From the
WITH DISTRIBUTION OF $2 MILLION TO MORE THAN 52 GROUP
Program Highlighted in 2007 by Mooch Myernick Fund Desginees and
Establishment of David Charles Vanole Memorial Fund;
Both Programs Honor the Memory of Two U.S. Soccer Pioneers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 2, 2007)– The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major
Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, finalized a number of important
2007 programs this week to continue their important role in supporting the
continuous development of the sport of soccer at all levels. The announcements
included the distribution of $2 million in funds to 52 groups in 24 states and
the District of Columbia as part of its 12th annual grants program.
This year's grants program recipients was highlighted by the establishment of
"Mooch" Myernick per a request from the Myernick family, to honor the
life, career and years of distinguished service that coach Glenn “Mooch”
Myernick dedicated to the sport of soccer. Proceeds from the Mooch Myernick
Fund were distributed this year through Foundation grants to soccer clubs and
organizations in urban areas to help increase the number of children playing
the sport in metropolitan communities nationwide. The beneficiaries of the
Mooch Myernick Fund are the Talcott Fine Arts and Museum Academy (Chicago,
Ill.), Think Detroit PAL (Detroit, Mich.) and the New York City Department of
Parks & Recreation (Flushing, N.Y.) (More on the entire Foundation grants program
below.)
Addtionally, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has also finalized the establishment of
the David Charles
Vanole Memorial Fund to also honor the life and career
of one of U.S. Soccer's modern era pioneers. Vanole passed away at the age of
43 on January 15, 2007, of heart failure while vacationing with his family in
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vanole's wife, Kerry Tatlock, her family and the family of David Vanole wish to
express their deep gratitude for the outpouring of support they’ve received
from people around the country. Proceeds from the endowment will be distributed
on an annual basis through a grant awarded by the Foundation, in partnership
with the U.S. Soccer Federation, to soccer clubs and organizations in urban
areas to help create and sustain soccer opportunities for underserved children,
with an emphasis on groups in the Southern California region, where David’s
career started. (More on the Vanole
Memorial Fund below.)
2007 GRANT PROGRAM SEES 52 GROUPS BENEFIT, INCLUDING 16 WITH ALL
CONDITIONS FIELDS GRANTS
Through its history, the Foundation has made over $45 million available, in all
50 states, for the growth of the game of soccer through grants and other
financial support.
The Foundation, through its partnership with NikeGO, awarded 16 All
Conditions Fields (ACF) grants for the construction of 14 full-size soccer
fields and two mini-ACF’s that can be used around the clock, no matter the
weather. In addition, the Foundation awarded 30 grants for soccer
development programs and six for programs with field enhancements and upgrades.
“Our grants program forms the framework on which the entire mission of
the U.S. Soccer Foundation is built,” said John Koskinen, President. “These
grants provide both financial resources and access to discounted pricing on
services that help organizations in developing soccer communities to better
serve their constituents. In many cases, the money we provide is the
difference between simply surviving and thriving for emerging soccer programs,
particularly those that serve youth in high-risk neighborhoods.”
This year’s grants continue the Foundation’s special emphasis on the
economically disadvantaged in urban areas, with a strong focus on proposals
that engage inner city youth. As always, the goal is to develop players,
referees, and coaches through programs, field enhancements or the Foundation's
ACF Program.
A highlight of the grant process each year is the designation of the
Alan I. Rothenberg Award and the Jim Hamilton Award, special grants in honor of
Foundation leaders whose stewardship has helped the Foundation succeed since
its inception. Also, in recognition of the fact that the Foundation is
Major League Soccer’s (MLS) charity of choice and is the recipient each season
of all MLS player fines, the Foundation recognizes the MLS Players' Award.
The Rotheberg Award is presented annually to a program that best exemplifies
the Foundation’s increasing emphasis on serving coaches, players and referees
in at-risk urban communities, while the Hamilton Award is presented to a
program with the greatest impact on young female players. This year, the
Rothenberg Award is going to Metro Parks & Recreation in Nashville, Tenn.,
while the Hamilton Award is being presented to the CityKicks, Inc. program in
Dorchester, Mass., for the second straight year.
The MLS Players’ Award was presented to three organizations - the
National Sports Center for the Disabled in Denver, Colo., the United
Neighborhood Organization in Chicago, Ill., and the Southern California Youth
Soccer Organization in Los Angeles, Calif. “The Union is proud to work
with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to designate the annual MLS Players’ Award,”
said Bob Foose, Executive Director of the Major League Soccer Players
Union. “No player enjoys being fined, but with these grants and with the
strong support provided by the Foundation, MLS players know that their money
will be put to good use.”
Since the first grants were made in the spring of 1995, the Foundation
has issued a grand total of 439 awards to groups large and small in every
corner of the nation.
