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U.S. Soccer Foundation Joins U.S. Soccer’s 2021 SheBelieves Ambassadors Program

U.S. Soccer Foundation is Part of Inaugural Network of Nonprofit Organizations Collaborating with U.S. Soccer Federation to Positively Impact More Girls and Women

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 16, 2021) – The U.S. Soccer Foundation has been selected by the U.S. Soccer Federation to serve as one of ten organizations taking part in the first U.S. Soccer SheBelieves Ambassadors program.

The U.S. Soccer Federation is the governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States and oversees 23 National Teams, including the four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions, the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Through the SheBelieves Ambassadors program, the U.S. Soccer Foundation will work directly with the Federation to showcase its mission, people, initiatives, and resources to positively impact girls and women.

“Soccer plays such an important role in improving outcomes for all kids. That’s why we’ve focused on ensuring that underserved communities have access to innovative play spaces and evidence-based programs that instill hope, foster well-being, and help youth achieve their fullest potential,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We are excited to be part of the SheBelieves Ambassadors program and continue to work with other organizations to engage more girls and women in our game.”

SheBelieves compliments the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s ongoing United for Girls initiative to double the number of girls and women coach-mentors in its programs by 2023. According to experts, girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and a more positive body image. In addition, EY Women’s Athletes Business Networks report that nearly 75 percent say a background in sports can help accelerate a woman’s career.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and the U.S. Women’s National Team established SheBelieves in 2015 as a movement to inspire and encourage girls and young women to reach their dreams in soccer and beyond. Over five years, the SheBelieves platform, driven by programs focusing on Career, Confidence and Community, has empowered girls and women by helping give them a vision and tools to achieve their goals.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation joins the first class of SheBelieves Ambassadors that features a range of organizations in sports, STEM, the arts, and professional development. Approximately half the organizations focus on serving girls and women in underserved or minority communities.

“In sports, we know that you can always achieve more when you work together as a team,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone, herself a former USWNT player, World Cup champion and Olympic gold medal winner. “We are honored to welcome these SheBelieves Ambassadors as our new teammates in creating positive and lasting change in the world. Together we can support, impact and lift more girls and women.”

The U.S. Soccer Foundation will be featured on U.S. Soccer’s SheBelieves virtual hub, www.ussoccer.com/shebelieves, on video boards at the marquee 2021 SheBelieves Cup Presented by Visa, and across the Federation’s extensive social media pages with millions of followers. As an Ambassador organization, the U.S. Soccer Foundation will also have the opportunity to participate in U.S. Soccer events and creatively collaborate with U.S. Soccer staff to identify more opportunities to impact shared audiences.

The SheBelieves Ambassadors program recognizes the critical value of community-building to affect positive cultural change. Each year, the Federation will invite a select group of organizations and individuals to participate cost-free in the Ambassador program. All Ambassadors will be groups or individuals who champion the SheBelieves ethos of inspiration and empowerment or who reflect the core SheBelieves pillars of Career, Confidence & Community to their audiences.

The 2021 SheBelieves Ambassadors are:

To learn more about U.S. Soccer’s SheBelieves Ambassador program, go to www.ussoccer.com/shebelieves.

ABOUT 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.