CHICAGO, Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
U.S. Soccer Foundation is launching a national campaign, It's
Everyone's Game, aimed at dramatically expanding its impact on
children across the country through soccer-based programs. To kick
off the campaign, Chicago Mayor Rahm
Emanuel, the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Fire
Soccer Club will announce their support for the initiative by
committing to build 50 soccer play spaces in underserved
neighborhoods in the next five years. The project is made possible
by a $3 million gift from the Kenneth
C. Griffin Charitable Fund and a substantial contribution from the
Hauptman family and Chicago Fire Soccer Club. In partnership with
communities, municipalities and corporate partners across the
country, the Foundation is pledging to reach one million children
annually and build 1,000 soccer courts, called mini-pitches, by
2026.
Former U.S. National Team stars Kristine
Lilly, Staci Wilson,
Cobi Jones and Brian McBride will also be on hand at the event
to commit their support to the It's Everyone's
Game campaign. McBride is also a former Chicago Fire
player.
"Our Soccer for Success program shows that soccer can be
the difference between a child who thrives and a child who falls
through the cracks," said Ed
Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation.
"Yet far too many children across the country do not have access to
soccer programming or the opportunity to engage with a coach who
can help them develop critical life skills that support their
development on and off the playing field. The premise of our work
is simple: We train coach-mentors. We make sure there are
fields to play on. And we support after-school soccer
programs in underserved communities that are offered free to
participants. By eliminating barriers and creating opportunities,
we help the kids who need us most to not only play soccer, but also
to be healthier, more active, and more confident."
It's Everyone's Game will result in a dramatic expansion
of the Foundation's proven work in improving physical and social
youth development through soccer. Since after-school
programming around Soccer for Success started in 2009, the
Foundation and its partners have positively impacted over 100,000
children in more than 180 underserved communities around the
country, helping them embrace an active, healthy lifestyle while
nurturing their personal growth through team-building and
mentorship.
According to a recent evaluation of Soccer for Success by
American Institutes for Research (AIR), 88 percent of participants
work better on a team, 86 percent stay away from anti-social
behaviors and 72 percent try harder in school. Internal research
validates these findings. Eighty-three percent of children at
greater risk for health issues improved or maintained their health.
The Department of Justice also cited the program's unique ability
to engage and retain youth who may not enter or stay in a
traditional mentoring relationship.
Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Park District, in partnership with
Chicago Fire Soccer Club, are making a major commitment to expand
access to soccer play spaces in underserved neighborhoods across
the city. In addition, the Mayor's Office and Chicago Park District
will work with the Foundation, schools and other community-based
organizations to expand Soccer for Success.
"These new soccer pitches will give young people across
Chicago state-of-the-art places to play
and learn one of the world's most exciting and popular games," said
Mayor Emanuel. "This partnership provides a great opportunity for
our youth to stay active, and gain teamwork and leadership skills
that will serve them on and off the field throughout their
lives."
"I am thrilled to support the U.S. Soccer Foundation's efforts
to provide children across Chicago
greater opportunities to play soccer," said Ken Griffin, Founder and CEO, Citadel. "I've
enjoyed soccer for over 30 years, first as a player and more
recently as a coach, where I've seen the game teach children the
importance of teamwork, the benefits of practice and the joy of
competition."
"These mini-pitches will transform the everyday lives of
Chicagoland children, and further grow the passion for soccer
across our city," said Andrew
Hauptman, Owner and Chairman, Chicago Fire Soccer Club. "I'm
very proud that the Chicago Fire Soccer Club is partnering with the
U.S. Soccer Foundation, Mayor Emanuel, Ken Griffin, and the Chicago Park District in
order to make such an important and positive impact throughout our
community. This initiative perfectly complements the extensive
community programming that the Fire has developed and runs
throughout Chicago."
Major industry and corporate partners will help bring It's
Everyone's Game to communities across the country. National
partners who are partnering with the Foundation include adidas,
Major League Soccer, Musco Lighting and Target.
"Major League Soccer is committed to improving the communities
where we live and play our games by supporting initiatives that
enrich and educate youth and promote inclusion at all levels of the
sport," said JoAnn Neale, Chief
Administrative & Social Responsibility Officer, Major League
Soccer. "We're proud to partner with the U.S. Soccer
Foundation to provide access to soccer and grow the game through
Soccer for Success programming."
"Musco has been a longtime partner of the U.S. Soccer Foundation
and has lent support to its mission for nearly two decades," said
Jeff Rogers, Vice President of
Sales, Musco Lighting. "Soccer for Success is a great
program to benefit thousands of young people across the country who
need and deserve an opportunity to have access to coach mentors and
safe places to play in their communities, and we are proud to
support the Foundation's It's Everyone's Game campaign in
making this happen."
Through its partnership with adidas, the U.S. Soccer Foundation
will be able to provide participants with the equipment and
materials necessary to succeed on and off the field. In addition,
adidas will support the campaign by participating in the launch
event and providing access to pro-athletes and a dedicated coaching
staff who will use the sport of soccer to positively impact these
players' lives.
Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) recently pledged $6 million to support the Foundation's mission to
improve lives and communities through soccer by building 100
mini-pitches in communities across the country.
Other metropolitan areas that have taken steps to joining in
It's Everyone's Game include: Baltimore, MD; Columbus, OH; Hendersonville, TN; Houston, TX; Kansas
City, MO; Louisville, KY;
Miami, FL; Nashville, TN; Newark, NJ; North
Miami, FL; Oklahoma City,
OK; Orlando, FL;
Philadelphia, PA; Reno, NV; Rochester,
NY; San Bernardino, CA;
Tucson, AZ; and Washington, DC.
Additionally, the City of New
York recently opened the first 10 of 50 mini-pitches as part
of a public-private partnership to build and maintain fields in
underserved areas.
In early 2017, Mayor Emanuel joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation,
Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire Soccer Club officials to
open the two mini-pitches in Chicago's Gage
Park neighborhood, where today's event will be held. The
pitches were also supported by MLS WORKS (MLS' community outreach
initiative), Southern New Hampshire
University and the Chicago Park District. The pitches
support local youth programming, including the Chicago Fire Soccer
Club's P.L.A.Y.S Program and the Chicago Police Department's new
Community Engagement through Sports initiative.
It's Everyone's Game at its core represents access and
inclusion. As an extension of this ethos, the Foundation will be
unveiling customized pitch crests for each partner city as symbols
of local engagement between the broader soccer community and
It's Everyone's Game. The uniquely-designed campaign pitch
crests will be available on the campaign website for participants
to share on social media channels using #EveryonesGame.
For more information about It's Everyone's Game, how to
stay updated on the campaign, and ways to get involved, visit
itseveryonesgame.org.
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer
Foundation's programs are the national model for sports-based youth
development in underserved communities. Since its founding in 1994,
the Foundation has established programs proven to help children
embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their
personal growth beyond sports. Its cost-effective, high-impact
initiatives offer safe environments where kids and communities
thrive. Headquartered in Washington,
D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501 (c)(3)
organization. Follow us on Twitter at @ussoccerfndn and Facebook at
facebook.com/ussoccerfoundation.
Media Contact
Jennifer
Arnold
U.S. Soccer Foundation
202.872.6662
jarnold@ussoccerfoundation.org
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SOURCE U.S. Soccer Foundation