CHICAGO(Feb. 29, 2016) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Monday that the Chicago Fire Foundation’s P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth Soccer) program will expand from 12 to 16, adding four public schools across Chicago.
“We are thrilled to expand P.L.A.Y.S. for a second-consecutive year and further benefit the lives of Chicago youth,” said Chicago Fire Owner and Chairman Andrew Hauptman. “P.L.A.Y.S. is part of a comprehensive plan to improve our community through the transfer of meaningful skills in a fun, safe environment. Through this program, you can really see the tangible impact we can have as an organization and witness what soccer can do to enrich the lives of others.”
Created in 2013 in partnership with World Sport Chicago, the program integrates soccer with social and emotional learning (SEL) to not only help kids learn and enjoy soccer, but also strengthen academic performance. In 2013 and 2014, the ten-week program served 256 third through fifth grade boys and girls at eight schools.
“The Chicago Fire Foundation has been dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of underserved youth in the Chicagoland area since 1998,” said Chicago Fire Foundation executive director Jessica Yavitz. “It has been great to see the impact of the P.L.A.Y.S. Program over the last few years, and we couldn’t be more excited to further expand this program by 40 percent in 2016 and continue to serve as a leader in sports-based youth development in our community.”
P.L.A.Y.S. integrates soccer and a curriculum focused on instilling grit as a means to grow social and emotional learning (SEL) skills of youth. Research into grit has shown that kids with a high degree of emotional control, goal setting and attainment, cooperation, respect, communication and teamwork are able to more effectively handle adversity and perform well in school.
Since its creation, P.L.A.Y.S. has organized over 70,000 hours of soccer for underserved youth in Chicagoland. This spring, over 500 youth will participate in the program with the expansion.
The students participating in the program engage in 10 weeks of instruction via five out-of-school hours each week, plus an additional four game days. The 12 schools returning are:
• Bradwell School of Excellence
• Herzl School of Excellence
• Chalmers School of Excellence
• Piccolo School of Excellence
• Curtis School of Excellence
• Casals School of Excellence
• Deneen School of Excellence
• Sherman School of Excellence
• Tarkington School of Excellence
• Marquette School of Excellence
• McNair School of Excellence
• Gresham School of Excellence
The four new schools include:
• Tonti Elementary School
• Armour Elementary School
• Spry Elementary School
• Castellanos Elementary School
Additional information on the P.L.A.Y.S. program can be found here.
ABOUT THE CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION
The Chicago Fire's goal on the field is to play hard and win. Its goal off the field is to contribute to the quality of life in Chicago and its surrounding communities. Through the Chicago Fire Foundation, the Fire is able to give back to the community by leveraging its resources and expertise in the area of soccer to provide sports-based youth development and direct-service programs to Chicagoland’s underserved communities. Since 1998, the Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Team, has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth throughout Chicagoland. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $1.8 million dollars in grants and contributions. The Chicago Fire Foundation raises funds through events such as the annual Season Kickoff Luncheon, the Commemorative Jersey Auction, and 50/50 Raffle. For more information about the Chicago Fire Foundation, visitwww.chicago-fire.com/community.
