Annual Black Tie Soccer Game 2021 Raises Over $113,000 for Soccer in the Streets
On Sunday, October. 17th, Soccer in the Streets held its annual Black Tie Soccer Game 2021. Soccer in the Streets’ end of the year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed in Boots, Bow Ties, and Ballgowns - The Black Tie Soccer Game was a soccer game like no other.
Soccer in the Streets Board Member, Janine Willis
On Sunday, October. 17th, Soccer in the Streets held its annual Black Tie Soccer Game 2021. Soccer in the Streets’ end of the year gala hosted family and friends. Instead of the standard banquet dinner, the participants dressed in Boots, Bow Ties, and Ballgowns - The Black Tie Soccer Game was a soccer game like no other.
Behind the slapstick and fun nature of the Black Tie Soccer Game is the most important and more competitive aspect of this tournament: raising funds to bring soccer to lower-income communities while leveling the playing field for children regardless of socioeconomic status. The tournament helps Soccer in the Streets provide sustainable free youth soccer programs that cultivate change, provide, education and empower youth.
This year, the Black Tie Event raised over $113,000 for Soccer in the Streets. The Top Fundraising Team on event day was the Black Team with $35,790. And the Top Individual Fundraiser, Soccer in the Streets Board Member, Brian O’Neill with $17,396.
“Winning the award to me only means that I helped our kids as much as possible, '' said, Brian O’Neill. “This only happens due to the generous support of friends and family, so it really is not about me at all. We have an incredible mission, and a wonderful team working hard to execute on that mission, and I’m just happy to be able to provide any assistance that I can.
Best Dressed Awards, Diane Hansen and Ben Mckenzie
Also announced were the winners of the Men’s Best Dressed and Women’s Best Dressed, given to Ben McKenzie and Diane Hansen respectively.
As an organization, we are thankful for all the support so our youth players can continue to play the beautiful game. Leading the event, Community Engagement Manager, Erik Nelson stated, “It is sometimes difficult to string together the right combination of words to express just how appreciative I am of the wonderful people that were involved with this year’s Black Tie Soccer Game.”
He also stated- "Each and every player put their all into the fundraising campaign, marching right past our $100,000 goal, and, on top of that, they showed up dressed in their Sunday’s Best with proper, slapstick spirits! Thank you to everyone who was a part of this impactful and memorable event!”
Beyond the Field - Players That Care
Research has shown that Generation Z and Generation Alpha are the most anxious generation. Anxiety and Depression diagnoses have significantly surged over the last decade and will continue in that direction post-pandemic. Thankfully, there has been an increase in the willingness to communicate and share about mental health and wellness.
Research has shown that Generation Z and Generation Alpha are the most anxious generation. Anxiety and Depression diagnoses have significantly surged over the last decade and will continue in that direction post-pandemic. Thankfully, there has been an increase in the willingness to communicate and share about mental health and wellness.
Soccer in the Streets’ demographic consists of underserved and lower-income neighborhoods that tend to feel these challenges more intensely. Our organization values the importance of the kids' overall development. With each new season, our team has a fresh opportunity to create and sustain positive relationships between youth and adults that improve soccer ability, support emotional and mental health, and collaboratively build stronger communities throughout Atlanta.
A priority for our team this year is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Previously considered as Emotional Intelligence, SEL is a unique program that taps into youths’ overall emotional and mental wellness. This process will help our players acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
This fall season will include over 900 players working together to grow in their leadership abilities on and off the field. Using soccer as a medium, trained coaches teach skills and life lessons, such as personal responsibility, self-confidence, and self-management.
Our coaches establish physically safe spaces at state of art soccer facilities where players are a part of an intentionally structured schedule for the youth. For example, two of our Southside coaches, Coach Conrad and Coach Cunningham with the 10U boys team help instill this by ending training sessions in intentional huddles. At their sessions, they focus their conversation circle around self-awareness and taking every chance to listen and learn from each other.
“The Soccer in the Streets program is phenomenal. It gives young athletes an opportunity to be a part of a team,” said Coach Cunnigham. “I enjoy being able to be a mentor for our boy’s team. It’s not only about soccer, it’s about the off-the-field life lessons too. It’s about learning and giving 100 percent effort. This program is top-notch. I am thankful for being able to lend my support.”
The impact these coaches are making is on full display when you watch their team. These young leaders are constantly supporting each other and uplifting one another.
Our team will use multiple strategies such as conversation circles, check-in meetings, and an SEL curriculum to help cultivate a culture of empathy and courage for our players and our parents. We will continue to innovate and improve our programming as we utilize evaluation tools such as HelloInsight surveys provided by Laureus Sport for Good.
