Award Winners: Joel Apudo won the Napolitano Award & Ehlahd Israel won the Community Champion Award
On Sunday, October 7th, Soccer in the Streets held the Black Tie Soccer Game 2018 presented by Creature Comforts. Soccer in the Streets’ end of year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed up and play soccer to raise money in support of social impact soccer initiatives benefiting thousands of underserved children in the metro Atlanta area.
As a successful Black Tie Event, Soccer in the Streets raised $97,000. The top fundraising team was the Black Team with $34,750. During the Black Tie game, the Community Champion award and Napolitano Award were presented to Community Engagement Manager, Joel Apudo, and local West End resident, Ehlahd Israel.
The Community Champion award is presented to someone that has had a positive impact on the youth players and shows his or her ability to be a leader both on and off the field. Ehlahd Israel a West Side resident that has been involved with Soccer in the Streets for a year and a half now and was this year’s winner.
The Napolitano Award is presented to someone who embodies leadership, service and enrichment around the beautiful game. This year’s award was presented to Joel Apudo the fifth recipient. Apudo, has shown passion for the soccer players and is now a community manager in the West End.
“I have seen so many great changes in the West End community,” said Apudo. “I am so honored to be presented with this award from such a great organization! The youth development can only go up from here and I am excited to see what the future holds for these young athletes.”
All proceeds support Soccer in the Streets' free youth programs in 26 locations across metro Atlanta - including 13 elementary schools, 10 community programs, and Life Works program execution - providing social impact by using soccer as a medium to build young leaders who live rich lives and cultivate healthy communities. Soccer in the Streets impacts over 5,000 kids each year and launched the first Homeless Soccer Program in the metro Atlanta area. The organization centers its holistic programs on leadership, service and enrichment.