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Young people across America, and beyond its borders, are running, playing, dancing, climbing, jumping, and sweating their way to more inclusive and active communities through Positive Tracks, who helps kids sweat for good on behalf of Soccer Without Borders (SWB) programs.
Positive Tracks (positivetracks.org) is a national, sports-based youth development organization that helps young people get active and give back. Positive Tracks combines philanthropy and athletics to enroll youth - as partners and leaders - in creating stronger communities and a healthier world. Free programs, curricula, and hands on mentorship from Positive Tracks staff and volunteer peer coaches help youth ages 23 and under learn how to give back using their own muscle and savvy. Positive Tracks also offers to match dollars youth raise, as added incentive to get involved.
Soccer Without Borders has been using soccer as a vehicle for positive change since 2006 through free, year-round soccer and educational programs. The winner of the 2016 Lipman Family Prize for Social Innovation and Impact from the Wharton School of Business, SWB programs serve refugees, new immigrants, and under-served girls across the United States and around the world. SWB participants come from more than 60 nations, and speak more than 25 languages, coming together in a welcoming team environment that supports them to advance academically, develop personally, make healthy lifestyle choices, build social capital, and develop English language skills.
The Ambassador Program is an opportunity for fans and supporters of Soccer Without Borders to “get active and give back” by designing their own fundraising event or plugging into an existing one. Ambassadors have been “playing, coaching, and sweating for change” on behalf of Soccer Without Borders for the last eight years, but it wasn’t until the partnership with Positive Tracks that the program began to reach its potential. In 2016 alone, 75 Ambassadors across 12 states raised over $64,500 for SWB programs, unlocking an additional $40,000 in matching funds from Positive Tracks and other donors.
“As a youth-centered organization, we are humbled and inspired by each and every Ambassador who puts their passion and talent together to make it possible for SWB to offer free, year-round programs to our participants,” said SWB Executive Director Mary McVeigh. “This partnership is about mobilizing the next generation to rally their communities in support of positive change, making them more inclusive and healthy for all.”
You can help! Together, our goal is to mobilize 80 Ambassadors to raise $70,000 in support of SWB programs in 2017, making it possible for more than 1,800 under-served youth to access quality after-school and summer programs through Soccer Without Borders. Visit the Ambassador Program webpage to learn more and sign up!
About Soccer Without Borders:
Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the U.S. and abroad. Its year-round programs take a whole-person approach to youth development through sport, providing underserved youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion and personal success. Since 2006, SWB has led programs and collaborations in eleven countries on five continents, and is best known for its work with newcomer refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth as well as engaging girls of all cultural backgrounds.
Visit: Website Watch: Playing for Change Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Contact Cristy Peterson, Ambassador Program Coordinator, cristy@soccerwithoutborders.org
About Positive Tracks
Positive Tracks (positivetracks.org) is a national, sports-based youth development organization that helps young people get active and give back. We provide key essentials at no charge: hands on help and expertise, volunteer peer coaches, event insurance, equipment, swag, matching dollars if fundraising is a goal, a digital platform, marketing and team-building tools, and customized guidance to empower kids to be compassionate and healthy members of their communities. By the end of 2017: 52,000+ youth will turn 280,000+ miles of athletic activity into $9,000,000+ for organizations that shape their world.
Contact CEO/Founder Nini Meyer: nmeyer@positivetracks.org