Soccer in the Streets to Host Corporate Cup 2017

Corporate teams from Home Depot, Microsoft, UPS, AT&T, Deloitte, Alston & Bird, The Aspire Group, and King & Spalding to participate in this fundraiser tournament

ATLANTA (August 10, 2017) - Soccer in the Streets announced today the fundraising tournament Corporate Cup 2017, an event that brings corporations together to compete both on and off the pitch, supporting social impact soccer efforts benefiting thousands of underserved children in the metro area. The tournament, to be held on Sunday, September 24th at Grady Stadium, will have the participation of corporate teams from: Home Depot, Microsoft, UPS, AT&T, Deloitte, Alston & Bird, The Aspire Group, and King & Spalding.

"We are thrilled to add Corporate Cup to our annual list of events," said Phil Hill, Executive Director. "Corporate support has been remarkable form the get go; this speaks volumes of the community social responsibility demonstrated by each and every corporation as well as their employees."

Corporate Cup 2017 is a one-day co-ed fundraising soccer tournament, where corporate employees compete on and off the pitch to raise money for Soccer in the Streets' social impact soccer initiative. All proceeds benefit Soccer in the Streets' free youth programs in 14 public schools, 13 community programs, and life works program execution  - a total of 27 locations - providing social change and education in underserved communities through the beautiful game. Since 2016, Soccer in the Streets has impacted over 7,500 kids, while launching the first Homeless Soccer Program of the Atlanta metro area.  

"Corporate Cup is a wonderful opportunity to have fun through sports and camaraderie, but also create an integrated corporate community that gives back to our wonderful city's youth," said Soccer in the Streets' Board Co-Chairman, Joe Hall. "We welcome and encourage all corporations to join us in shifting paradigms and get involved with our organization."

Soccer in the Streets provides access and opportunities to disadvantaged children in urban neighborhoods. Using soccer as the medium, the non-profit has instilled healthy lifestyle choices to thousands of children. The organization centers its holistic programs on character development, life skills, mentoring, and employability improvement. Since its establishment in 1989, the non-profit ensures all children have a chance to succeed both on and off the field.

To learn more about the event, visit Corporate Cup 2017.

India — Yes, India — Bests England to Win ATL Nations Cup Soccer Tournament

Since colonial times, India has become a powerhouse in cricket, a sport it inherited from the Brits. Soccer, an even more important national pastime of England? Not so much. 

But for a brief moment in Atlanta last week, Team India was on top, besting Team England 4-3 in the final match of a local football fight for a good cause. 

Soccer in the Streets’ ATL Nations Cup tournament aimed to capitalize on positive national rivalries to raise money for its work with underprivileged kids in Atlanta. (Although, player nationalities didn’t have to match their selected teams.) 

The organization manages after-school soccer camps and a variety of other programs to teach life skills through the sport. It recently won the Beyond Sports innovation award (and a variety of other international accolades) for its “Station Soccer” concept, a one-of-a-kind pitch situated within the Five Points MARTA station. The goal is to keep transportation access from being a hindrance to playing. 

While the Indians prevailed on the pitch, the British team sponsored by the British American Business Council of Georgia  brought in the most cash for the organization, raising more than $8,000 to the Indian team’s $2,838.

Overall, the eight teams raised more than $40,300 by asking players to recruit pledges from backers. They’ll likely end up just shy of the $50,000 goal when everything comes in. 

On the individual front, Tilo Fruth of the defending champion German team raised $2,376, partly with the backing of his sponsoring company, Beko Technologies.

BY Global Atlanta

Team India. Photo: Hank Hibbert.

Soccer in the Streets Receives the Sport for Innovation and Technology Global Award

The Atlanta-based social impact soccer organization was recognized for its Station Soccer Program during the Beyond Sport Global Award ceremony at the One World Observatory in New York City.

NEW YORK CITY (July 28, 2017) - Beyond Sport presented Soccer in the Streets' Station Soccer - the first soccer pitch in the world inside a metro system - with the Sport for Innovation and Technology Global Award. The announcement was made this week during a ceremony at the One World Observatory at the apex of the One World Trade Center, converging grassroots sport organizations, brands, professional sports teams, leagues and athletes to celebrate the courageous, creative and impactful work being done around the world using sport to promote and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Digital assets of Station Soccer found here.

From 250 entries spanning 70 countries, the Atlanta-based social impact soccer organization - Soccer in the Streets - distinguished itself for its innovation and impact, epitomizing how sport can help tackle some of the most pressing social issues in the world today. The ceremony was highlighted by a stellar line up of presenters to include: Donna De Verona, Olympic Gold Medalist; Nastia Liukin, Multi Olympic Gold Medalist; WWE superstars Nia Jaz and Sami Zayn and 4-time Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield.

"It's such an honor to be recognized by Beyond Sport with this prestigious global award," said Sanjay Patel, Soccer in the Streets Board Member, who visioned Station Soccer as a way of connecting transit and soccer to provide access to the sport for all. "Collaborations through partnerships will be critical in moving the needle in the field of social impact sports. Fortunately, our local partners Atlanta United Foundation and MARTA were believers - now the train really has left the station!!!"

Established by Soccer in the Streets, an organization dedicated to empowering underserved youth through sports-based training, character development, mentoring, and employability programs, 'Station Soccer' - located at MARTA Five Points - centers its innovative efforts on holistic free youth programming for developing skills both on and off the pitch. The project aims to eliminate accessibility barriers for low-income families often marginalized from organized sport programs due to lack of transportation and affordability. The venue provides access to quality soccer and educational programming to underserved children through a pay to play adult league social enterprise model.

The field, funded by the Atlanta United Foundation, and brought to fruition thanks to partnerships with MARTA and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, has become a blueprint for community activation and social impact soccer efforts in urban areas.

Nick Keller, Founder and President of Beyond Sport said, "Now, more than ever, all sectors need to contribute to the UN SDGs and we believe that it is crucial to shine a light on the role sport is playing in this endeavor. Tonight's winners and shortlisted organizations show that throughout the world, sport can be harnessed to improve lives and create sustainable social change in a remarkable way."

Thanks to the support of Comic Relief and Swedish Postcode Lottery, Soccer in the Streets will receive funding from the Beyond Sport Foundation, as well as receive business support including fundraising from GivenGain and monitoring and evaluation intelligence from Upshot.

"This is certainly a new high for us as an organization," said Phil Hill, Soccer in the Streets' Executive Director.  "We are looking forward to working hand in hand with the Beyond Sports Foundation and key partners in order to execute our development and expansion plan. We are pursuing for more opportunities and platforms to impact underserved youth; we have seen the power of sports to achieve social change and we will continue to harness it."

Soccer in the Streets provides access and opportunities to disadvantaged children in urban neighborhoods. Using soccer as the medium, the social impact soccer organization has instilled healthy lifestyle choices to thousands of children. Since 2016, Soccer in the Streets has impacted over 7,500 kids, while launching the first Homeless Soccer Program of the Atlanta metro area.