FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Lacrosse the Nations is a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit organization that unifies the lacrosse community to sustainably improve education and health while creating hope and opportunity for children in need.

Who started Lacrosse the Nations?

Brett Hughes and Brad Corrigan founded Lacrosse the Nations in 2008.  Brett is a former All-American, Team USA and MLL player from the University of Virginia.  He played 6 years in the MLL.  Brad is a musician with the internationally renowned band, Dispatch, and played lacrosse at Middlebury College.

Who runs Lacrosse the Nations?

Ellen Cohn is LtN’s Executive Director.  She is responsible for fundraising, communications, international and domestic programming, and operations.  The Board of Directors, along with field staff, provide leadership and execute the mission and vision of LtN.

What are the programs of Lacrosse the Nations?

Lacrosse the Nations has four international programs in Managua, Nicaragua and Playa Potrero, Costa Rica.  Domestically we run two programs in Weinland Park, Ohio and Charlottesville, Virginia.

We believe that education is essential to rise out of poverty, so our lacrosse programs are set up with schools and after-school programs to foster enrollment and attendance.  These partnerships provide the necessary infrastructure to provide the practices which incorporate our Life Skill Curriculum.

To learn more about our mission and programs, visit What We Do and Mission

How do we measure success?

There is an old adage in humanitarian work that goes, “What counts can’t always be counted.”  Nevertheless, we strongly feel measurement tools are essential to understand and report the impact of our programs.  Our coaches record attendance for all our our programs, also writing weekly and monthly qualitative reports regarding improvements in student-athlete teamwork, commitment, respect, health and other life skills learned through the curriculum.

How many students participate in the lacrosse program?

• Club Hope- 100 students in grades K-5 through the morning and after school lacrosse program
• Chiquilistagua- 600+ students in grades 2-8 through the in-school PE
• Public School of Playa Potrero-130 students in grades K-6
• Playa Potrero After School Program- 40+ students of all ages, per quarterly session, through after-school lacrosse program
• Charlottesville, Virginia- 40+ summer campers, and 30+ summer league participants
• Weinland Park, OH- Team of 20

What incentives are designed to increase enrollment, attendance, and graduation rates?

Lacrosse is offered as both an in-school PE program and an after-school sports activity.  During the after school sessions, we invite children who do not attend school to play lacrosse, and we then invite them to attend school classes and to become a member of one of the school lacrosse teams.  We also take monthly field trips to a sports complex located outside of La Chureca.  The combination of school, lacrosse and field trips is an incentive to enroll in and attend school consistently.  In addition, LtN helps funds school nutrition programs to provide nutritious supplements to breakfast and mid-day meals.

What kind of nutrition program is LtN providing?

LtN supplements the feeding programs at Club Hope and the public school of Chiquilistagua.  This includes the addition of fruits, vegetables, cheese and milk to government staples like beans and rice.  Feeding programs bolster the students overall nutrient and caloric intake significantly and enhances each student’s cognitive learning ability.  It also acts as an incentive for parents to send their children to school and after school programs.

LtN provides a nutritious snack for all of the students who attend practice through Abriendo Mentes.  This includes fruit and snacks that offers a healthy alternative to popular processed foods.

How may I Get Involved?

We invite individuals, teams, and communities to get involved by raising both funding and awareness for our programs.

There are several different ways to Get Involved, including Scoop for Loot, Team Merchandise Sales and hosting a clinics or tournament to benefit LtN.  Have a great idea?  Email info@lacrossethenations.org and tell us how we can help!

Your donations  go a long way in supporting our work.  Imagine, a mere $150 pays for one month of coaching in Nicaragua and Costa Rica!

May I attend a trip to Nicaragua with Lacrosse the Nations?

While we have organized a few special “friends and family” trips to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, we currently use these trips as an opportunity to bring Team LtN members to meet our kids.  We believe visiting these countries is made only more meaningful after getting involved at home.  The best way you can join with us is to first participate in one of our Get Involved Opportunities.  Email info@lacrossethenations.org if you have interest in joining!

Where does the money from donations go?

Donations provide:

• salaries for the four local Nicaraguan coaches, one local Costa Rican coach, and two in-country Program Director
• equipment and field construction/maintenance
• breakfast and sports nutrition program
• funding for our domestic initiatives and partnerships with  Boys and Girls Club in Charlottesville, VA and Weinland Park, OH
• operating costs for our organization

How may I learn more about Lacrosse the Nations?

To learn more about our mission and programs, visit What We Do and Mission

You may also contact us at info@lacrossethenations.org.