Over $50,000 raised to support sustainable free youth soccer programs in Atlanta
The 5th annual Soccer in the Streets ATL Nations Cup event was held on Saturday, July 10th at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. ATL Nations Cup sees the city's most passionate soccer fans, representing 8 Nations as they battle it out for the title both on and off the pitch.
Soccer in the Streets holds 5th annual
Nations Cup Tournament
Over $50,000 raised to support sustainable free youth soccer programs in Atlanta
Team Fundraising Champions, Team Germany
The 5th annual Soccer in the Streets ATL Nations Cup event was held on Saturday, July 10th at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. ATL Nations Cup sees the city's most passionate soccer fans, representing 8 Nations as they battle it out for the title both on and off the pitch.
Team Germany came in as the fundraising champion while there was no declared soccer champion due to weather conditions. The event raised over $50,000 breaking the year’s past total.
“This was a huge result for us, not only because of the money raised but also in terms of the number of people who participated,” said Soccer in the Streets Board Member, Bill Ford. “To see such a bounce back from 2020, in our first fundraiser of the year, is hugely encouraging and a testament to the generosity of the Atlanta soccer community.”
Top Individual Fundraiser, Geoffrey Meeker & Soccer in the Streets Board Member, Bill Ford
The tournament helps Soccer in the Streets provide sustainable free youth soccer programs that cultivate change, education, and empower youth. Including school and community programs and leadership development programs. Soccer in the Streets has impacted thousands of kids each year.
The ATL Nations Cup featured teams that represented the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Argentina, Iceland, India, and Germany. Off the pitch, Team Germany’s Captain, Geoffrey Meeker, led his team to raise just shy of $6,200 in the fundraising portion of the event.
“The Atlanta soccer community came through in extraordinary ways on Saturday; the success of the 2021 ATL Nations Cup should be credited to all who participated.” said tournament organizer, Erik Nelson. “Coming out of a stormy year, nobody showed any signs of letting up on or off the pitch even with Mother Nature giving us a bit of a shower. A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated. I look forward to seeing you out there next year!”
If you want to learn more about where your proceeds go click the link here
Garden FC Connects Sport, Nutrition and Community Well-Being
Access to healthy food is a critical component in the well-being of young players and the communities within which they live. Our youth players have been getting their hands dirty with an off-the-field pilot project called “Garden FC” designed to help the next generation discover a healthier lifestyle.
Access to healthy food is a critical component in the well-being of young players and the communities within which they live. Our youth players have been getting their hands dirty with an off-the-field pilot project called “Garden FC” designed to help the next generation discover a healthier lifestyle.
Over the past year, Garden FC has taken off in Clarkston becoming a luscious half-acre of green space filled with veggies. This project kicked off with a helping hand from a SITS friend and local gardener, Ralph MacDonald. He has supported the youth players alongside Clarkston Program Manager, Toussaint McClure, and Special Projects, Jill Robbins.
Kids building the garden bed
“It's empowering watching all of this unfold,” said Robbins. “We have been working hard with the youth players to show the importance of ownership when it comes to the upkeep of their field and garden. It's empowering watching this all unfold. ”
The space transformed from overgrown kudzu and grass to a beautiful space as the garden grew and more youngsters and community members became involved. Local Atlanta United supporter group, Footie Mob, has graciously been working with the kids throughout the year
“This project is great because we’re providing a place for the kids to learn and grow, as well as create bonds with other young adults, and the community as a whole,” said Footie Mob Member, Amy Edgar. “ Most of all, they’ll be able to play the sport they love in a beautiful and safe environment.”
New and improved Clarkston Garden
Recently, the Garden FC project expanded to the West End where Westside Program Manager, Sean Iriving, and local West End resident, Coach Kwame Uhuru, of the Willie North Institute For Art and Agriculture have been leading the youth players through their garden project. They both realized that during the pandemic the access to fresh food was scarce. And it was important for them to show the kids that they are able to grow their own food right in their backyard.
Coach Kwame and Sean were fortunate enough to be a part of the HABESHA Work program where they learned about horticulture. They have taken their knowledge to their own community garden and given the kids opportunities to learn.
Coach Kwame helping kids plant the vegetables
Coach Kwame and his passion for a healthy lifestyle really inspired him to pursue this project in his spare time.
“As a kid, I learned about horticulture from my parents and great grandfather. This has been instilled in me for a long time,” said Kwame. “This project is extra special to me because I not only am a peer for these youth players but for my 6-year-old son who is a part of the West end program and the garden project. I’m able to give back and it means more to me than they know.”
The educational piece is also a key component of the project. Each week Sean and Kwame share valuable knowledge with the Westside families by sending out emails about what vegetable they are focusing on that week. Each vegetable shows the kids what kind of nutrients are inside and how they benefit their bodies.
“The next generation needs to be educated on what it takes to live a sustainable lifestyle,” said Kwame. “Not only is this educational but for the kids to feel that they are a part of the community that cares. This space has grown from an empty piece of land by a train station to something truly beautiful.”
Garden FC has shown the power of connecting sport, nutrition, and community well-being. But it needs your help! From physical labor to keep the gardens in tip-top shape to funds needed for equipment and supplies, this is a great way for you to help make a positive impact on our players’ lives!
What Is Juneteenth? And Why We Just Made It a Company Holiday.
As an organization, we are recognizing Juneteenth which is also known as Freedom Day. With tragic events continuing to happen in the world today, we want to highlight this holiday even more than before to help educate and uplift others so we can continue to build toward a more equitable society. We will use this day to celebrate the end of slavery while honoring the culture and achievements of African Americans.
As an organization, we are recognizing Juneteenth which is also known as Freedom Day. With tragic events continuing to happen in the world today, we want to highlight this holiday even more than before to help educate and uplift others so we can continue to build toward a more equitable society. We will use this day to celebrate the end of slavery while honoring the culture and achievements of African Americans.
Juneteenth is a celebrated commemoration of June 19, 1865. On that date, more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, TX with news that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were free.
Here’s how Juneteenth.com describes the holiday:
“It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue.”
“In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.
Soccer in the Streets is recognizing this day as a paid holiday for staff and we encourage everyone to ask their employer to do the same. We hope others will use this as an opportunity to celebrate freedom, educate one’s self and take action to support marginalized communities while recognizing that we still have a long way to go before we have true equality in America.
“This was a simple yet meaningful action we could take as an organization to not only recognize what continues to happen in our communities but to use it as an opportunity to educate and uplift others,” said Phil Hill, Executive Director of Soccer in the Streets.
“I know it’s just the beginning of more meaningful actions we can take to continue addressing issues of inequality and injustice that we see far too often in the communities we serve.”
Due to COVID-19, the Juneteenth Festival in Atlanta has been postponed till August. There will still be a march on Friday, June 19th. Follow the link for more information.
If you are interested in learning more about this important day check out some of the resources below:
Articles:
AJC: 6 facts about Juneteenth, which marks the last day of slavery
Forbes: No More Excuses - It’s Time to Declare Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
National Museum of American History & Culture: The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
NY Times: Trying to Parent My Black Teenagers Through Protest and Pandemic
Videos: