The end of the spring season, community celebrations, tournaments, fundraisers and the start of summer programming are just a few of the things that kept SSUSA busy in May and have us running full speed ahead towards summer this June. Read below for more on what’s happening across the country for SSUSA.
Bay Area:
Western Addition Street Soccer Fest – 150 youth came out to participate in soccer based activities including a mini-tournament and skills stations to celebrate a year of Street Soccer. A special thanks to all our program partners who attended, as well as volunteer support from the men’s soccer programs at University San Francisco and San Francisco State University.
East Bay Street Soccer Fest – On Saturday May 6th, students and families from six schools representing our program partner UC Berkeley’s 21st Century Community Learning Center geared up to for a day of Street Soccer. Over 100 youth from across the East Bay came together to compete in a Street Soccer Tournament and celebrate the 2017 Spring Season. These kids had been practicing with Street Soccer for 14 weeks in their afterschool programs and were eager to show off their soccer skills. To aide in the tournament’s activities, the UC Berkeley Men’s Soccer team came out ready to help. 
The event also featured Parent, Coach, & Volunteer games where families from different schools teamed up with SSUSA coaches and volunteers to play some friendly soccer. It was remarkable to see the excitement the kids showed for soccer and the support their families gave that day!
Tenderloin Street Soccer Club Wins League at SSUSA Park – Congratulations to the Tenderloin Community Street Soccer Club who won the Men’s Classic League at Street Soccer USA Park. After two consecutive seasons without a win, at the end of 2016, the squad came together to adjust their approach. They’ve been working hard, week in and week out, and all the effort paid off with nail-biting victories in the semi-final and championship game. Well done on a much deserved victory! Keep playing for bigger goals!
San Rafael Street Soccer USA Park Launch/Opening – Street Soccer USA is happy to announce that on May 5th, 2017 a second Street Soccer USA Park was opened, in San Rafael, CA. This facility is equipped similarly to the Street Soccer USA Park in San Francisco with two turf street soccer courts, electronic scoreboards, and two retrofitted shipping containers that serve as a locker room and team store. The Street Soccer USA Parks financially support Street Soccer USA programs in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, and we’re excited to see it become a social program hub in the future.
Bigger Goals Football Club – The SSUSA Bay Area Staff, Coaches & Volunteers won their second consecutive IPLAYFOR SF Co-ed Premier League Victory. The IPLAYFOR League has been a tremendous way to draw awareness to the impact Street Soccer USA has in the Bay Area. BGFC provides an opportunity for SSUSA Staff, Coaches & Volunteers to lead by example by playing with heart and demonstrating sportsmanship and fair play to all the Program Participants.
SF Deltas and EACH Foundation – On June 3rd SSUSA Bay Area players and their families attended the San Francisco Deltas game and accepted a generous donation from EACH Foundation. Thank you to the San Francisco Deltas for having our Street Soccer USA Bay Area players and their families at the game yesterday and for your continued support. Thank you to the EACH Foundation for the generous donation they made to SSUSA during yesterday’s game. Everyone had a great time!
Sacramento:
Street Soccer USA Breakfast Fundraiser – The intimate event was filled with Sacramento Chapter board members, colleagues, SSUSA adult program participants, special guests Mayor Steinberg and Councilman Schenirer. Board member Cassandra Walker Pye said it best “Street Soccer Sacramento held a fundraising breakfast this morning and we’re thrilled that so many of our friends and supporters dropped by, including Mayor Steinberg and Councilmember Jay Schenirer. We are making a difference in the lives of at-risk children, homeless adults and men and women who are overcoming addiction – building confidence and life skills by way of the beautiful game of soccer. It’s a privilege to be a part of this effort.”
Big Day of Giving – SSUSA Sacramento was able to raise over $5,000 for the Day of Giving through their social media campaigns. One of the social media campaigns included “Carpool Testimonies” by Sacramento leaders Lisa Wrightsman and Tiffany Fraser to highlight player and board member testimonies. One of the testimonies is from Sacramento Republic FC President, Warren Smith along with board member Cassandra Pye and her son Eric Pye.
