BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Friday night's Samford soccer game versus Mercer will not be just any regular soccer game for the Bulldogs. The game will mark this year's Shauna's House Game, which has special meaning for head coach Todd Yelton and the entire Samford program.
 
The Shauna's House fund raises money to build houses for orphans in Ukraine. The fund is named after Yelton's late wife, Shauna, who passed away of cancer in late 2015. Yelton talked about how Shauna's House became a reality.
 
"In November of 2015, we were at the hospital and we realized we weren't going to be coming home," Yelton said. "Shauna and I started some discussions about trying to do something for orphans in Ukraine. That led to us building a transition home there, which we finished in 2018, and it houses about 36 kids, both girls and boys."
 
The cause was something that was close to Shauna's heart. The homes help keep orphans in Ukraine who become too old to stay in the orphanages from winding up on the street.
 
"It's been life-changing for kids there," Yelton said. "Because when you're an orphan there and you age out of the orphanage, ultimately, 80 percent of those kids will end up in drug abuse, suicide, prostitution, or homeless. So, it's been transforming."
 
It was on a mission trip over a decade ago where Shauna's love for the children in Ukraine began, which eventually grew into the organization that exists today.
 
"In 2010, she went on her first mission trip there and had such a heart for it," Yelton said. "It's been one of those things that's just continued to grow, and this university has been such a great part of helping us do it. We raised over $150,000 for that home."
 
This year, Yelton is partnering with former player Kim Matthews, who played at Samford from 2003 to 2006, on a similar ministry in Thailand. This new partnership will expand the reach of the great work being done for children in need.
 
"Eden House, basically, provides a home for young girls in Thailand who would wind up either in slave labor or prostitution," Yelton said. "It's just the next thing we want to do to keep doing this thing, and it's ultimately to honor Shauna's legacy. She would hate that I call this Shauna's House, it wasn't really her style, but it's certainly important to me. I'm just thankful for the outpouring of support from this community and this university on these games, and they're certainly special nights for us."
 
Samford hosts Mercer Friday evening at 6 p.m. The team will be wearing Shauna's House jerseys that will be auctioned off at the game to raise money for the fund.
 
If you can't make it to Friday night's game, you can still support Shauna's House. To give your support to the cause, please click on the following link: GIVE NOW.