(Plain Press, March 2015) The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, announced over $28,500 in grants awarded to two local organizations, Ohio City Incorporated and America SCORES Cleveland, to support soccer programs for underserved youth in the Cleveland area. This comes as part of an announcement of over 31 grants totaling nearly $1.3 million nationwide.

“The U.S. Soccer Foundation is proud to support organizations that harness the power of soccer, through impactful community-based programs, to improve the well-being of children,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, president and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow from the game of soccer.”

“Our Cleveland youth, especially in the younger grades, have almost no exposure to organized sports, especially soccer,” said Debi Pence-Meyenberg, Executive Director of America SCORES Cleveland. “Our partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation will provide soccer balls, goals, uniforms and trained coaches to hundreds of Cleveland youth, teaching them not only how to play soccer, but also how to be a team player, practice good sportsmanship and become a leader!”

The U.S. Soccer Foundation is a recognized leader in sports-based youth development programs for children in underserved, urban communities.  Since its founding in 1994, the organization has provided more than $100 million in funding to create and sustain innovative programs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Proven to deliver positive health and social outcomes, the Foundation’s affordable initiatives offer safe environments in which both boys and girls thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org to learn more.