Soccer for Success Los Angeles Showcase

On Saturday November 19, 2011, 300 children from Brotherhood Crusade poured onto the soccer field at the Challengers Boys and Girls Club in South Central Los Angeles to participate in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s demonstration of its nationally recognized program, Soccer for Success. Soccer for Success is an innovative sports-based after-school program that provides children in urban underserved areas with nutrition education, mentorship, and structured physical activity, at no cost to their parents. Currently the Foundation serves 8,000 children in 8 cities nationwide.

Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, opened the demonstration by saying a few words to the children about staying active and living a positive lifestyle.

From 1pm – 3pm, children participated in soccer-based activities while learning how to make wise nutrition choices in their daily lives. Refreshments for the children included fruits and vegetables, further solidifying the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

As the children continued to play, influential leaders in the youth development and sport philanthropy sectors gathered for a reception to discuss the state of today's youth and the importance of programs that make a positive impact on children's lives. Remarks from Ed Foster-Simeon, Shellie Pfohl and Charisse Bremond-Weaver, President & CEO of Brotherhood Crusade energized the room and challenged leaders to continue to work to improve the lives of youth in urban underserved areas.

The future of today’s youth is in the hands of those willing to support positive youth development. We are committed to using soccer as tool to serve children in urban underserved areas in a positive way. Because of organizations such as Brotherhood Crusade, The California Endowment and the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, programs such as Soccer for Success have the opportunity to elicit changes that will benefit future generations.

For more information about Soccer for Success, please visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org.