It takes Focus to give back to the Burlington community

Victoria Coates | Hamilton, ON | May 23, 2011

The coaches for the FBC soccer team in front of the Ron Joyce Centre in Burlington.

Becoming a part of the Burlington community is something that students at the Ron Joyce Centre feel passionately about. So much so, that Focus Business Consulting (FBC) has decided to sponsor and coach a soccer team from the Burlington Youth Soccer Club this summer.

FBC is an MBA student-run consulting firm that operates in partnership with the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University's Burlington campus, the Ron Joyce Centre. FBC offers consulting service solutions to enhance the performances of companies of all sizes. It specializes in strategy development and execution, business planning, and marketing services to provide strategic direction to companies.

The consulting firm believes in the importance of corporate social responsibility and wants to give back to the Burlington community by running the team made up of 15 boys in the Under 14 age group.

"We feel strongly about integrating the DeGroote School of Business into the Burlington community," says Stephen Charko, a member of the Focus Business Consulting team. "We go to school here, work here and want to give back."

Charko, alongside Steve Oostrom, are taking on the responsibility of coaching. Both have experience coaching and a passion for soccer. "I love soccer and I'm excited for the opportunity to share that with these kids," says Charko who has played soccer for 10 years in Dundas, Ontario.

Oostrom, who has 16 years of experience playing soccer, beginning in his hometown of Collingwood, is also eager to be a coach. "I've always appreciated my soccer coaches. They volunteered a lot of their time and it really had an impact on me. I want to do the same for other kids," says Oostrom.

Charko and Oostrom are hoping to be positive role models for their team and want to leave the kids with more than just soccer this summer. "I hope we can help to shape their lives by teaching values and life skills, while having a fun time throughout the season," says Charko, "We want to create a well bonded team and we hope that friendships can grow outside of soccer."

Along with the coaches, the members of the team are enthusiastic for the upcoming season which kicks off with the first game on May 23 and runs until September.

For more information on the Focus Business Consulting visit: http://www.thinkfbc.com and to view their soccer schedule for the summer, visit: www.burlingtonsoccer.com.