FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
U.S. Soccer Foundation, Meredith McClure, 202.872.6662 mmcclure@ussoccerfoundation.org
Women’s Professional Soccer, Rob Penner, 415-553-4469, robert.penner@womensprosoccer.com
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, announced today that retired U.S. Women’s National Team star and Boston Breakers midfielder Angela Hucles has been selected as a 2009 Humanitarian of the Year award winner. Hucles joins Kansas City Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad and Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause as recipients of the 2009 honor.
Hucles, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist from Virginia Beach, VA and stand-out player during the Inaugural Season of Women’s Professional Soccer, has been active in philanthropic efforts throughout the year. She serves as a spokesperson and active supporter for America SCORES New England, a non-profit which provides soccer and creative writing programs after-school for 650 Boston inner-city youth, and reaches hundreds more during summers. Speaking at annual events and providing skill sessions to the youth of SCORES, Angela has a “rock star” status within the organization and is truly valued as a friend.
Each Humanitarian of the Year is given the opportunity to select a youth program to receive a donation from the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Hucles selected America SCORES New England and will donate 300 Kwik Goal soccer balls to SCORES’ Middle School poet-athletes as part of their “Voices” event on November 19th.
“Angela’s passion and commitment for providing children in vulnerable communities with opportunities to play soccer is truly inspirational,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “She’s achieved great success both on and off the field and serves as an example to others looking for ways to give back.”
“Angela is so deserving of this award!” said Anne Strong, Director of Strategic Initiatives of America SCORES New England. “For nearly five years she has frequently given her time and personal warmth to inspire our aspiring student athletes to keep giving their all to soccer and to school.”
Hucles’ service in the community has positively affected women and children from across the globe. As an American Ambassador for the Brazilian chapter of Partners of the Americas, Hucles works to enhance life skill education for young girls through the game of soccer. Bonding with them through a sport they can relate to, her affect on the children is immediate.
In addition, Hucles serves on both the Women’s Sports Foundation advisory board and the Omega Institute’s Women in Power Conference, offering advice on everything from how to improve female athlete participation to discussing the effects of Title IX on generations past and generations to come.
Though Hucles announced her retirement from professional soccer in October, her influence in the community has only begun.
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1994 to manage the surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. As the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the U.S., the Foundation has invested more than $51 million in the game, supporting hundreds of projects in every state in the country. The Foundation supports programs and field building projects with a special emphasis on serving youth in economically disadvantaged urban communities. For more information, or to donate online, please visit ussoccerfoundation.org.
About Women’s Professional Soccer
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. The Inaugural Season kicked off in March 2009 with seven WPS teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league’s eighth and nine franchises, Philadelphia and Atlanta, will begin play in the 2010 WPS Season, which begins March 2010. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.
*****
Media Request: When referring to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, please refer to the organization only as the U.S. Soccer Foundation or the Foundation, and never as USSF or US/U.S. Soccer. We appreciate your cooperation.
# # #