Chicago:
New and Old Faces
Jarveay Harris started his journey to the US from Zimbabwe at the young age of 5. When Jarveay was 16, his mother became extremely ill and passed away. Jarveay continued to live with his grandparents till the age of 18. From there, he decided to live on his own in supportive housing. Feeling alone, Jarveay fell into depression and felt that he couldn’t rely on anyone. After a year, Jarveay joined Street Soccer and his outlook on life changed. “ I’m feeling more confident now, I’m making friends and playing the game I love.” Through his active role in Street Soccer, Jarveay recently got a job at New Hotel. His goals are to raise enough money to live on his own, tryout for a pro-team, and eventually start going to college.
Ricardo Delgado – Ricardo started Street Soccer the first day he came into supportive housing. Ricardo played five years of soccer and participated in the Homeless world cup in Chile 2014. Through the years, Ricardo has grown tremendously. He has an apartment, a job, and is a senior at North Park University where he is studying to be a high school history teacher. Just recently, Ricardo gained another scholarship for his success in school. With this he can finish his schooling debt free!
Street Soccer Chicago Boot Camp – To prepare for our national tournament the team had a fun outing at the indiana sand dunes state park, where each individual talked about their goals for this year and learned about each other. The hike was tough but everyone learned something about themselves and each other and we are all ready for the tournament!
Watch Parties –Street Soccer Chicago participated in two watch parties and volunteered in a fun run that raised just over $2000 total! Special thanks to the Real Madrid and Arsenal supporters groups for making this happen!
New York:
Street Soccer USA in Sunset Park Shelter – We are proud to have started working with Samaritan Village in Sunset Park, Brooklyn to bring Street Soccer to the residents of its 49th Street shelter. Case managers, security guards from the shelter and residents have come together to create a positive soccer community. There is a lot of excitement around the program and it has been great to see staff and security alike buy into the program. We’re gearing up for the Times Square Cup in July and hope you are too!
Street Soccer USA Teams up with Allstate Foundation: This spring, SSUSA NYC was thrilled to welcome volunteers from the Allstate New York office at two events across the city. Volunteers came out to Elmhurst and Red Hook to help put on tournaments for the local communities (even braving rainy weather to do so!) SSUSA is grateful for Allstate’s support and looks forward to more collaboration in the future.
Philadelphia:
Philly Cup “Warm Up” Games for Youth Cup Teams –In preparation for the Philadelphia Youth Cup on June 9-11, youth teams took to the field on Sunday, June 4, to test their skills in a Pre-Cup Warm Up Game Mini Tournament. This fun scramble game format featured several Street Soccer USA affiliate teams such as Tuzos Philadelphia, Port Richmond Wolves, Kensington SC, West Philly Soccer Academy, Camden Youth Soccer, and others. Everyone is looking forward to competing at the National Cup this weekend!
Tuzos Philadelphia Receives SSUSA Bownet Goals – Tuzos Philadelphia has come aboard to join the Street Soccer USA family and many of the services that SSUSA provides to City of Philly residents. Players under 10 are using brand new Street Soccer Bownet goals.
From NCAA Division 1 soccer fields to Street Soccer Mini Pitch: Drexel Dragons – Street Soccer Philadelphia has engaged a special kind of partnership to bring quality to its under-served community in Philadelphia. 
The Drexel University men’s soccer team and its coaching staff (left at a recent Philly Union Game) have volunteered to serve as Referees for the 2nd annual Philadelphia Cup. Head Coach Doug Hess and Assistant coach, Tunde Ogunbiyi, have pledged their team of 22 players and 4 coaches to referee 132 matches during this years Cup, held at the Art Museum Steps, the iconic place for many Rocky (Balboa) movies. Especially Drexel’s student-athletes should be congratulated not only for their willingness to serve in their community, but also for their time management skills as all 132 games are played on the eve of Drexel’s Exam Schedule. Thank you Dragons!