Goals For Life

2001 was a very rewarding year for Goals for Life, Inc. Not only did we manage to raise 31,000 dollars for breast cancer, but we established ourselves as a vital and promising non profit organization, whose presence in the Montclair Essex county community stands unique. We intend to tackle different causes and issues that strike a chord in our lives to make an impact each day in the community.

Goals for Life hosted the first annual Goals for Life soccer tournament at Brookdale Park in Essex County to raise funds for breast cancer research, treatment, education and awareness of this life threatening disease. Our proceeds of 31,000 dollars were donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation North Jersey Affiliate.

2002 proceeds were donated to St. Michael's Medical Center's “In The Pink” Breast Cancer Early Detection and Education Program in Newark, New Jersey. This non-profit team reaches women and their families not only on a tactful medical level but lends a caring and personal environment for these patients. Our third annual women's soccer tournament and sports memorabilia auction was held on June 7, 2003 at Brookdale Park and February 8, 2003 at the Van Vleck House and Gardens in Monclair respectively. 2003 proceeds for these events were donated to the Domestic Violence Response Team affiliated with the Montclair Health Department.

Goals For Life held its Fourth Annual 2004 Women’s Charity Soccer Tournament on
Saturday, June 5 at Brookdale Park in Essex County, raising thousands of dollars for “In The Pink,” the breast cancer outreach, education and treatment program run through St.Michael’s Medical Center in Newark.

Following opening ceremonies featuring Bloomfield Mayor Raymond J. McCarthy
and Goals For Life’s 2004 Honorary Chair, Helen Mazarakus of Montclair, a breast cancer survivor, 20 teams from New Jersey and New York, comprised of more than 300 women, mcompeted in three flights on five fields throughout the park. Winning teams were Women on the Ball of Montclair (beginner flight); Central Park Rangers of New York City (intermediate flight) and Hillside of Hillside, N.J. (open flight). “The Goals For Life tournament was extremely successful thanks to the generosity of area businesses and individuals, the dedicated volunteers who worked from dawn to dusk and the participating teams,” said Kathleen Lee, president of Goals For Life. The Madison Area YMCA made the largest team donation, $583, in addition to the $300 team entry fee.