13 Dec New Mini-Pitches in Durham Offer Kids A Safe Place to Play

Research indicates that participation in after-school soccer programs can have a significant impact on the development of teamwork skills, can motivate kids to try harder in school, and can help them avoid anti-social behavior.

With that in mind, the U.S. Soccer Foundation embarked on an initiative: It’s Everyone’s Game. The goal? Engage one million children annually in Soccer for Success (the Foundation’s free after-school program proven to improve health and social outcomes of participants) and build 1,000 safe places to play with partners by 2026.

We saw a synergy opportunity to combine two of our clients and partners: the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).

“The Foundation was creating safe places to play and providing kids with opportunities to stay active and Blue Cross NC has a commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities across our state. It was a partnership that simply made sense.” said  Pilar Viatela, Accounts Supervisor, AC&M Group. 

New Mini-Pitches Open in Durham

We joined forces with Blue Cross NC, Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to unveil two new soccer mini-pitches in East End Park in Durham. Open to the community, these outdoor hard surface areas, provide a safe place to play and will increase access to youth soccer in the community.

For the official kick-off, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a soccer scrimmage with prizes and a meet-n-greet with special guests Emmy-award winning broadcaster on FOX Sports, Fernando Fiore and U.S Women National Team member Crystal Dunn.

“Children need safe places to play, learn and grow,” said Reagan Greene Pruitt, Vice President of Integrated Marketing and Community Engagement at Blue Cross NC. “The new mini-pitches at East End Park will allow kids to not just play soccer, but also develop critical life skills, boost confidence, and aid in their personal growth both on and off the pitch. That’s going to make life better for everyone in the community.”

We are honored to partner with companies and organizations that make an impact in our community. Through partnerships like these, we can positively frame tomorrow’s future, today.