Last week, president Obama honored Sky Blue F.C. as the 2009 champions of WPS. Their appearance was a first for the fledgling league and the event offered an opportunity for some special young girls to be a part of festivities. These girls are all part of United Soccer Club and are representative of the great work being done in the community by our club's charitable foundation, United for D.C. and the volunteers that manage and coach in programs at 12 locations serving more than 600 children.
USC was created in 2006 as families in the District's Ward 8 asked for after school activities to assist in the positive development of at-risk children. The program addresses not only the dearth of organized soccer in the inner-city, but also a lack of positive activities and growth opportunities for area children. USC helps fill a void caused by continued budget cuts of non-academic programs, such as physical education, in our public schools while combating the growing trend of obesity in U.S. children. The growth of USC was made possible through the support of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, who in 2008, committed to providing United for D.C. with a three-year $250,000 grant to continue to annually expand the program to twelve sites by 2010. USC has partnered with five different organizations in the greater Washington D.C. area in order to reach children most in need. These organizations include the District of Columbia Parks and Recreation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and DC Public Schools, in addition to the Arlington County Department of Recreation and the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. The end result is a program that provides positive opportunities for physical and cultural development of our most valuable resource, children.
It should not go without note the importance the Obama administration places on soccer. The President met with the U.S. Men's National Team before the World Cup, have twice recognized the champions of Major League Soccer, have now honored the WPS title-holders and have consistently incorporated soccer in message points associated with the Let's Move Program. Not to mention, the President is involved in the bid to bring the World Cup to the United States in 2018 or 2022. Combined with soccer's continued dedication to community development, there is no sport that is more attentive to the needs of the masses, placing the greater good above all. D.C. United and United Soccer Club are shining examples of this commitment.
