Soccer In The Streets and City of East Point Cut the Ribbon on the Third StationSoccer Pitch and Host a Community Block Party
Soccer in the Streets, in partnership with the City of East Point, today cut the ribbon on its third award-winning StationSoccer location. Station Soccer – East Point, located at 2797 Main Street, East Point, GA, is across the street from the East Point MARTA station. The pitch was built in conjunction with the Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA, and the Transformation Alliance. Also included in the partnership are Oz Pizza and Joel Baskins, P.C. The East Point ribbon-cutting kicked-off a day-long community block party along Main Street that runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Soccer In The Streets and City of East Point Cut the Ribbon on the Third StationSoccer Pitch and Host a Community Block Party
Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA, Transformation Alliance join the City of East Point in launching latest location in the planned Soccer in The Streets “League of Stations”
Soccer in the Streets, in partnership with the City of East Point, today cut the ribbon on its third award-winning StationSoccer location. Station Soccer – East Point, located at 2797 Main Street, East Point, GA, is across the street from the East Point MARTA station. The pitch was built in conjunction with the Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA, and the Transformation Alliance. Also included in the partnership are Oz Pizza and Joel Baskins, P.C. The East Point ribbon-cutting kicked-off a day-long community block party along Main Street that runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Officially named StationSoccer – East Point, the third location of this innovative project, is the first to be built within one block of a transit station and completed with a broad group of partners. The first two StationSoccer locations (Five Points opened in 2016, and West End opened in 2018) are the world's first network of soccer fields inside the perimeter of major transit stations.
“We are excited to officially join the world’s first transit soccer league,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “This is a huge milestone for East Point that will bring vibrant activity to our downtown. StationSoccer – East Point is a destination for people of all ages to come celebrate, connect and enjoy the game of soccer in our City.
“Thousands of kids throughout Atlanta miss out on being able to participate in grassroots soccer because they can’t get there to play,” said Phil Hill, Executive Director of Soccer in the Streets. “As we continue to expand the StationSoccer initiative, we continue to provide underserved youth with new ways to thrive both on and off the field.”
“Atlanta United is proud to be a partner of the League of Stations and to celebrate the East Point StationSoccer opening,” said Atlanta United president Darren Eales. “StationSoccer is a wonderful example of the kinds of innovative, impactful projects we are happy to support through the Atlanta United Foundation. We’re excited to help make the sport of soccer easily accessible to the East Point community and the greater Atlanta areas alongside MARTA, the City of East Point and Soccer in the Streets.”
“StationSoccer is one of several initiatives MARTA is involved with to give back to the community we serve,” said Jeff Parker, MARTA’s general manager, and CEO. “StationSoccer – East Point is an indication of the program’s growth, and we’re pleased about it. We’re looking forward to the continued expansion that will make soccer accessible to more youth across the city and, eventually, a competitive league that will expose this initiative to even more potential participants who live near rail stations throughout our system.”
Founding StationSoccer partners - Atlanta United Foundation, MARTA and the City of Atlanta - are committed to the growth of StationSoccer over the long term. The StationSoccer – East Point project is a result of a collaborative effort involving other partners including, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Musco Lighting, FieldTurf, CEMEX and Deluxe Athletics.
Sanjay Patel, Director of Strategic Projects for Soccer in the Streets added “Collaboration with many different groups has been one of the most important aspects of bringing this project to fruition for the East Point community. Through this initiative we look forward to completing the first League of Stations, growing the game of soccer, and providing life skills along the way.”
Corporate Cup 2019 a Success for Soccer in the Streets
On Sunday, Sept. 29rd, over 200 people attended the Corporate Cup 2019, Soccer in the Streets' fundraising tournament that supports metro Atlanta's youth. The event - hosted at Grady Stadium and with the participation of eight corporate teams - was won by back to back champions Team Salesforce as they competed against squads from Deloitte, KPMG, IHG, BakerHostetler, Microsoft, Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, Equifax, and Salesforce. The tournament raised $60,000.
Corporate Cup 2019 a Success for
Soccer in the Streets
Team Salesforce Earn Top Honors Both On The Pitch and In Fundraising.