In addition to creating an inclusive and meaningful experience, we will also continue to partner with community organizations such as Degree Breaking Limits Program. Players that were surveyed last spring confirmed that authentic relationships and engaging authentically with adults were essential to their overall development.
As we navigate through this need in youth development, we are bringing light to Suicide Prevention Month. This is especially important to our organization as we help kids live a healthy lifestyle on and off the field. The time spent with the kids at practice means more than just playing with a soccer ball it means building a quality relationship. A relationship with their coaches and teammates.
Our goal with the program is to promote emotional and mental awareness. This program will continue to grow as we keep track of the surveys conducted by our program managers. These surveys will guide us in the direction to successfully tap into the youth players
Soccer in the Streets grant recipient of GA 100 mini pitches
The Atlanta United Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) have announced grants to develop eight new soccer mini-pitches as part of the second phase of the GA 100 campaign. With 12 mini-pitches now in development, the GA 100 campaign is closer to its goal to create up to 100 mini-pitches across the state leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Atlanta United Foundation's GA 100 Campaign Announces Phase Two Grants To Build Soccer Mini-Pitches Throughout Georgia
The Atlanta United Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) have announced grants to develop eight new soccer mini-pitches as part of the second phase of the GA 100 campaign. With 12 mini-pitches now in development, the GA 100 campaign is closer to its goal to create up to 100 mini-pitches across the state leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Atlanta United Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to LISC to lead the installation of the first 20 mini-pitches across the state. With this funding, LISC – the nation’s leading community development support organization – identifies local, nonprofit, and community-based agencies wishing to build or refurbish soccer mini-pitches at schools, neighborhood parks, and other recreation spaces in Georgia neighborhoods. The local organizations receive financing and technical assistance to improve the quality and safety of mini-pitches in their communities. The organizations then oversee the construction, maintenance, and programming of the fields.
The campaign kicked off in 2020, with awards going to four neighborhood organizations. This year, $485,000 will be directed to six organizations to build eight mini-pitches:
· Atlanta Habitat for Humanity will use its $75,000 grant to help build a mini-pitch at the Browns Mill Village affordable housing development in Southeast Atlanta.
· Soccer in the Streets’ $75,000 grant will bring a mini-pitch to the Clarkston community.
· Calvary Day School, in Savannah, will use its $75,000 grant to help install a mini-pitch at the Outdoor Education Center.
· Chapel Hill Middle School Department of Athletics, in Decatur, will receive $75,000 to help build a mini-pitch at the school.
· Sequoyah Middle School Department of Athletics, in Doraville, will use a $75,000 grant to help build a mini-pitch at the school.
· UPPER90 will receive $50,000 to refurbish a soccer mini-pitch at the English Oaks apartment complex in Clarkston; $30,000 to refurbish a mini-pitch at Clarkston’s Envision Atlanta center; and another $30,000 to build a new soccer mini-pitch at the Gwinnett Estates mobile home community in Loganville.
“We’re thrilled to be one step closer to reaching our goal of creating up to 100 mini-pitches across Georgia,” said Marco Patrie, Premium Sales Manager, and Associate Committee Member, The Atlanta United Foundation. “We want to make soccer accessible to all Georgians, not only for the obvious physical benefits but also for the community and togetherness these mini-pitches will bring.”
Applications are now open for the third phase of GA 100. Community organizations, schools, and parks and recreation departments across the state can apply for grants of up to $75,000. The grants require a minimum community local match of one dollar for every GA 100 dollar (1:1) up to $75,000.
The soccer mini-pitches, once built, will include field surface improvements, goals, fencing, and lighting. GA 100 grants are issued once established funding thresholds are reached for each project.
“Safe, accessible recreation facilities are important to all communities,” said Beverly Smith, LISC’s vice president of Sports and Recreation. “Through GA 100, LISC and The Atlanta United Foundation have the opportunity to bring those critical spaces to communities and will benefit youth and families throughout the state.”
"Our communities need the GA100 initiative and we're excited to be part of it," said Soccer in the Streets Executive Director, Phil Hill. "Our kids in Clarkston live and breathe soccer but safe places to play are limited. This new mini-pitch helps us continue our work to build more equitable places for youth to thrive."
Requests for proposals (RFPs) from communities for the third phase of GA 100 grants will be accepted beginning August 9, 2021. The deadline for proposal submissions is October 29, 2021. For more information and to download the RFP, visit GA 100.