WASHINGTON, DC (April 10, 2009) - D.C. United and its non-profit arm, United for D.C., today announced the spring session kickoff of United Soccer Club. Through its partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the spring session will see an expansion to three new sites. United for D.C. and the U.S. Soccer Foundation work together to support their missions to promote youth soccer in economically disadvantaged urban communities.
The 2009 expansion will introduce three new sites in the spring: THEARC in Ward 8 of Washington, D.C., the Prince Georges Sport & Learning Complex and an additional site in Washington, DC- all while continuing in the existing sites of Barry Farm Recreation Center, Robert V. Murray Clubhouse #11, Ketcham Elementary School in Ward 8, Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in Ward 5 and Fort Davis Recreation Center in Ward 7. Eight of the sites saw a successful start to their season, hosting its first sessions this week. The program will provide two after school sessions at each site during the week and weekend games with Soccer on the Hill and Takoma Soccer League.
United Soccer Club was born from a request in Ward 8 for opportunities for children to play organized soccer. In the spring of 2006, United for D.C. launched its own after school soccer program, in partnership with D.C. Parks and Recreation at Barry Farm Recreation Center. The program ran for eight weeks, teaching fundamental skills and hosting games and scrimmages.
United Soccer Club is one of the many community outreach ventures of United for D.C. Through the Kicks for Kids program, thousands of underprivileged children will have an opportunity to watch United play this season alone. United Reads, currently presented in six DC elementary schools, distributed nearly 8,000 books during player visits to classrooms throughout the spring.
For more information on these programs or how fans can contribute time or money to these worthy causes, please contact United for D.C. at 202-587-5000.
Broadcasting and P.A. Request: When speaking of the organization, please refer to the team as either “D.C. United” or “United,” but not “the D.C. United” or “the United.” We appreciate your cooperation.
Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