This year’s 36 program and field enhancement grant recipients (alphabetical
by state) are:
* Alan I. Rothenberg Award
** Jim Hamilton Award
***MLS Players’ Award
†Mooch Myernick Fund
This year’s 16 All Conditions Fields grant recipients (listed
alphabetically by state) are:
†Mooch Myernick Fund
“We are honored to have the U.S. Soccer Foundation as a Partner with
Nike in the ACF Program,” said Joe Elsmore, Nike’s Director of U.S. Soccer
Sports Marketing. “It is Nike’s goal to use sport as a tool for improving
the lives of kids in many ways and our Partnership with the U.S. Soccer
Foundation is one example of how we achieve it – bringing soccer fields to kids
across the U.S., especially in areas where they are truly needed.”
The Foundation’s ACF Partners – in addition to NikeGO – include Ballard
Sports, Clough Harbour Sports, FieldTurf, Kwik Goal, Musco Sports Lighting and
TGI Systems. Ballard Sports and Clough Harbour Sports provide assistance in the
initial planning, design and construction stages of a project. Musco Sports
Lighting illuminates the all-weather, synthetic grass field that is
manufactured by FieldTurf. Kwik Goal goals — both full size and smaller
size — promote play by all ages. TGI Systems provides field-level signage
systems to help generate additional revenue through sponsorship
ANNUAL VANOLE FUND
ESTABLISHED
Born in Redondo Beach, Calif., on Feb. 6, 1963, Vanole was a longtime resident
of Manhattan Beach. It was as a soccer player that the native of Southern
California made his biggest mark back in the late 1980s.
Prior to playing internationally, Vanole led UCLA to the NCAA championship in
1985. He then became the backbone of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team, starting all
three matches in Seoul, South Korea. Vanole finished his international career
at the highest level, playing a key role in helping the United States qualify
for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the team's first appearance in the world's largest
sporting event in 40 years.
Vanole also played in the formative years of the rebirth of professional soccer
in this country, taking the field for the Los Angeles Heat, San Jose
Earthquakes and San Francisco Bay Blackhawks from 1986-1991 in the Western
Soccer League and then the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). He won
an APSL title with San Francisco in 1991.
"David was one of the pioneers at the start of a new era for U.S.
Soccer," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "I remember very
well his impact on the team at the 1988 Olympics and in helping the United
States end a very long World Cup drought in 1989. He should be remembered for
that right alongside the other early stars of the sport in our country. At this
difficult time, we wish his wife, Kerry, and his family the best and our
thoughts are with them."
In addition to being an integral part of the USA's run at the 1990 FIFA World
Cup, it was Vanole’s experience and leadership that helped the United States
again at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, with Vanole serving as goalkeeper coach
for the silver-medal-winning U.S. Women's National Team. He most recently served as
an assistant coach of the New England Revolution, a position he also held with
the Washington Freedom in the WUSA. Prior to working with the Revolution, Vanole
was the goalkeeper coach for D.C. United. He was also a coach at various
youth national team levels, including a stint under Sigi Schmid with the U.S.
Under-20 Men's National Team at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 in
Nigeria. Vanole also served as the goalkeeper coach for the UCLA men's and
women's teams in the late 1990s and was a part of the men’s team's 1997 NCAA
championship. Vanole was profoundly proud of his role in developing some of the
top goalkeepers in the country.
“Soccer lost a great person with David Vanole’s passing,” said John A.
Koskinen, President of the Foundation. “He was a wonderful role model and hero
for a generation of players and an invaluable resource for soccer in this
country. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife
Kerry, and the rest of his family.”
The Tatlock and Vanole families ask that fans consider making a donation the
the charitable fund set up in his honor. Donors should make checks payable to
either the David Charles
Vanole Memorial Fund in care of the U.S. Soccer
Foundation, or visit the Foundation’s website at www.ussoccerfoundation.org
U.S. Soccer Foundation
Attn: David Charles Vanole Memorial Fund
1050 17th St., NW, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036
Foundation donors and friends of David "Dino" Vanole are also
encouraged to contribute their favorite memoirs of the former U.S. National Coach and player on the Foundation’s
website. Send your memories of "Dino" to the Foundation at vanolefund@ussoccerfoundation
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The Foundation is led by Chairman Brad Hays (Corrales, New Mexico), Vice
Chairman Kevin Payne (Reston, Va.), Treasurer Charles Marshall (Beaverton,
Ore.) and Secretary Ed Foster-Simeon (Woodbridge, Va.). The headquarters
are in Washington, D.C., where President John A. Koskinen and his management
team carry out the Foundation’s mission.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1994 to manage the surplus
funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. Under
the guidance of its Board of Directors, the Foundation has taken a leading role
in supporting the continuous development of the sport at all levels. Over $45
million in grants, financial support and loans have been made to help develop a
soccer nation. The Foundation has provided 439 grants focused on developing
players, coaches and referees and building or enhancing fields and soccer complexes,
with a special emphasis on economically disadvantaged urban areas. For
more information, or to donate online, please visit: ussoccerfoundation.org.
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U.S. Soccer Federation, 1801 S. Prairie
Ave, Chicago IL 60616
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