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MLS D.C. United

United for D.C. Celebrates Ten Years of Service

March 5, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


WASHINGTON, DC (March 5, 2012) - D.C. United's 501(c)3 non-profit arm, United for D.C. continued celebrating ten years of service at the foundation's kickoff luncheon earlier today. Again this season, United for D.C. will run three signature programs, providing team building, educational, and healthy lifestyle opportunities to some of the most underserved and at-risk children of the Washington, DC area. United for D.C. launched January 8, 2002.

"We're proud of the accomplishments of the foundation in ten years of serving the greater Washington, DC community," said Stephen Zack, president of the United for D.C. board. "These efforts would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our internal staff and the support of our board, volunteers and donors."

In the spring of 2006, at the request of Ward 8 residents for more organized after-school activities for children, United for D.C. launched a soccer program, in partnership with D.C. Parks and Recreation, at Barry Farm Recreation Center. United Soccer Club operates three times a week for ten weeks, teaching fundamental skills and hosting games and scrimmages. The program has been a huge success through the years, now operating in 12 sites and provides structured programming to more than 700 students each season during the vulnerable time between the end of the school day and the time when caregivers arrive home from work.

Through the generous support of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Gallup Government, DC Departments of Heath, and Volkswagen, the spring session of United Soccer Club will kick off today at one of its 12 sites. The program also features two middle school teams in the district metro area, which will begin next week. United for D.C. supports the mission to promote youth soccer, healthy lifestyles and provide mentorship in economically disadvantaged urban communities. In 2012, United Soccer Club will continue to provide highly trained coaches to teach the fundamentals of the game, create a "mini-league", and organize trips to D.C. United games and end-of-year tournaments sponsored by The Meltzer Group.

United for D.C. also maintains a presence in the schools of many United Soccer Club participants through the United Reads program. Designed to instill a love of reading, the foundation organizes player and staff class visits and participation in school assemblies at six locations during the school year. At these events and through the generosity of The Heart of America Foundation, United Reads provides more than 10,000 books for children to take home each year. Since its creation in 2002, the program has distributed more than 75,000 books to area schools.

Through the Kicks for Kids program, thousands of underprivileged children will have an opportunity to attend a United game again this season. Kicks for Kids has been in existence since D.C. United's inception in 1996. Through the generosity of ticket, financial and individual donors and through the assistance of program partners, Filice Insurance Agency, GSI, Senate Asphalt, Arent Fox and Centerplate, young and underprivileged fans of the team are provided transportation assistance, a game-day meal and tickets to see the Black-and-Red in action.

For more information on these programs or how fans can contribute time or money to foundation programming, please contact United for D.C. at 202-587-5000 or visit unitedfordc.org, CFC #60212 & United Way #8419.

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