Success @ Corporate Cup 2024!!
Our corporate heroes have done it again!! $62,000 in vital program funds were raised at Champions League 2024.
As the title suggests, we hosted another successful iteration of Corporate Cup!! This event is one of our 3 annual fundraising soccer tournaments: Champions League, Corporate Cup & the Black Tie Soccer Game.
Corporate Cup is a super fun event, matching up teams fielded by various corporations, all in support of Soccer in the Streets!
This year’s event raised $62,000 dollars in vital program funds!
The participating companies this year were: King & Spalding, Blackrock, Visa, Deloitte, Michelob Ultra, Compass, Alston Bird, Carter’s, and Novelis.
Each year we have particular call-outs for top performers and our event partners:
The Top Fundraising Corporation was… King & Spalding!
The Tournament Winner was… Compass!
Our Event Sponsor is… Michelob Ultra!
Special thanks goes to… Silverbacks Park, our event host! John Curran, our lovely announcer, and last but never least, our intrepid referees, Jochen & John!
We're Joining the Movement for Mental Health Awareness Month
Soccer in the Streets’ demographic consists of underserved and lower-income neighborhoods that tend to feel mental health challenges - and barriers to treatment - more intensely. Today, Black children under the age of 13 are twice as likely to die by suicide as their white peers, and the rate of death by suicide among Black youth has increased faster than any other racial or ethnic group.
This is an incredibly alarming stat as our organization works with over 80% Black and African-American youth, and it underscores the importance of raising mental health awareness now
According to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, inner-city and under-resourced communities we work with have less access to mental health services than others, are less likely to receive needed care, and are more likely to receive poor quality care when treated.
During such imperative times of mental wellness, we are committed to leveraging our resources and the game of soccer to create safe spaces for players to build meaningful relationships in their communities. Sport is a powerful tool for change. Using soccer as a medium, trained coaches teach skills and life lessons, such as personal responsibility, self-confidence, and self-management.
“ “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.””
Our organization values the importance of the kids' overall development, and with each new season, our team has a fresh opportunity to create and sustain positive relationships that improve one’s soccer ability, support social and emotional learning, and collaboratively build stronger communities throughout Atlanta. But we can’t do it alone; it takes community members like Junia Baker stepping up to offer help to fellow Atlantans however they can.
Junia is a Licensed Professional Counselor who runs her own business right here in Atlanta. She is also a huge supporter of Soccer in the Streets. Recognizing the challenges our kids and families - and even staff - can face with barriers to things like mental health counseling & therapy sessions, Junia reached out to see how she could help. We’re thrilled to be working closely with her to develop a plan that will help reduce barriers to treatment for our kids, families, and Soccer in the Streets staff members.
"Conversation Circles" help cultivate a culture of empathy and courage for our players and our parents.
As schools approach the summer break, many children will be without a constant learning environment and curriculum to keep them engaged.
To help offset these challenges, we’re raising funds to provide 300 children with a fun activity kit to get them through the summer. These kits will include mental wellness resources such as art activities, mindfulness journals, and children's books.
When our school-based programs resume, our team will use multiple strategies such as conversation circles, check-in meetings, and an SEL curriculum to help cultivate a culture of empathy and courage for our players and our parents.
We will continue to innovate and improve our programming as we utilize evaluation tools such as HelloInsight surveys provided by Laureus Sport for Good.
Players surveyed last spring confirmed that authentic relationships and engaging authentically with adults were essential to their overall development.
As we navigate through this need in youth development, we are bringing light to Mental Health Awareness Month. This is especially important to our organization as we help kids live a healthy lifestyle on and off the field. The time spent with the kids at practice means more than just playing soccer – it means building quality relationships with coaches, teammates, and family members.
“The Soccer in the Streets program is phenomenal. It gives young athletes an opportunity to be a part of a team.
I enjoy being able to be a mentor for our boy’s team. It’s not only about soccer; it’s about the off-the-field life lessons, too. It’s about learning and giving 100 percent effort.
This program is top-notch. I am thankful for being able to lend my support.”
– Coach Cunnigham
Soccer in the Streets' Family Shines in Professional Debut
Soccer in the Streets partnered with Chris Wiley & Oz Pizza, among others, to develop StationSoccer - East Point. And the idea for it came from an unusual place: Chris' then-14-year-old son Caleb Wiley.
From Atlanta United:
"One day after work, Chris and his son Caleb, who [was] on the Atlanta United U-17 Academy team, were leaving the restaurant. Caleb motioned at the spot behind the restaurant and said, 'Dad, that would be a cool spot for a little pitch.'" And StationSoccer - East Point was born.
Caleb Wiley (26) celebrates his first career MLS goal
Fast forward a few short years and Caleb Wiley, now 17-years-old, moved up the ranks in the Academy all the way to the first team with Atlanta United and recently made his professional debut, scoring his first career MLS goal and sealing the victory over Sporting Kansas City.
“When I saw it go into the back of the net, it was a huge moment for me,” said Wiley. “To do it in front of this huge crowd, in front of friends and family is something special.”
Celebrating in the stands with as much joy as Caleb did on the pitch was his dad, Chris Wiley. Chris has been a part of the local business community in Atlanta since the 1990s when he opened his first Oz Pizza location.
Supporting the local community has always been important to the Wileys, whether they’re feeding the neighborhood, supporting a safe space for kids to play soccer, or donating generously to local efforts.
Chris Wiley in front of Oz Pizza’s East Point location
“We are really big about community,” Wiley explained. “We've been offering weekly fundraiser nights for 12 years. We have given over $45,000 dollars to our local area communities.”
“That’s why we are here,” Wiley expressed with love. “We are here to give back, to support the community. That’s what we like to do.”
For Caleb’s part, although only 17 years old, he’s already inspiring the next generation.
Caleb Wiley subs on for his childhood idol (left); Wiley is pictured with Josef (right) when he played with the U12 ATL UTD Academy
“Just keep on dreaming. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be who you want to be.
Just go out there and have fun, believe in yourself and you can achieve it.”
– Caleb Wiley