Julian Dorsey has found personal fulfillment in soccer for most of his life.
He began playing three decades ago, when he was 8 years old, and, with his passion and skill set, later competed at Loyola University in Maryland and went on to play for the Hershey Wildcats and the Harrisburg City Islanders.
When he was in third grade, Dorsey’s teacher noticed how fast he could run during a school field day and encouraged him to try out for soccer. Dorsey said his coach picked him not necessarily for his skills, which needed to be strengthened, but because of his strong work ethic.
“I practiced a lot because I was doing something different than anyone else in my neighborhood, and that was cool to me,” said Dorsey, who grew up in a tough area outside of Philadelphia. “I enjoyed not playing traditional inner city sports, like everyone else.”
During his childhood, Dorsey’s family didn’t have much money to pay for the soccer training that the budding player needed.
“My family had a difficult time making enough to pay our bills,” he said. “At the age of 13, my mom told me I couldn’t play anymore because she didn’t have the money.”
The parents of his best friend, Brad, whom he had met on the soccer field, then stepped up.
“They said to my mom, ‘Pay what you can and we’ll pay the rest,’” he said. “I was blessed to have his parents, family members and friends of our family help my mom financially to allow me to play. I wanted to create the same opportunity for kids.”
So, in 2007, Julian, otherwise known as “JT,” created the JT Dorsey Foundation, a non-profit youth development organization that uses soccer as a means to develop well-rounded kids from the ages of 5 to 18 throughout Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, York and surrounding regions. As previous director of an alternative school with a special education degree, Dorsey knew he wanted to combine his love of soccer with working alongside kids.
“I saw how soccer created a lot of opportunities for me,” he said. “I thought, ‘How could we use sport to educate kids and create learning through play?’”
Dorsey also wanted to provide important services that are often lacking in inner city communities. So, JT Dorsey Foundation provides wellness education, physical activity and obesity prevention, mentoring, leadership skills, employment training and a safe, nurturing environment for at-risk children to grow up in.
Mark Malhenzie of Etters is thrilled with what his children experience with JT Dorsey. Both his son Matthew, 13, and daughter Lauren, 12, participate in the soccer program. When Mark began looking for soccer training over the winter, he discovered JT Dorsey.
“I came and watched a practice, and I loved what I saw,” reflected Malhenzie, who often volunteers with his wife Suzanne at various JT Dorsey events. “What they stand for is excellence. It’s not just about skills. They teach the kids to be the best they can be. My kids can’t wait to come here.”
Matthew echoed his father’s sentiment. “I look forward to it every week. I remember the first day I came here, and I walked in, the coaches just took me in as if they already knew me.”
For Dorsey and his coaching staff, that is what it’s all about, supporting the youth in our communities and helping them to grow into successful, responsible and healthy young adults. True to the spirit of many non-profits, the coaches pour their passion into the labor of love.
“None of the coaches here want to get rich,” said Dorsey. “These are good people who are good citizens in the community with strong soccer values. The kids know that they will get quality coaches that care about them.”
Given the nature of being a non-profit, Dorsey is tasked with keeping his organization afloat financially to make sure it can continue to provide its developmental services through soccer. To keep costs low or free to its players, the JT Dorsey Foundation collects funds from donors and corporate sponsors, such as Adidas, Score Sports, Angelo’s Soccer Corner, the City Islanders and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. But, Dorsey said that the foundation can always use financial support and manpower.
Soccer is Dorsey’s life, and it’s not just fun and games for him. “I am a teacher by trade, and I love to see kids learn and develop not only as soccer players, but as people,” he said. “That is very rewarding.”
Those interested in giving time or money can learn how to contribute on the JT Dorsey Foundation website, www.jtdorsey.org.
