ACCESS U Foundation Welcomes Charleston Scholar-Athletes
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
ACCESS U Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equitable access to top-tier education for scholar-athletes, welcomes two Charleston-based elite youth soccer players into its program. Working closely with community pillars Ebony City Soccer Club, Coastal Community Foundation, and Addlestone Foundation, ACCESS U Foundation is thrilled to begin serving the lowcountry region and creating pathways to advance educational opportunities for local youth.
Through ACCESS U, Shartique Chavis and Makenna Singleton will gain personalized support in academic and athletic pursuits, as well as guidance in navigating the college recruitment process to maximize opportunities for scholarships. The first ACCESS U scholar-athletes in South Carolina, Chavis and Singleton, join a nationwide network of talented and intelligent peers who receive access to a team of mentors, trusted advisors, and counselors as part of the foundation.
“Every scholar-athlete we serve deserves the opportunity to play collegiate soccer and earn a degree, and they shouldn’t be priced out of the system,” said Brad Rothenberg, ACCESS U Co-Founder. “We use every resource possible to give students like Shartique and Makenna the best chance at achieving their goals.”
Shartique Chavis, Class of 2030, attends Porter-Gaud School, where he has a particular interest in history. He is deeply committed to soccer and participates in the sport on a near-daily basis through both school and club competition. Chavis played on the Porter-Gaud junior varsity team as a seventh grader during the spring 2025 season and most recently completed his fall club season with Ebony City Soccer Club.
“Soccer is where I spend most of my time and focus,” said Chavis. “Being part of ACCESS U will help me get into a college with strong athletic and academic programs and support me in achieving my goals as a soccer player. Duke has always been my favorite college program, and I hope to work toward opportunities like that as I continue to develop.”
Makenna Singleton, Class of 2029, plays soccer for James Island Charter High School as well as Lowcountry United Soccer Academy. She shares her excitement for joining ACCESS U, knowing it will help her career aspirations as she works to achieve her goals.
“I’m really grateful for this opportunity to help build athletic skills while focusing on teamwork and enhancing my leadership characteristics,” said Singleton. “I’m looking forward to ACCESS U’s help in picking the dream college that’s right for me, where I can play soccer and have great academics.”
As part of ACCESS U, the students receive: small group academic tutoring and weekly academic check-ins, SAT/ACT test preparation, AP test support, high school course selection and planning, “right fit” college identification support, college ID camp registration, college essay guidance, and workshops on time management, mental wellness, social media oversight, and organizational skills.
Chavis and Singleton were identified through their involvement with Ebony City Soccer Club and Youth Development Program. The organization, also known as “Lil’ Peles”, was founded in 1981 to foster the positive development of young people through the game of soccer and through social, cultural, and educational programs. Ebony City is a principles-based club that operates on the Nguzo Saba value system.
“Ebony City Soccer Club is committed to providing kids in the Charleston area with an accessible and nurturing environment to grow on and off the soccer field,” said Ben Powell, Club Treasurer and Coach. “From our very first conversation with ACCESS U, we felt a clear, player-centered vision match. The comprehensive resources and support that ACCESS U will provide Makenna and Shartique are tremendous. Ebony City is thrilled about this partnership opportunity with ACCESS U.”
Support for this initiative is made possible through donor-advised funding from the Coastal Community Foundation and a multi-year commitment from the Addlestone Foundation.
“As a community foundation, we partner closely with donor advisors to find projects compatible with their interests and philanthropic goals,” said Helen Wolfe, Sr. Director of Philanthropy and Family Engagement at Coastal Community Foundation. “By sharing meaningful opportunities, like the ACCESS U Foundation, with donors, they learn about new avenues to provide impactful support throughout the region. We are proud to be a conduit for donors who are excited about expanding opportunities for these student athletes.”
With deep roots in the local community, Ebony City, Addlestone Foundation, and the Coastal Community Foundation collaborated with ACCESS U to create an avenue wherein talent, drive, and potential–not familial income–shape students’ futures. Together, the organizations are able to provide access to academic and athletic opportunities for talented students in the Charleston community.
The new partnership has already inspired increased community involvement and support: A new, local, private family donation will allow ACCESS U to identify and onboard two additional students, effectively doubling the foundation’s impact in Charleston right away.
With the addition of Chavis and Singleton, ACCESS U currently serves 59 students nationwide. ACCESS U scholar-athletes have set a 100% high school graduation rate, and the foundation has helped more than 200 high school graduates pursue their college dreams to date. This expansion into South Carolina underscores the organization’s mission to remove financial and systemic barriers to college access by offering long-term, individualized support for scholar-athletes regardless of background or location.
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