WHAT:
The New York Red Bulls, U.S. Soccer Foundation and NYC Parks will cut the ribbon on a new state-of-the-art mini pitch at the East Side Community High School on the Lower East Side. On Tuesday June 9, 2015, representatives from organizations including the New York Red Bulls, U.S. Soccer Foundation, NYC Parks, as well as elected officials will gather to officially open a new, state-of-the-art, mini-soccer pitch that will provide the community with a safe place to play and learn the game of soccer. Once open, the U.S Soccer Foundation and the Department of Youth and Community Development will provide the Foundation’s Soccer for Success afterschool programming to area youth, a program proven effective at changing health outcomes for youth.
WHO:
The opening will include short remarks from:
- Bill Chong, Commissioner, DYCD
- Marc de Grandpre, General Manager, New York Red Bulls
- Mark Federman, Principal, East Side Community High School
- Monique Flores, Director, University Settlement
- Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO, U.S. Soccer Foundation
- Gigi Li, Chair, Manhattan Community Board 3
- Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, District 2, New York City Council
- Mitchell J. Silver, FACIP, Commissioner, NYC Parks
Special guests include:
- Mike Grella, Forward, New York Red Bulls
- Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Defender, New York Red Bulls
- John Blasco, Director of Communications and Scheduling, Office of Councilwoman Rosie Mendez
- Thomas Petersen, Sport Court
- Darryl Rattray, DYCD
- Steve Simon, Chief of Staff, Manhattan, NYC Parks
Local New York City youth will take the ceremonial first kick and play the first game on the pitch
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 9, 2015│4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. Field Opening Ceremony
5:00 p.m. Ceremonial Kick
5:05 p.m. Kids play first match
5:05p.m. Media Availability
WHERE:
Lower East Side Playground
420 E. 12th Street
New York, New York
WHY:
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, is a leader in sports-based youth development and strives to use soccer as a vehicle for social change in urban areas across the country. In March, the U.S. Soccer Foundation announced a partnership with the New York Red Bulls to invest in safe places to play and innovative sports-based development programs for youth in the New York City area with support from NYC Parks. The East Side Community High School mini-pitch is the first tangible result of that partnership.
Additional support for the project was provided by Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), East Side Community High School, Sport Court, and University Settlement.
MEDIA CONTACT: Media interested in attending the unveiling, conducting interviews or receiving event photos must contact Eleanor Arlook at Eleanor@MaroonPR.com.
