MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake in the Community

Published on September 13, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (Wednesday, September 13th, 2006) - Real Salt Lake is pleased to announce several growing partnerships between the team and established Utah community goodwill projects. Together, RSL and the following groups are committed to fostering goodwill among the community and improving the quality of life of Utah citizens.

RSL TEAMS WITH UNITED WAY FOR "DAY OF CARING": Real Salt Lake is pleased to partner with the United Way for their 14th Annual "Day of Caring". RSL and the United Way have teamed up several times in the past for projects that have been beneficial for both parties and the "Day of Caring" reflects the continuation of the partnership between two entities committed to making a difference in the community. The Day of Caring took place last Thursday, September 7th and RSL was out at the event in full force.

RSL players Joey Worthen (Cottonwood High School) and Adam Acosta (Judge Memorial High School), the only two players on the roster with local community ties, made appearances at the breakfast that started the day at 7:00 a.m. RSL Public Relations Manager Spencer Checketts emceed the event and Real Salt Lake provided discounted tickets and free t-shirts to the volunteers that took time out of their schedules to provide service for one of the 116 different service projects throughout the day. In total, over 2,600 people volunteered their time and 96 different Utah companies gave their employees the day off so they could participate in the day.

RSL'S partner for this year's "Day of Caring" was The Children's Service Society.

CSS Mission Statement: "The Children's Service Society of Utah is committed to meeting the growth and developmental needs of children, fostering quality child care, and promoting positive relationships in biological, adoptive, and kinship families without regard to ethnicity, race, income gender, age, or religion."

RSL is sending over 170 kids and family members from CSS to the September 16th game vs. FC Dallas. Many of the children and teenagers RSL is sending have been taken out of abusive family environments and placed into alternative homes. Several of the children have been taken in by extended relatives, such as grandparents or aunts and uncles. Attending a RSL game is a positive and fun activity that these kids would not normally be able to experience-witnessing first hand the results of hard work, dedication, and team effort.

RSL will host a pizza party for the families in Carnival Real where RSL mascot Leo the Lion will make a special visit and hand out prizes. In addition, RSL will also hold a private, post-game autograph session with several Real Salt Lake players.

History of Children's Service Society: The Children's Service Society (CSS) is affiliated with Child Care Resource & Referral - Metro (CCR&R), which offers programs in childcare provider recruitment, training, technical assistance and referral services and in family and child welfare services. CCR&R services are designed to assist providers who practice in Salt Lake and Tooele.

CSS professional social work services are offered to clients nation-wide and include free, confidential, individual pregnancy counseling for women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy; prenatal classes for single women and parenting education classes. CSS also offer a service known as "Grandfamilies:' a support, information, and advocacy service for grandparents and other relatives who are raising their kin's children. In addition, infant and special needs adoption services for both birth parents and adoptive parents are available. Post-adoptive services are also offered, including: "Connections": A confidential intermediary search and reunion service for biological family members; support groups for adopted children and teens; and individual therapeutic counseling for all members of the adoption triad.

TREMLBY AMND BESAGNO TO PARTICIAPTE IN BENNEFIT CONCERT: Seth Trembly and Nik Besagno will be showcasing their musical talents at the "Utah's Heart 2 Home" benefit concert on Wednesday, September 13 beginning at 7:30pm at the Sandy Amphitheater. Utah's Heart 2 Home is raising money through the concert to make over the home of David and Vicki Smeltzer of Sandy, UT. The couple currently have three children.

David, the father, and Breann (age 13) suffer from a debilitating disease called "Leukoencephalopathy". The symptoms are very similar to MS, but degenerates the body and systems at a much faster rate. There are only 243 people in the world with this disease, so the protocol for treatment is still being established.

This marks the third year in a row Utah's Heart 2 Home has chosen a family to assist. The primary objective is to provide them with a new home that is wheelchair accessible to allow the disabled easier access to everyday living amenities. Another primary goal is to makeover the home's design so the structure will have very little in the way of maintenance issues and upkeep. Above all, Heart 2 Home wants this family to live in a home that will address the endless list of safety issues they are currently battling as a result of their physical and ailments.

Trembly and Besagno were a part of the "Soccer Rocks Utah" Benefit Concert in late July, also at the Sandy Amphitheater, in which they performed for a crowd of 500 and raised money for "Kicks for Kids" and "Right to Play", two soccer-based charities that benefit underprivileged children.

The Heart 2 Home Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises and manages funds for the Utah home makeover projects. For more information, please visit www.utahheart2home.com or call 801-380-0543.

RSL PLAYERS TO MAKE COMMUNITY ROUNDS: Real Salt Lake is pleased to announce the following upcoming player appearances:

Wednesday, September 13 - 6:00-7:30pm: "Clinton City Recreation Clinic" at Power Line Park: 1740 North 1700 West; Clinton City

MF Kenny Cutler and DF Nelson Akwari to lead clinic and sign autographs for Clinton City and Syracuse recreational youth soccer players.

Wednesday, September 13 - 6:00-7:30pm: Utah Youth Soccer Association's "Parents Play Kids Day": Monarch Meadows Park: 13600 South 4800 West, Herriman

MF Chris Brown and MF Joey Worthen will be assisting with the clinic and helping the youth teach the parents a few soccer skills. The RSL players will also be available for autographs and photographs.

Wednesday, September. 13 - 7:30pm: "Utah's Heart 2 Home Benefit Event": Sandy Amphitheater: 9400 South 1300 East

MF Seth Trembly to sing and play the guitar and DF Nik Besagno to perform on the piano

Thursday, September. 14 - 6-7pm: Coach's Show at Jerry Seiner Dealership: 1560 South 500 West

FW Jeff Cunningham, MF Adam Acosta, and DF Nik Besagno featured guests on this weeks show.

Friday, September 15 - 1:00pm: Dugway Elementary School Reading Assembly: Dugway Elementary: 5000 Valdez Circle, Dugway

RSL's mascot, Leonardo the Lion will be a part of the "Kick It Into Reading" assembly hosted by the Dugway Elementary PTA. Leo the Lion will cruise to the school on his RSL themed Harley Davidson and interact with the students helping to show that reading can be fun!

Monday, September 18 - 6:00pm: Salt Lake County Soccer Clinic at Marv Jensen Recreation Center: 10300 South Redwood Road, South Jordan

MF Mehdi Ballouchy, MF Christian Jimenez, MF Brian Gil and Assistant Coach Brian "BJ" Johnson will be leading a clinic and signing autographs for Marv Jensen youth soccer players.

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