The U.S. Soccer Foundation, located in Washington, D.C., educates government officials on Capitol Hill, the Executive branch, and federal agencies for the entire soccer community.
The Foundation’s advocacy efforts focus on mentorship, preventing juvenile delinquency, and using sport as a vehicle to combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles for children in underserved communities. The U.S. Soccer Foundation partners with community organizations across the nation, focusing on the core components of physical activity, mentorship, nutrition, preventing youth delinquency, and community engagement to help provide youth with safe and accessible places to play – a critical need particularly in underserved communities.
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED. JOIN US IN THE EFFORT TO GIVE SOCCER A VOICE ON THE HILL AND CHANGE THE LIVES OF YOUTH NATIONWIDE.
FEDERAL FUNDING PRIORITIES
Soccer initiatives around the country have received federal support in recent years from the Social Innovation Fund (funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service) and Youth Mentoring Funds (funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention). On behalf of the U.S. youth soccer community, we continue to support a continuation of these competitive, merit-based funding streams and other relevant funding.
We also support funding for field-building initiatives, as well as out-of-school programming serving at-risk youth. We know out-of-school sports programs can be a vehicle to address critical societal needs, such as gang and juvenile delinquency prevention, improved academic performance in school, mentoring, volunteerism and service-learning, and, character and career development opportunities.
CONGRESSIONAL SOCCER CAUCUS
We work collaboratively with members of Congress who have established and support the Congressional Soccer Caucus. The mission of the bipartisan Caucus is to encourage funding, legislation, activities and events that promote the game of soccer, and issues affecting the soccer community.
CAPITOL HILL DAY
As the national advocate for the game of soccer, the U.S. Soccer Foundation assists urban and other local soccer programs from across the U.S. to develop and deepen relationships with their elected leaders and key decision-makers in Washington, D.C. Each year, we host a “Capitol Hill Day” in conjunction with our Urban Soccer Symposium. During this event, our coach-mentors, youth development practitioners and others educate members of Congress about the tremendous work being done by U.S. Soccer Foundation grantees and the overall soccer community to improve the lives of children and youth, and their broader communities, through our soccer programs and the establishment of new fields and mini-pitches.
CONGRESSIONAL SOCCER MATCH
The U.S. Soccer Foundation hosts the annual Congressional Soccer Match featuring members of Congress and former professional soccer players. This event supports soccer-based programs that help children in underserved communities get off the streets and into safe environments that encourage physical activity and promote positive life skills.
Encourage your Member of Congress to participate in the Congressional Soccer Match!
