U.S. Soccer Foundation Awards $86,797 in Grant Funding to Increase Access to Safe Places to Play for Nearly 30,000 Youth and Adults

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced it has awarded five grants totaling $86,797 to organizations that will build and enhance safe places to play in five states. When completed, the projects will provide access to safe play spaces for at least 29,418 youth and adults.

In three cycles throughout the year, the Foundation awards lighting, irrigation, and Sport Court grants as a part of the Safe Places to Play program. Synthetic turf funding applications are also accepted on a rolling basis. Recipients receive grants that fund project costs for design, construction, irrigation, lighting, surfacing, and other enhancements.

“We are excited to award these five grants to a group of diverse organizations that are doing incredible work to impact young people through the beautiful game,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “Through these grants, we are investing not only in revitalizing soccer spaces, but also in the children and community members who will use them.

Summer 2019 Safe Places to Play Grant Recipients

• Family Link Treatment Services (Gonzales, TX)
• FC Pride Soccer Club (Indianapolis, IN)
• Georgia Soccer Development Foundation (Atlanta, GA)
• Owatonna Soccer Association (Owatonna, MN)
• Pueblo of Pojoaque (Santa Fe, NM)

These grants support the Foundation’s It’s Everyone’s Game national movement to ensure that children living in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game. Launched in 2017, the Foundation aims to build 1,000 mini-pitches nationwide and engage one million children in the Foundation’s Soccer for Success program by 2026. In line with this mission, these projects will provide children with safe and high-quality places to play the beautiful game.

Support for the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s three Safe Places to Play grant cycles is provided by the Foundation’s corporate partners, including Hunter Industries, Musco Lighting, and Sport Court. AstroTurf’s support is used for opportunities on a rolling basis.

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. For more information, visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Arnold
jarnold@ussoccerfoundation.org
202.872.6662

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