HARRISON, NJ (May 22, 2013) – The New York Red Bulls announced an Urban Soccer Program partnership with West Side Soccer League and Randall’s Island Park Alliance today.
Randall’s Island Park Alliance (RIPA), West Side Soccer League (WSSL) and the New York Red Bulls have joined together to offer a free scholarship soccer camp to young male and female athletes from local communities surrounding Randall’s Island Park.
The Randall’s Island Urban Soccer Camp builds upon the New York Red Bulls ‘Urban Soccer Program’, and outreach initiative that serves urban communities in the New York City and Tri-state area, and the West Side Soccer League’s strong tradition of providing scholarships to players who would otherwise not be able to play organized soccer.
“We are delighted to provide such a high-quality youth soccer camp, free of charge. Partnering with the New York Red Bulls and Randall’s Island is the perfect way to extend West Side Soccer’s commitment to the game of soccer, to the children of New York City and to the parks that make playing soccer possible,” says West Side Soccer’s Commissioner, Dana DiPrima.
“The Red Bulls are pleased to enter in a partnership with West Side Soccer League and Randall’s Island Park Alliance,” said New York Red Bulls General Manager Jérôme de Bontin. “We are committed to developing soccer on the grassroots level across New York City and the tri-state and today’s announcement of our agreement furthers our mission. This is a relationship that will continue to grow in the years to come.
Utilizing the Red Bulls extensive resources, and player development expertise, our goals are to provide programs that help engage children in physical activity, use soccer as a vehicle to teach life skills, encourage the values of team work and promote discipline, confidence and self-esteem.
“We are excited to offer a free first-rate soccer camp to local community children of all ability levels at Randall’s Island Park. It is wonderful to work with partners, such as the New York Red Bulls and West Side Soccer League, who share our commitment to providing city children with an outlet to be outside and active,” says Randall’s Island Park Alliance’s Executive Director, Aimee Boden.
The Red Bulls, Randall’s Island Park Alliance and West Side Soccer League partnership has the potential to evolve into other exciting opportunities centered on the underserved youth in the NYC metropolitan area. The Red Bulls, who partner with West Side Soccer League to deliver a top quality, competitive travel soccer program, have already established a significant imprint in and around the New York area and earned the reputation as a club that is reaching out to the community to better the game. This partnership will help the Red Bulls Training Programs have a much wider, broader outreach to young players at the grassroots level.
The Randall’s Island Park Alliance, formerly known as Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, founded in 1992, is a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation that seeks to realize the unique potential of 480 waterfront parkland acres anchoring Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens. The Alliance works with the City and local communities to provide an innovative and exciting destination through a wide range of sports venues, cultural events and environmental exploration. As the dedicated steward of Randall’s Island Park, the Alliance sustains, maintains, develops and programs the Park to support the wellbeing of all New Yorkers.
