The U.S. Soccer Foundation awarded $2.62 million in grants last week, including contributions to two partners of Dynamo Charities: the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Houston Parks Board. The grants benefit the Soccer for Success program and the Houston Sports Park, where the Dynamo expect to train in coming years.
"Dynamo Charities is honored to be partnered with these organizations and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to use the power of soccer and the Houston Dynamo to emphasize the importance of health and fitness to the youth in our community," Dynamo Charities Director Lori Stutt said.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department received one of four grants for the Soccer for Success program, a multi-year grant focused on providing free after-school soccer programming to children in grades 3-8, giving them a safe environment for necessary exercise. Dynamo Charities, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and the Houston Independent School District teamed up to launch the local Soccer For Success program last fall. More than 500 children participated in the program's first semester last fall, and more than 850 are expected to participate this spring.
The Houston Parks Board received one of nine grants for the Footprint Fields program, to be used for the construction of FieldTurf soccer fields that are durable and can be used in all weather conditions. The program operates in partnership with adidas, FieldTurf, and MLS W.O.R.K.S., the charitable arm of Major League Soccer. This grant will go toward construction of a FieldTurf field at the Houston Sports Park, located near the intersection of Highway 288 and Beltway 8, where the Houston Dynamo and Dynamo Academy expect to train in the future.
"This is a tremendous development for the Houston Sports Park and the Houston Parks Board," Houston Dynamo President/General Manager Oliver Luck said. "It is great to see this new park take shape, and the local sporting community - not just soccer, but lacrosse, rugby, and American football as well - can look forward to a first-class facility. The Dynamo look forward to moving our professional training to the park next year. This facility will be a great asset for the community."
The Dynamo will host the 2010 Major League Soccer All-Star Game this summer at Reliant Stadium, and tickets are available in Dynamo season ticket packages, on sale now at HoustonDynamo.com or by calling (713) 276-7500.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON DYNAMO The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer franchise that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first four seasons and represented the United States in four consecutive regional championships. For more information, log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
ABOUT DYNAMO CHARITIES Dynamo Charities is the charitable arm of the Houston Dynamo. It believes in using the power of the Dynamo and the sport of soccer to support our community. Dynamo Charities enhances lives through a variety of programs and initiatives. It uses the Dynamo and the sport of soccer to provide opportunities in education, health, wellness and physical fitness, strengthening communities through the promotion of volunteerism and community involvement, providing well-equipped and updated soccer fields to impoverished areas, scholarship funds, and other benevolent programs.
