Soccer in the Streets’ End of Year Gala
On Sunday, October 7th, Soccer in the Streets held the Black Tie Soccer Game 2018 presented by Creature Comforts. Soccer in the Streets’ end of year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed up and play soccer to raise money in support of social impact soccer initiatives benefiting thousands of underserved children in the metro Atlanta area.
Award Winners: Joel Apudo won the Napolitano Award & Ehlahd Israel won the Community Champion Award
On Sunday, October 7th, Soccer in the Streets held the Black Tie Soccer Game 2018 presented by Creature Comforts. Soccer in the Streets’ end of year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed up and play soccer to raise money in support of social impact soccer initiatives benefiting thousands of underserved children in the metro Atlanta area.
As a successful Black Tie Event, Soccer in the Streets raised $97,000. The top fundraising team was the Black Team with $34,750. During the Black Tie game, the Community Champion award and Napolitano Award were presented to Community Engagement Manager, Joel Apudo, and local West End resident, Ehlahd Israel.
The Community Champion award is presented to someone that has had a positive impact on the youth players and shows his or her ability to be a leader both on and off the field. Ehlahd Israel a West Side resident that has been involved with Soccer in the Streets for a year and a half now and was this year’s winner.
The Napolitano Award is presented to someone who embodies leadership, service and enrichment around the beautiful game. This year’s award was presented to Joel Apudo the fifth recipient. Apudo, has shown passion for the soccer players and is now a community manager in the West End.
“I have seen so many great changes in the West End community,” said Apudo. “I am so honored to be presented with this award from such a great organization! The youth development can only go up from here and I am excited to see what the future holds for these young athletes.”
All proceeds support Soccer in the Streets' free youth programs in 26 locations across metro Atlanta - including 13 elementary schools, 10 community programs, and Life Works program execution - providing social impact by using soccer as a medium to build young leaders who live rich lives and cultivate healthy communities. Soccer in the Streets impacts over 5,000 kids each year and launched the first Homeless Soccer Program in the metro Atlanta area. The organization centers its holistic programs on leadership, service and enrichment.
Black Tie Soccer Game 2018
Black Tie Soccer Game 2018 photos presented by Creature Comforts and Soccer in the Streets at the StationSoccer- West End Fields! Thanks to Dave Williams for the photos!
On Sunday, October 7th, Soccer in the Streets held the Black Tie Soccer Game 2018 presented by Creature Comforts. Soccer in the Streets’ end of year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed up and play soccer to raise money in support of social impact soccer initiatives benefiting thousands of underserved children in the metro Atlanta area.
SOCCER IN THE STREETS RECEIVES AETNA GRANT AS PART OF CULTIVATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
Soccer in the Streets, a not-for-profit that empowers underserved youth through sports-based training, character development, mentoring, and employability programs, has been selected as a grantee in the Aetna Foundation Cultivating Healthy Communities program and was awarded a grant to assist in the continued expansion of Soccer in the Streets programs at StationSoccer locations that bring the game of soccer to underserved youth in Atlanta.
SOCCER IN THE STREETS RECEIVES AETNA GRANT AS PART
OF CULTIVATING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
Soccer in the Streets awarded grant through the Aetna Foundation
Soccer in the Streets, a not-for-profit that empowers underserved youth through sports-based training, character development, mentoring, and employability programs, has been selected as a grantee in the Aetna Foundation Cultivating Healthy Communities program and was awarded a grant to assist in the continued expansion of Soccer in the Streets programs at StationSoccer locations that bring the game of soccer to underserved youth in Atlanta.
The Cultivating Healthy Communities program awarded nearly $2 million in grants to 23 nonprofit organizations to advance the Aetna Foundation’s mission to improve health at the local level. Grants will support projects that will address social determinants of health such as improving access to healthy foods, promoting safe public spaces, and reducing exposure to air contaminants. The grantees were chosen based on the strength of their strategies to improve the health of their communities, with an emphasis on resident-led and policy-focused initiatives.
“We are honored to be selected as an Aetna Foundation grant recipient,” said Phil Hill, Executive Director of Soccer in the Streets. “The grant will assist us as we continue to operate and grow the StationSoccer program in Atlanta. ”
“The Aetna Foundation is committed to addressing the social determinants of health in order to reduce health disparities,” said Dr. Garth Graham, president of the Aetna Foundation.“By identifying community-specific challenges, and unique ways to combat them, this year’s grantees are a shining example of organizations who strive to make a measurable and positive local health impact. We are honored to contribute to the great work they are doing in pursuit of health equity.”
Soccer in the Streets will continue its purpose of creating youth leaders and building healthier communities throughout Atlanta. Soccer in the Streets recently opened its second StationSoccer location at the West End MARTA station. The goal is to create a league of stations by utilizing the rail transportation system in Atlanta. By creating fields at transit stations and providing recreational and competitive leagues, eliminating barriers to transportation and cost for underserved youths.
This funding addresses the need to improve opportunities for all Americans—regardless of income, education or ethnic background—to take an active role in living healthier lives. For more information on the Cultivating Healthy Communities program visit, visitwww.aetnafoundation.org.