Vanessa Ilana Péan was a Captain of the Great Falls Strikers Soccer team when she tragically died in a car accident in Great Falls on October 30, 2005 at the age of 16. Vanessa also played on The Potomac School Varsity Soccer team and the DC United Summer League. She was known for her unusually long throw-ins, athletic ability, intelligence and good sportsmanship. Vanessa often made friends with opposing team players often complimenting them on their great plays and victories. Vanessa was also a Varsity Lacrosse and Varsity Basketball team member at the Potomac School in McLean.

Vanessa aspired to become a physician and coach soccer as a parent. The Vanessa Péan Foundation, now a 501(c)3 charity, honors the life of Vanessa Ilana Péan. The Great Falls Soccer Club, her teammates, classmates and her hometown community is sponsoring the Forth Annual VIP Memorial Soccer Tournament on Columbus Day Weekend October 10-11th, 2009. Proceeds donated to The Vanessa Pean Foundation will keep Vanessa’s memory alive through charitable contributions to worthy endeavors in academia, athletics and social service. Recipients of scholarships and grants from The Vanessa Pean Foundation will embody the spirit, generosity, intellectual drive, humor and creativity of Vanessa.