October 25, 2011
Press Release

THINK DETROIT PAL AND U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION SET TO KICK OFF SOCCER FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM

Detroit, Mich. – On Thursday, October 27, Think Detroit PAL and the U.S. Soccer Foundation will formally Kick Off our Soccer for Success program. The event will occur at 4 pm at Earhart Elementary and Middle School in Southwest Detroit. U.S.  Soccer Foundation President & CEO Ed Foster-Simeon, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr., Coca-Cola Vice President of Public Affairs Percy Wells and Think Detroit PAL COO Tim Richey will speak at the event.

Soccer for Success is a free after-school program that uses soccer as a tool to positively impact the lives of children in underserved urban communities. The program combats obesity by promoting healthy lifestyles and provides children with a safe environment to play, learn and develop skills using one of the most popular sports in the world.

Seven elementary schools and nearly 400 third and fourth grade girls and boys will be immediately involved in the program this autumn, which will take place three days a week. More schools and an additional 600 kids will be involved in the program by the spring of 2012 to reach the organization’s goal of serving 1,000 children annually, with our trained and certified youth mentors.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation has implemented the program in Chicago, Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Newark. Detroit will be the seventh city to have the program, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation has chosen Think Detroit PAL to run it. Long-time Detroit soccer advocate Roger Faulkner was instrumental in encouraging the U.S. Soccer Foundation to bring the program to Detroit, and he currently serves as the Chairman of the Detroit Soccer for Success Leadership Circle.

A generous grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and a $100,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation have made this program possible in Detroit. 

“The Coca-Cola Foundation's goal is to continue our Company's great tradition of giving,” said Wells. “We’re hopeful that through this grant, we’re able to share the importance of physical fitness in our communities and encourage our youth to get active.”

Think Detroit PAL was formed in 2006 with the merger of Think Detroit Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League.  In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Think Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership development programs.  In 2010, Think Detroit PAL served over 10,000 girls and boys through 10 sports, making it one of the largest youth organizations in the state of Michigan. More than 80 cents of each dollar donated to Think Detroit PAL goes directly into programming.

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, please contact Think Detroit PAL at 313-833-1600 or on the web at www.thinkdetroitpal.org.