
• I hereby agree to the terms of any scholarship awarded as described above, as well as the guidelines and Codes of Conduct of Olympiacos Chicago (outlined in the Parent Handbook). If I fail to fulfill these terms, I will be responsible for a prorated portion of the scholarship awarded. This application will be kept confidential and will be processed by the Olympiacos USA Foundation Registrar Administrator upon financial eligibility and approval.

Olympiacos USA Foundation is an equal opportunity not-for-profit organization. It forbids discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, nationality, age and health needs.