WASHINGTON, DC (September 4, 2007) - D.C. United and its non-profit arm, United for D.C., announced today plans for the Fall 2007 session of United Soccer Club. The original program, based at Barry Farm Parks and Recreation Center, will begin its fourth season with expansion to a third site at Ketcham Elementary School in Southeast D.C.
"We are looking forward to another great season and excited to have the opportunity to expand United Soccer Club's outreach to another site," said United Soccer Club director Judah Cooks.
Last spring, United Soccer Club expanded into its second location in Ward 8 at the Boys and Girls Clubhouse #11. The after-school initiative has hosted more than 90 students, twice a week and produced a U-10 team, which participated in the Soccer of the Hill League at Anacostia Park last spring.
The current program will run for eight weeks at each site, teaching fundamental skills and conducting scrimmages. Between the three sites, United Soccer Club will enter two teams, one U-10 and one U-13, into the Soccer on the Hill League, which holds games Saturday mornings at Anacostia Park, starting September 8.
United Soccer Club is one of the many community outreach ventures by United for D.C. Through the Kicks for Kids program, more than 10,000 underprivileged children will have an opportunity to watch United play this season alone. United Reads, currently presented in six DC elementary schools, distributed nearly 8,000 books during player visits to each classroom throughout the spring. The organization also funded a summer art initiative hosted by local Ward 8 artist and activist Tendani Mpulubusi.
For more information on these programs or how fans can contribute time or money to these worthy causes, please contact United for D.C. Program Manager Sara Peterson (202-587-5434 or speterson@dcunited.com
).
Schedules and locations for the Club are as follows:
Barry Farm Parks and Recreation Center
1239 Sumner Rd. SE
Schedule: Tuesday/Thursday 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Site coordinator: Chris Megaloudis
Robert V Murray Metropolitan Police Clubhouse #11
620 Milwaukee Pl. SE
Schedule: Tuesday/Thursday 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Site coordinator: Brian Robertson
Ketcham Elementary School
1919 15th St. SE
Schedule: Tuesday/Thursday 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Site coordinator: Micah Cooks
About United for D.C.
United For D.C., Inc. was founded on January 8, 2002 as the charitable arm of Major League Soccer's D.C. United. United For D.C. is a 501(c) 3 organization chartered to serve the Washington, D.C. community through the creation or support of programs, events and organizations that advance educational and social welfare opportunities (primarily health and recreational) for the area's youth, particularly those who may be economically, physically or mentally disadvantaged.
