REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Approval of a Grant from the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program in the Amount of $42,045 to Reimburse Santa Clara Youth Soccer League for Eligible Scholarships from the 2025 Soccer Season
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program (Program) was established in 2015 in memory of Santa Clara resident and youth sports enthusiast Wade Brummal. Developed through an extensive outreach process (Attachment 1), the Program promotes youth participation in organized sports by providing scholarships and grants to Santa Clara youth who may not otherwise have the means to participate. It reimburses qualified youth sports organizations for athlete scholarships, uniforms, travel and competition fees, sports equipment, and other related expenses. The Program is administered in accordance with the Wade Brummal Scholarship Program and Grant Guidelines (Attachment 2), most recently updated in March 2025.
Overview of Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program
Any non-profit youth sports organization (YSO) that receives a permit to operate in a City of Santa Clara facility and allows for non-resident athlete participation is required to contribute to the Program. Participating YSOs must submit participant rosters to the Parks & Recreation Department (Department) annually. For each non-resident athlete listed, the YSO must contribute $25 per sport. This fee will increase by $10 (from $25 to $35) in FY 2026/27 and by an additional $10 (from $35 to $45) in FY 2027/28.
In return, eligible YSOs may apply for grant funding from the Program to assist Santa Clara youth who need financial support. The organization must be a Santa Clara based, non-profit youth sports organization serving youth under the age of 18. The YSO must be current in its contribution to the Program, and comply with Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in schools that receive federal funding including in their athletics programs.
Priorities of Funding
The Guidelines establish the following priorities when considering grant requests:
1. Participant scholarships:
a. Reimbursement of a YSO direct financial assistance to support disadvantaged athletes in the sport. Individuals must be qualifying residents of the City of Santa Clara
b. The YSO may qualify the athlete for a scholarship based on participation in a government support program (e.g., WIC, SNAP, reduced utility programs, or free and reduced-price lunch) or documented financial hardship.
2. Sport equipment and related expense:
a. Competition or tournament fees, uniforms, training equipment, or other expenses that enable the athlete to play.
b. Organizational expenses related to volunteer coach certifications or fingerprinting.
Applications up to $2,500 may be approved by the Department. Applications exceeding $2,500 are presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission for recommendation of approval. A request for funds may be made by any organization no more than one time per year.
DISCUSSION
The purpose of this report is to present the grant request from the Santa Clara Youth Soccer League (SCYSL) for reimbursement of eligible player scholarships that were allocated during the 2025 soccer season in the amount of $42,045. Per the Program’s guidelines, this level of award is subject to the review and approval of the Parks & Recreation Commission.
SCYSL is a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 with a mission to provide a high-quality soccer experience for all players in the league. The league serves approximately 1,550 participants across its competitive and recreational leagues. Its primary purpose is to develop, promote, and administer the game of soccer while offering a healthy recreational outlet that fosters sportsmanship and discipline for youth ages six through eighteen.
The Department received a scholarship request from SCYSL in the amount of $42,045 for 59 player scholarships (Attachment 3). Based on the Department’s review, all players met the Program’s Santa Clara residency requirement, resulting in a full recommended award of $42,045. The award calculation is as follows:
|
Number of Resident Players |
Division |
Scholarship Award (per player) |
Total Scholarship Award |
|
2 |
Competitive |
$425 |
$850 |
|
1 |
Competitive |
$450 |
$450 |
|
3 |
Competitive |
$500 |
$1,500 |
|
8 |
Competitive |
$950 |
$7,600 |
|
2 |
Competitive |
$962.50 |
$1,925 |
|
2 |
Competitive |
$975 |
$1,950 |
|
17 |
Competitive |
$1,000 |
$17,000 |
|
2 |
Competitive |
$1,500 |
$3,000 |
|
2 |
Competitive |
$1,950 |
$3,900 |
|
Total: 39 |
|
|
$38,175 |
|
Number of Resident Players |
Division |
Scholarship Award (per player) |
Total Scholarship Award |
|
2 |
Recreational |
$152 |
$304 |
|
2 |
Recreational |
$152.50 |
$305 |
|
5 |
Recreational |
$175 |
$875 |
|
4 |
Recreational |
$177.50 |
$710 |
|
2 |
Recreational |
$178 |
$356 |
|
1 |
Recreational |
$200 |
$200 |
|
1 |
Recreational |
$255 |
$255 |
|
3 |
Recreational |
$288.33 |
$865 |
|
Total: 20 |
|
|
$3,870 |
|
Grand Total: 59 |
|
|
$42,045 |
Department staff have reviewed the grant application and determined that it aligns with the Program’s priorities and meets all eligibility requirements. Accordingly, staff recommend that the Parks & Recreation Commission approve the grant request in the amount of $42,405.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 153778(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The SCYSL scholarship grant request is $42,045. The current FY 2025/26 budget for the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program in the Public Donations Fund is $42,152. Including additional program fees, donations and interest earnings received year to date this fiscal year, total available funding is $62,949. A budget amendment to recognize and appropriate these additional funds will be brought forward as part of the December Monthly Financial Report and is scheduled for City Council consideration on March 10, 2026.
An additional grant request in the amount of $3,550 for the Santa Clara Police Activities League is also being presented at the March 9 Commission meeting (RTC 26-93). If approved, the combined total grant requests under consideration, RTC 26-130 in the amount of $42,045 and RTC 26-93 in the amount of $3,550, would be $45,595.
Pending approval of both scholarship grant requests, the remaining available program balance would be $17,354.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Parks & Recreation Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve a Grant in the Amount of $42,045 from the Wade Brummal Youth Sports Scholarship Program in the Public Donations Fund to Reimburse the Santa Clara Youth Soccer League for 59 Eligible Scholarships Related to the 2025 Soccer Season.
Staff
Prepared by: Angelique Wilson, Recreation Supervisor
Reviewed by: Kimberly Castro, Recreation Manager
Approved by: Damon Sparacino, Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. Item 13, October 27, 2015 City Council Report
2. Item 6, March 11, 2025 City Council Report with WB Guidelines
3. Wade Brummal Application-SCYSL