COLUMBUS CREW SOCCER CLUB JOINS ADIDAS, MLS WORKS, SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY AND THE U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION TO UNVEIL NEW SOCCER MINI-PITCH AT LINDEN PARK
Columbus City Council, Mayor Ginther and
Columbus city officials to participate in dedication ceremony; state-of-the-art
mini-pitch to provide local youth with a safe
& accessible place to play
In
partnership with Columbus Crew SC, the new mini-pitch located at Linden Park,
is part of a commitment made by adidas, MLS WORKS, Southern New Hampshire
University and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 20 mini-pitches in
underserved communities across North America. Each new mini-pitch will
offer children in these communities a safe place to play, while providing a
soccer environment that encourages unstructured play within local communities,
supporting the continued growth of the game. Additionally, SNHU will
award a full college scholarship to a deserving member of the local community
as part of the dedication ceremony.
Following
the official dedication, local youth from KIDS League and Crew SC players will
participate in a small-sided match on the new pitch. Soccer for Success, the
U.S. Soccer Foundation’s free afterschool program that uses soccer as a tool to
combat children’s health issues and juvenile delinquency, will also be
introduced to the community. Soccer for Success programming is scheduled
to begin this Fall. Locally in Columbus, Soccer for Success is made possible by
the Crew SC Foundation, which supports coach, player and referee development in
underserved communities throughout Central Ohio.
WHO:
The ceremony will
include short remarks from:
- Andrew
J. Ginther – Mayor, City of Columbus
- Andy
Loughnane – President of Business Operations, Columbus Crew SC
- Gregg
Berhalter – Sporting Director and Head Coach, Columbus Crew SC
- Steve
Thiel – Director of Partnership Marketing, Southern New Hampshire
University
- Jaiza
N. Page – City Council member and Chairperson, Columbus Recreation and
Parks
- Tony
Collins – Director, Columbus Recreation and Parks
- Alex
Stec – Brand Journalist and Crew SC Sideline Reporter - Emcee
Special
guests scheduled to appear include:
- Crew
SC Players Chad Barson,
Ethan Finlay, Hector Jimenez, Matt Pacifici, and captain Michael Parkhurst
- Crew
SC Executives
VISUALS:
Local
Columbus boys and girls taking ceremonial first kick with players and
executives. 20 boys and girls playing in the first match on the new pitch. Crew
SC players will serve as celebrity coaches.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 25,
2016│3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Linden Park
1254 Briarwood Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
MEDIA CONTACT: Media interested in
attending the mini-pitch unveiling to conduct interviews or receive event
photos must contact Tim Miller ([email protected]).
ADDITIONAL
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kristin
Lamas Patterson
Southern New Hampshire University
603-629-3570
[email protected]
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