At the Foundation we are always looking for new ways to grow the game and increase our impact on the lives of youth across the country. One of the ways that we grow the game is through our Program Grants, which are provided to fantastic organizations r...
Back in the Game
You wouldn’t know it from the constant snow and ice, but here in Washington, DC we are getting ready for the start of the soccer season! With over 40 program operators this spring, the Foundation’s Soccer for Success program is gearing up for its large...
No Holds Bard: Share the Equipment, Share the Game!

Last month, the Foundation took a trip to the Passback warehouse in Hillsborough, North Carolina, to send out equipment shipments as part of the Passback program! After 2 days of tough but rewarding work, we want to share with you the inner workings of...
No Holds Bard: On the Road
The echoes of "Dos a Cero" rang for hours before and hours after the U.S. Men's World Cup qualifier verus Mexico on Tuesday, September 10th, and I was fortunate enough to be in the crowd for one of the most memorable games in recent U.S. Men's National...
No Holds Bard: Halftime Adjustments
Sports can take us on different paths through life. We all may start our journeys the same way – playing in a youth league, on the streets or grassy fields with our closest friends and family – however as we grow older, our journeys take us in differen...
No Holds Bard: Carry On
“And that is why I stayed. Because hope and love and rejoicing and redemption can happen to kids like them. And people like me…..who can soften life's blows for them, ought to help.” Former ESPN producer Lisa Fenn penned these words earlier this week,...
What Defines a "Safe" Place to Play
The Foundation’s field-building initiative, Safe Places to Play, provides grants to organizations to help build or enhance field spaces in underserved communities. Providing a safe physical space to play is extremely important in the effort to use socc...
No Holds Bard: Reframing Sports Nonprofits
There have been some disturbing news stories of late, discussing the problems that exist with many professional athletes’ individual foundations and nonprofit charitable organizations. These stories began a few months ago with an in-depth report by the...
The Foundation Goes to ESPN

Last week, a group of Foundation staff members took a tour of the local DC television studios of ESPN’s popular programs, Pardon the Interruption, Around the Horn, and Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable. Not only did we get a great tour, but we were...
No Holds Bard: The Fields, The Kids and Mr. Yombo

Two months in to my time here, and I continue to discover new things that both impress and surprise me about the Foundation. My story begins one afternoon when, after reviewing paperwork for our newest round of grantees, I asked my boss how many fields...
