The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, announced that it has kicked off the 2014-2015 season of Soccer for Success in more than 30 cities across the country.
Soccer for Success is a free afterschool sports-based, youth development program created by the U.S. Soccer Foundation that uses soccer as a tool to improve the health and behavioral outcomes for children in underserved, urban communities.
The Soccer for Success program targets some of the country’s most underserved communities, serving children ages 6-14, and providing them with free afterschool programming three times per week for the entire school year.
Soccer for Success programs strive to provide a fun and efficient way to help improve a child’s overall health by increasing his/her strength, agility and endurance, while also incorporating healthy, nutritional education. This is a great way to help combat obesity in children and reduce the risk of developing diabetes (here are 5 Tips for Parents with Overweight Children).
In addition, the programs guide youth away from negative influences such as gangs and violence by providing them with safe places to play during after school hours, which gives them the ultimate opportunity to work with dedicated coach-mentors and develop important life skills.
“Soccer for Success is an innovative program that has been proven to positively impact youth in underserved communities,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, president & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We are committed to using our game to help children develop healthy active lifestyles, build character and strengthen life skills that provide the foundation for productive and successful lives.”
The U.S. Soccer Foundation will serve close to 30,000 participants in the Soccer for Success program with the support of over 30 community-based organizations in more than 30 cities, with at least 7 new locations in 2014. The program employs approximately 1,400 coaches who serve as mentors invested in the successful development of the Soccer for Success participants.
Learn more about the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the Soccer for Success program.
Soccer for Success Markets & Programs
- Atlanta, GA – Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
- Boston, MA – America SCORES Boston
- Buffalo, NY – Independent Health Foundation
- Camden, NJ – YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties
- Chester, PA – Chester Upland Soccer for Success
- Chicago, IL – Illinois Youth Soccer Association
- Dallas, TX – Mercy Street – *NEW IN 2014
- Dayton, OH – YMCA of Greater Dayton
- Denver, CO – Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club
- Detroit, MI – Detroit PAL
- El Monte, CA – El Monte Community Building Initiative (CBI)
- Houston, TX – Houston Parks and Recreation Department
- Kansas City, MO – Mattie Rhodes Center | The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City | Guadalupe Centers, Inc.
- Los Angeles, CA – Brotherhood Crusade
- Miami, FL – YMCA of Greater Miami & Belafonte Tacolcy Center
- Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Urban Soccer Collaborative
- Nashville, TN – Ultimate Goal Ministries – *NEW IN 2014
- New Orleans, LA – First Line Schools – *NEW IN 2014
- New York City, NY – NYC Department of Youth and Community Development
- Philadelphia, PA – J.T. Dorsey Foundation
- Portland, OR – A.C. Portland
- Providence, RI – Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence – *NEW IN 2014
- Raleigh, NC – Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake County
- Ridgeland, MS – Scientific Research (SR1) – *NEW IN 2014
- San Diego, CA – San Diego After-School All-Stars – *NEW IN 2014
- San Francisco, CA – America SCORES Bay Area
- Seattle, WA – Washington Youth Soccer
- Spartanburg, SC – City of Spartanburg Parks and Recreation Department – *NEW IN 2014
- Tempe, AZ – Boys and Girls Clubs of East Valley – *NEW IN 2014
- Trenton, NJ – Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County
- Washington, DC – United Soccer Club (United for D.C.) and DC SCORES
- Woodbridge, VA – Prince William Soccer
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation is a recognized leader in sports-based youth development programs for children in underserved, urban communities. Since its founding in 1994, the organization has provided more than $100 million in funding to create and sustain innovative programs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Proven to deliver positive health and social outcomes, the Foundation’s affordable initiatives offer safe environments in which both boys and girls thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org to learn more.
