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MLS New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls to Host Clinic with NYC Dept of Juvenile Justice

October 3, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


Secaucus, NJ - (Tuesday, October 3, 2006) - On Wednesday, October 4, more than 100 kids from the SEEDS/Non-Secure Detention group homes operated through the Department of Juvenile Justice will face off against members of the New York Red Bulls soccer team in a soccer clinic at Randall Island's Icahn Stadium.

The program will feature some of the most recognized past and present members of the New York Red Bulls, including the Director of the New York Red Bulls Academy Giovanni Savarese, forwards Edson Buddle and David Arvizu and a member of the Red Bulls U-17 Academy Team. They will instruct juvenile residents on the sport of soccer, teamwork, game rules, scoring and techniques. The clinic will culminate in a tournament between teams comprised of residents, staff and the Red Bulls.

The innovative project is designed to provide a unique athletic experience to empower youth to make more positive life choices.

"This innovative soccer clinic will feature world-class athletes and enable kids in detention to experience this exciting sport in a professional stadium setting," DJJ Commissioner Neil Hernandez said. "Thanks to the efforts of the New York Red Bulls, Red Bulls Managing Director Marc de Grandpre, the Randall's Island Sports Foundation and RISF Executive Director Aimee Boden, more than 100 young people will meet recognizable professional athletes and compete in a positive, fun and exciting soccer competition."

"We believe that sports opportunities are invaluable to New York City kids and are happy to host the New York Red Bulls and Department of Juvenile Justice children at the premier soccer field on Randall's Island," said Executive Director of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation Aimee Boden.

"For me this is a great opportunity to provide a different, meaningful experience to these young residents through the sport of soccer," said Red Bulls forward and New Rochelle, NY native Edson Buddle. "Having grown up in New York, it makes it even more special for me and I would like to thank Neil Hernandez for inviting us to participate."

In August, the New York Red Bulls presented a first-ever soccer clinic and sports competition at DJJ's Horizon Juvenile Center. The success of the premiere event inspired DJJ and the New York Red Bulls to partner once again in holding a clinic and tournament at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island for juveniles from DJJ's non-secure detention group homes.

The soccer clinic will provide more than 100 young residents from 18 group homes with a first-ever, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to personally meet and interact with professional sports players, learn about the sport and become aware of exciting professional sports opportunities.

In addition to providing an innovative recreational opportunity for children in detention, the clinic is intended to help make a positive intervention in the lives of residents who might otherwise never have the chance to participate in competitive team-based sports in a professional stadium setting.

The New York Red Bulls Soccer Clinic and Tournament is part of DJJ's continuing commitment to provide developmental and inspirational pro-social programming.

In addition to the initial Red Bulls clinic at the Horizon Juvenile Center residents at DJJ facilities have been visited in recent months by Craig Pearce, screenwriter for Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet and Academy Award winning film 'Moulin Rouge,' urban artist James De La Vega, and magician David Blaine.

The Department of Juvenile Justice was created in 1979 to provide care and custody to juveniles involved in the criminal justice system. Each year, the Department provides secure and non-secure detention services to nearly 6,000 youth whose cases await adjudication in New York Family and Criminal Courts.

For more information about New York Red Bulls Soccer, visit www.NewYorkRedBulls.com . For additional information about the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice, visit www.nyc.gov/html/djj/home.html .

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