NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Indy Eleven

Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation Awards over $20,000 in Grants

January 12, 2017 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release


INDIANAPOLIS- The Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation is continuing its mission to provide opportunities for Indiana's youth as 2017 gets underway by issuing new grants totaling $20,500 to three Indianapolis-based institutions - Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), Brookside Community Development Corporation and Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center.

"With soccer continuing to grow in popularity among children year after year, the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation is excited to work with these three organizations to help build programs that will develop kids' bodies, minds and spirits through the sport," said Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation Chairman Ersal Ozdemir.

IPS will use its $10,000 grant to support the recently created Developmental Soccer and Futsal Leagues for elementary and middle school students, the latter of which kicks off this Saturday morning at Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities. More than 1,200 kindergarten through eighth grade students participated in IPS' Soccer League during its launch last fall, and over 700 more will take part in the Futsal League, facilitated in partnership with local community outreach group SCORE, in the coming months.

Members of the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, Indy Eleven and SCORE organizations will be on hand at Broad Ripple H.S. this Saturday for a ceremonial check presentation with IPS representatives, including Superintendent Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

"We are excited about the opportunities our students have through the Developmental Futsal League," said IPS Athletic Director Jamal Smith. "We are thankful for our partnership with the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, and we look forward to providing engaging athletic connections through the support of this grant."

The Brookside Community Developmental Corporation is receiving an $8,000 grant to provide equipment, staffing and funding support for the Brookside Community Play Futsal Program, run out of Brookside Community Church on the near eastside. Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation representatives will visit Brookside Community Church for their check presentation on the afternoon of Monday, January 23.

"We're excited to be able to create a futsal program for the children in the Brookside neighborhood because we know that through futsal, children will be able to have fun, gain confidence, and learn new skills. This grant allows our organization to offer a high-quality program to children who might not be able to experience it anywhere else," said Andrew Neal, Director of Brookside Community Play.

For more than 100 years, Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center has been empowering thousands of individuals and families on Indianapolis' southwest side by serving as a resource for help and hope. Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center will utilize its $2,500 grant to create two grass soccer fields located on the park portion of the West Morris Church property. Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation members will present a ceremonial grant check at Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center on the afternoon of Monday, January 30.

"We're thrilled to have soccer fields available to the families of West Indianapolis. They wouldn't have been created without the generous financial support of the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, the cooperation of the Morris Street Church, and the idea, inspiration, and labor provided by Ratio Architects. This is truly an example of community coming together to create a place for children to play and develop right here in the neighborhood," said Kimberly Coveney, Director of Development for Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center.

For more information on the Indy Eleven Soccer Foundation, including ways to get involved and grant application information, please visit www.IndyElevenSoccerFoundation.com.

Check out the Indy Eleven Statistics

• Discuss this story on the North American Soccer League message board...

North American Soccer League Stories from January 12, 2017


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central