“I enjoy the program and what you all do for the community. It’s helps me be able to provide things for my children to come out and enjoy. I’m a single mom who can’t work due to health issues. So anything that is affordable and free is a blessing. I truly appreciate all you all do! Thanks!” - Jasmine
“The events that you have give us time to spend together as a family. Thank you for helping in providing a way for us to spend more time outside with each other.” - Christina
“My husband, Charles, and I appreciate this program and the many different activities that our grandson, Jacob has tried. It has given him not only the opportunity to learn new skills, but also meet other families with children that have similar interests like soccer, art, and kung-fu. He always feels welcomed by you and the other families. A perk for Jacob is going to Widener University and being around where he sees the students interacting peacefully and then dining with SO many choices. He has always been interested in attending college and this shows the positiveness of your program. Thank you with sincerity.” - Rebekah
who we serve
Our current focus is the children of Eddystone, Chester, Upland and Collingdale in Delaware County, PA. Over 550 children per year participate in our Soccer for Success program thanks to our partnership with schools in those communities. We invite all soccer registrants and alumni to attend all Youth Development United activities with their families. Click here to see photos and read about recent events.
What we do
Children greatly benefit from extracurricular activities. According to WebMD and countless researchers, such opportunities help develop social skills and positive habits while improving self-esteem and mental health.
Youth Development United provides children from under-served communities with extracurricular opportunities, inspiring them to excel.
Specifically, YDU provides the children and families it serves with memorable after-school and weekend opportunities that increase their access to mentorship, wellness, the arts and personal development.
Our activities include athletics, nutrition education, career discovery and nature exploration opportunities. Participants also regularly receive donations of clothing, toiletries, groceries and books often supplied by partner organizations.
We remove barriers that often limit healthy options and future successes. In doing so, we hope to help close the achievement gap of children challenged by socio-economic factors.
who we are
Youth Development United launched in the fall of 2021, as a sister organization to Chester Upland Youth Soccer. YDU provides non-soccer opportunities to the families it serves, while CUYS gives children access to great soccer experiences including U.S. Soccer Foundation's Soccer for Success curriculum.
In 2012, thanks to the vision and the stewardship of then Head Men’s Soccer Coach and current CUYS CEO Brent Jacquette, Widener University received grant funding from the US Soccer Foundation and the Social Innovation Fund to launch Soccer for Success in the Chester and Upland communities.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of Soccer for Success in Chester-Upland and to build upon the momentum of the program, Chester Upland Youth Soccer became a full 501(c)(3) non-profit in the summer of 2017 and was named The Community’s Foundation “Community Organization of the Year” in 2020. CUYS and YDU earned a Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2022.
Jeannine Fallon Anckaitis is the Executive Director of CUYS and YDU. Jeannine has over 25 years experience in public relations and marketing. Following a long, busy career in the automotive industry, she shifted her focus to the non-profit community in 2016. In addition to her work at CUYS and YDU, Jeannine has tutored at Chester Charter School of the Arts and volunteered regularly at St. Katharine Drexel’s free food and clothing pantry in Chester. Additionally, she has served on the board of the Friends of the Swarthmore Public Library, earned “Champion Volunteer” status through her work for Cradles to Crayons and was the founding Community Service Coordinator for Swarthmore Rutledge Elementary School. Jeannine earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Lafayette College.
Jeannine and team are guided by informal discussions with community members, a Family Member Advisory Council and the Chester Upland Youth Soccer Board.