Just4Dust Foundation

11/15/2025

It’s that time of year! Students are working on their 4-year college applications and we’re here to help cover application fees and other expenses. It takes a village ❤️

10/28/2025

WE DID IT!!!! Thanks to hundreds of donations over the past few years, we raised $50,000 to establish an endowed scholarship fund at UC San Diego, Dustin’s alma mater. What does this mean? Starting in Fall 2026, every year, one UCSD soccer player who is First Generation and/or has moderate to high financial need will earn a $2,000 scholarship. The award will alternate between the men’s and women’s teams each year. ⚽️

The best news? This will continue in perpetuity!!! Dustin’s legacy will be felt FOREVER! We have done something deeply impactful at a place that carried a lot of meaning to Dustin. ✨

In the meantime, we will continue awarding academic scholarships to local high school soccer players. If you are reading this, you probably helped make this possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ~Sofia

09/07/2025

THANK YOU! 🎉 We are immensely grateful to the McBeth Foundation for generously supporting our work to continue. 🙏🏼

08/02/2025

Last month we got to share our story - our WHY - for the Just4DustFoundation on ABC 10News. A labor of love to continue Dustin’s legacy of generosity and positivity.

Dustin Tannenhaus, a captain of the UCSD soccer team in the mid-2000s, passed away from a heart attack in 2019. Dustin's wife, Sofia, said he changed her life forever. Now others can say the same.

06/15/2025

✨Scholarship recipient spotlight ✨

Marissa earned a $1,000 Dustin Tannenhaus Legacy Scholarship! Larissa shares, “I have been playing soccer since I was seven, dedicating my time to training, practices, and games. Since my freshman year, I have played as both a center-attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder for Rebels Soccer Club and the Chula Vista Varsity Girls Soccer Team. This position has allowed me to contribute to my high school teams’ successes, including winning the All-Metro League championship and earning recognition on the Pacific All-League Second Team. I have also volunteered as an assistant coach for the Golden Eagles Soccer Club, where I mentored young athletes to improve their soccer IQ and critical thinking both on and off the field. My focus is on fostering personal growth and creating a safe environment for the players. Being both a player and a coach has deepened my understanding of the game, highlighting the importance of teamwork, leadership, and strategy both on and off the field.”

Larissa completed 10 AP classes and three college courses, earning a 4.1 weighted GPA. She has committed to the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) as a Pre-Psychological and Brain Sciences major. What most impressed us is Larissa’s drive to help others.

“Growing up in a single-parent household, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges, and those experiences have fueled my passion for helping others navigate their own struggles. Giving back has always been important to me, and I hope to help create an environment where everyone feels understood and valued. Ultimately, my goal is to empower individuals to embrace their identities, overcome obstacles, and contribute positively to our community, ultimately creating a more compassionate and resilient society.”

We are confident Larissa will continue to experience success as she pursues her college degree!

06/10/2025

✨Scholarship recipient spotlight ✨

Meet Lilia, a 2025 graduate of Chula Vista High School. During her sophomore year, Lilia was one of six girls from her school team who won a Metro Pacific League Award. During her junior year, her school’s soccer team was undefeated and won the Pacific League.

Lilia shares, “This was the first time in our school’s history that the girls soccer team became champions. Making history made me realize that everything is possible with a lot of effort. I had been going through injuries during my journey but that didn’t stop me from achieving my soccer goals. Those injuries that I went through taught me that I had to keep a positive mindset and to come back even stronger.”

Academically, Lilia was in the top 15% of her graduating class. She completed eight AP classes, earning Principal’s Honor Roll, and was a California Scholarship Federation member. She will continue her studies at San Diego State University as a Psychology major with a minor in Spanish. She plans to work in the mental health field.

We wish her nothing but the best as she begins her college education!

06/04/2025

✨ Scholarship recipient spotlight ✨

Meet Anthony from Southwest High School!

Anthony shared, “Soccer has been my life. I started playing when I was only 4 years old and since then, I haven’t stopped playing. I started playing in a league from Tijuana and was lucky enough to be selected to represent Tijuana in plenty of state and national tournaments, allowing me to travel almost all over Mexico. Later in my life I moved to the United States and started playing here, where I was able to win State Cup twice.”

Anthony will be studying engineering at UC San Diego this fall. He hopes to be so successful that he inspires others in his community to follow his path. For Anthony, success isn’t only defined by financial achievement, it is about being happy with the person you are and having the people you love in your life. He wants the younger generation to be proud of where they came from and to know that they can succeed in what they are passionate about.

06/01/2025

✨Scholarship Recipient Spotlight ✨

Brianna earned a $500 Dustin Tannenhaus Legacy scholarship. Her life has revolved around soccer since I was a little girl and she believes the sport is what has kept her grounded. “Soccer has taught me to persevere through obstacles. It is undeniable that it has a big part in shaping me into who I am today.”

Brianna aspires to become a Pediatric Nurse. “Early into my teenage years I had learned that I love environments where I am around children. I originally believed that I wanted to become a teacher because of this, but as I started to take more courses that revolved around the human body and the mind, I ended up finding my true passion in medicine. I understand that this will be a long and tough path, but I am ready to take the struggles and power through them.”

Brianna enrolled in five AP classes and earned a 4.0 GPA. She will continue her education at San Diego State University in the fall as a Psychology major.

05/23/2025

✨Scholarship Recipient Spotlight ✨

Maria earned a $500 Dustin Tannenhaus Legacy Scholarship and will soon be graduating from Madison High School. The majority of her classes were accelerated and advanced and she also took eight college classes. Throughout high school, she maintained an average weighted GPA of 4.1 all while balancing soccer at school and in club. Maria shares, “I have always strived to challenge myself in all aspects of life. Academically, I made sure to perform to the best of my ability.”

While off the pitch and out of the classroom, she volunteered as an assistant coach for a local middle school team, allowing her to share her knowledge of soccer with younger girls. “On and off the field, I am very determined and dedicated to all I do,” Maria says, “I aspire to challenge myself in any way I can because I want to learn and grow.”

Maria will be attending Point Loma Nazarene University in the fall and majoring in Nursing. She plans on becoming a Registered Nurse and specializing in Pediatric Oncology. Maria also dreams of starting an affordable, woman-led organization in her community to empower young girls from different backgrounds to have more opportunities in - and knowledge of - the medical field.

We wish her continued success in this exciting next chapter!

05/03/2025

IT'S OFFICIAL! We're hosting our first 5K and celebrating Dustin's 40th heavenly birthday together. Join us.

Register TODAY at www.just4dust.org

04/13/2025

Big cheers for Broadway Athletic Swim Club San Diego Alex Johnson, who crushed the San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon while raising nearly $700 in scholarship funds for the Just4Dust Foundation.

Running with purpose and passion—way to go, Alex! We’re so grateful for your support.