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USL1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Martino Family Pledges 100K in Scholarships to Players from Low Economic Backgrounds 

December 1, 2020 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC News Release


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Since its inception, the Red Wolves have been very intent on being equally as impactful off the pitch as they are on it. The organization has been consistently active in the community over the past two years, most recently providing thousands of meals to children in need affected by school closures due to COVID-19. This morning, owner Bob Martino and Lana Martino took the intent to a new level by announcing the Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation.

"This is something that we've had in the works for a while and something that we're very passionate about," says Bob Martino. "From day one, our goal has been to be an asset within our community and to help better it every single day. Launching the Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation is another step in that direction."

Along with the Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation comes the announcement of one of its main initiatives, "Pass It Forward". Pass It Forward aims to eliminate the financial barriers that traditionally come with playing high level youth soccer in America, making the sport available to aspiring soccer players regardless of their economic status. To kick off the initiative Bob Martino and Lana Martino have announced that they will pledge $100,000 to Pass It Forward, all of which goes towards providing club scholarships to players in need of financial assistance.

"Soccer not only creates an environment to learn key life lessons like teamwork, accountability, hard work, dedication, and overall health and wellness but it also helps open doors to a better future," says Martino. "Whether it is pursuing a professional career with the first team or making a college education attainable through playing at the collegiate level just like over 30 seniors within our academy have done over the past two years, access to the sport of soccer can be life changing. Our goal is to offer that opportunity to any kid that deserves it regardless of their family's economic status."

Academy Executive Vice President Derek Greene sees this as a huge step for the academy. "With today's launch of our Pass It Forward campaign we are solidifying part of our mission to make the game of soccer affordable and accessible to all players in our academy," says Greene. "As a parent myself with two sons playing academy soccer I know how expensive this can get and what a burden it can be financially. It's very exciting to be part of an organization that seeks to ease that burden and bring more kids to the sport and our academy."

Pass It Forward is a significant landmark for the Red Wolves Academy, which has very quickly risen to one of the top programs in the country. By providing access to a top tier academy for players regardless of their economic status, the Pass It Forward campaign is yet another stepping stone solidifying the path to professional or collegiate soccer in Chattanooga.

"Being a premier academy requires significant investment," says Greene. "We hope other parents, community leaders, and local businesses will join us as part of Pass it Forward as we seek to change the lives of young men and women through soccer."

The Chattanooga Red Wolves Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 and contributing to the general foundation or Pass It Forward Campaign is an eligible tax write off. To make a contribution to Pass It Forward please visit the Chattanooga Red Wolves Official Team Website at www.chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com and click on the Pass It Forward Icon on the Home Page.

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