| US YOUTH SOCCER ANNOUNCES TOPSOCCER AND SOCCER START GRANT AWARD BENEFICIARIES FOR 2008
CAL SOUTH'S COMPTON UNITED & BELL GARDENS PROGRAMS RECEIVE GRANTS
 May 16, 2008 – US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the United States, recently announced that it has made funds available to 28 different groups nationwide as part of its 11th annual grants program cycle. The 28 programs divided a total $85,000 of grants for 2008.
Compton United Soccer Club and the Bell Gardens Imperio Soccer Club, with their distinctive Jaboneria Road to Success program, were the two Cal South member clubs among the 14 TOPSoccer and 14 Soccer Start programs that were awarded nationally.
Compton United Soccer Club plans to expand with a new futsal league to further grow the skill development and reach out to a broader audience. The Compton United Youth Soccer Academy is being built on the El Camino College – Compton Center campus to provide opportunities for players to train at a world class site, along with also providing academic opportunities to them. The goal of the Compton United Soccer Club is to provide a safe and positive athletic experience through soccer. They also help to encourage civic responsibility and ownership through service projects and the program helps to bring the Hispanic and African American communities together. Through Compton United Soccer Club’s vision, a soccer club cannot change a city, but a holistic soccer club can make a significant impact, especially for the athletic-oriented youth.
The Jaboneria Road to Success program runs recreational and competitive soccer programs and offers community service to promote positive values and soccer development and competition. The name of the program is such because an elementary, intermediate and high school are all located along the road where they conduct their programs. The program stresses the importance of sports leading players to also be good students and citizens.
"It is exciting to receive support from US Youth Soccer, our National Association, for efforts Cal South clubs are making in their communities,” said Cal South President Gregory Falk. “The grants will help deliver quality soccer experiences where they are most desperately needed."
Soccer Start is designed to introduce the sport of soccer to youngsters living in communities not yet served by existing clubs and leagues. Focused on making soccer available to lower-income children in underserved communities, Soccer Start provides soccer training and administrative guidance to players and organizations that might otherwise not be exposed to the sport.
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability.
“We believe US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer and Soccer Start programs further our mission of fostering the physical, mental and emotional growth and development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition,” said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer. “We are delighted with the overall quality of the applications received from around the country this year, and look forward to the many positives that are sure to follow.”
Soccer Start Grant Recipients for 2008:
Allentown Youth Soccer Club’s Soccer Start Program, Coopersburg, PA
Boys and Girls Cup of Maury County, Columbia, TN
Buffalo Soccer Club, Buffalo, NY
Camps and After School Enrichment, Inner City Soccer, Fort Wayne, IN
Compton United Soccer Club, Compton, CA
Dynamo in Schools, Indianapolis, IN
Eastern Lawrence Youth Soccer Association, Kitts Hill, OH
Harrison Youth Soccer League, Cadiz, OH
Illinois Youth Soccer’s Inner City Program, Arlington Heights, IL
Jaboneria Road to Success, Bell Gardens Imperio Soccer Club, Bell Gardens, CA
Moshannon Valley Soccer Association, Houtzdale, PA
Rineyville Community Youth Soccer Association, Rineyville, KY
Soccer Haven, New Haven Youth Soccer, New Haven, CT
Soccer Start at Flushing Meadows Park, Astoria, NY
TOPSoccer Grant Recipients for 2008:
Alameda Contra Costa Youth Soccer TOPSoccer, El Cerrito, CA
Blackstone Millville TOPSoccer Program, Blackstone, MA
Cincinnati TOPSoccer, Cincinnati, OH
East Diablo Youth Soccer League TOPSoccer, Brentwood, CA
Elk Grove TOPSoccer Club, Elk Grove, CA
Gainesville Soccer Alliance TOPSoccer, Gainesville, FL
Hockessin Soccer Club TOPSoccer, Hockessin, DE
Lakes Area Youth Soccer TOPSoccer, West Bloomfield, MI
Northport Youth Soccer League TOPSoccer, Northport, NY
Ohio North TOPSoccer, Richfield, OH
Oldsmar TOPSoccer, Clearwater, Fl
South Lakes Soccer Club TOPSoccer, Oklahoma City, OK
St. Elizabeth CYO South Huntington TOPSoccer, Huntington Station, NY
TOPSPUR TOPSoccer, Scarborough, ME
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer -The Game for ALL Kids!® is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.
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