Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, announced today it has awarded nine grants totaling more than $511,000 to non-profit organizations serving youth in underserved communities across the nation.
In its continued effort to grow the game of soccer and drive well-being improvement for children in underserved communities, the U.S. Soccer Foundation awards grants to support soccer programming and field-building initiatives nationwide. Non-profit organizations eligible to receive grant funding include those that provide children with the opportunity to play soccer and provide programming that promotes healthy youth development.
“The U.S. Soccer Foundation is thankful for the platform we have been given over the past 20 years to positively impact the lives of youth in underserved communities across the country,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “The eight organizations awarded grants during this cycle will utilize the funds to grow the game of soccer and provide safe places for children to play in their local communities.”
Nine awards were distributed this grants cycle as part of the Safe Places to Play program. The Safe Places to Play program seeks to build or enhance field spaces in underserved areas in order to provide safe places for children to play. Over the last two decades, the Foundation has helped create or improve hundreds of safe places for children nationwide, with projects such as turf and lighting installation, to irrigating fields and building sports courts.
Support for the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s grant process is provided by the Foundation’s corporate partners, including, Hellas Construction, Hunter Industries, Musco Sports Lighting and Sport Court. Since its inception in 1994, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grant awards to non-profit organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
“Hellas Construction is proud to continue its partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to support youth soccer programming across the country,” said Reed J. Seaton, President and CEO of Hellas. “We are excited to offer our synthetic turf and field-building expertise in order to make safe places to play a reality for these deserving communities.”
To learn more about the U.S. Soccer Foundation, please visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org.
Safe Places to Play Grant Recipients
- Boys & Girls Club of King County – Seattle, WA
- City of Firebaugh – Firebaugh, CA
- City of Medford Parks & Recreation Department – Medford, OR
- Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club – Denver, CO
- IDEA Public Schools – Weslaco, TX
- Ogden School Foundation – Ogden, UT (2 grants)
- Partnership to Uplift Communities – Burbank, CA
- Soccer Rapid City – Rapid City, SD
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation is a recognized leader in sports-based youth development programs for children in underserved, urban communities. Since its founding in 1994, the organization has provided more than $60 million in funding to create and sustain innovative programs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Proven to deliver positive health and social outcomes, the Foundation’s affordable initiatives offer safe environments in which both boys and girls thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org to learn more.
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Media Contacts:
Krista Washington
U.S. Soccer Foundation
kwashington@ussoccerfoundation.org
202-872-6662
Kristen Seabolt
Maroon PR
Kristen@MaroonPR.com
443-864-4246
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