Proceed Benefits Thousands of Children Throughout Metro Atlanta
On Sunday, Sept. 29rd, over 200 people attended the Corporate Cup 2019, Soccer in the Streets' fundraising tournament that supports metro Atlanta's youth. The event - hosted at Grady Stadium and with the participation of eight corporate teams - was won by back to back champions Team Salesforce as they competed against squads from Deloitte, KPMG, IHG, BakerHostetler, Microsoft, Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, Equifax, and Salesforce. The tournament raised $60,000.
"Through the Corporate Cup, we experienced first-hand the incredible commitment from a number of major corporations in supporting our social impact soccer strategy," said Phil Hill, Executive Director of Soccer in the Streets. "The collaboration and support we received speak volumes to our shared belief in the importance of community social responsibility and how individual employees can make a difference."
Corporate Cup 2019 saw corporate employees compete on and off the pitch to raise money for Soccer in the Streets' social impact soccer initiative. The final match featured Team Salesforce and Team Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, with back-to-back champions Salesforce claiming the crown.
Off the pitch, Team Salesforce also took top honors as the top fundraising squad, raising over $12,000. Team Salesforce captain Corey Geary led his team to fundraising victory.
“Soccer made a tremendous impact in our lives as kids and still does to this day, so we are overjoyed with the opportunity to help Soccer in the Streets grow and give that same experience to more kids,” said Geary. “We are so incredibly thankful for all of our colleagues, friends, partners, and community who came together to invest in the youth and future of Atlanta.”
Team Salesforce raising the Championship Cup
All proceeds support Soccer in the Streets' free youth programs in 26 locations across metro Atlanta - including 13 elementary schools, 10 community programs, and Leadership 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 Atlanta metro area. The organization centers its holistic programs on leadership, service, and enrichment.
Since 1989, Soccer in the Streets provides access and opportunities to disadvantaged children in metro Atlanta. Since its establishment, the non-profit ensures all children have a chance to succeed both on and off the field, pursuing inclusion and diversity in every community where it has a presence.
Girls Growth in Soccer
In Clarkston, Georgia - considered the most diverse square mile in America - a group of fifteen girls chatter about the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the 2019 World Cup this past July. Their dreams are being created in a small town is only what the future holds for women in sports. The only girl's team in the Clarkston community program, this team has seen an increase in participation and success over the past four years.
In Clarkston, Georgia - considered the most diverse square mile in America - a group of fifteen girls chatter about the U.S. Women’s National Team winning the 2019 World Cup this past July. Their dreams are being created in a small town is only what the future holds for women in sports. The only girl's team in the Clarkston community program, this team has seen an increase in participation and success over the past four years.
The U18 Clarkston FC team is led by a female head coach, Soroya Faiz. It is difficult being a female coach and earning your stripes in a male-dominated industry. However, Faiz has been a leader and role model for these young aspiring athletes.
“It's tough being the only girl's team in a soccer community that is male-dominated”, said Faiz. “I try and teach these girls every day that they are worth it and to be positive.”
At the age of six, Faiz grew up playing soccer in Bahrain, her home country located along the Persian Gulf. She later became a member of Bahrain’s Women’s National Team by the age of eighteen. She then moved to the U.S. and started working for Soccer in the Streets as a coach. She has been with the girl's team for two years now and started her head coaching journey working with players who had never touched a soccer ball.
“This team is important to me and I want the best for these female athletes”, said Faiz. “I started with most of these girls from the beginning and know that if we keep working hard some of these players can go far.”
As a member of the Clarkston FC team, Dah has been with the team for a few years now. She has seen much improvement in herself and others from the first day.
“From day one to today watching the U.S. Women’s team win the World Cup it has encouraged me to work harder and be a leader for my teammates, “ said Dah. “I enjoy coming out and playing with my teammates.”
The future is bright for the Clarkston FC team as they have grown over the last few years and to see an improvement in their 2019 fall season starting off with three straight wins.
Along with the Clarkston FC U18 girls team, Soccer in the Streets has six other girls team in the southside community program. These teams are made up of the College Park and Fairburn area, age range from 8-12 years old and these are overseen by the community program manager Ulric Alsobrook. These teams have been around for about two seasons now and have seen more than 60 females athletes in the program.
“We are excited to see the girl's side of the Soccer in the Streets program flourish,” said Alsobrook. “The past year has been monumental for these female athletes and we know the number of participants will only increase over time.”
Overall, more girls are playing the sport. In addition to the Soccer in the Streets Community programs, over 120 girls participate in the Atlanta Public Schools programs.
