U14/15 Academy Shootin’ For A Goal To Fight Hunger
Posted On December 23, 2015 by PUSC
U14/15 Academy collects over 1,800 food and toiletry items during the holiday season fundraiser
Coach Kevin directs the delivery of items at Union Gospel Mission in Sacramento
The U14 Academy boys bond over lunch after a successful fundraiser
Sacramento, CA December 18, 2015 — Placer United’s U14/15 Boys Academy Donates Over 1800 Items to the Homeless
Placer United Soccer Club’s U14/15 Boys United States Soccer Federation Development Academy held a donation collection last week for homeless families in the greater Sacramento region. The collection was launched on December 9th and ran through December 18, 2015. The team set a goal of collecting 700 food and toiletry items during the collection period. The boys exceeded their goal by collecting more than 1,800 items with the help of local families and businesses including Primo Pizza, Costco, Mark Healy from Sysco Foods, and Debbie Hiltz.
The donations were delivered by the Academy boys on December 19th to the Union Gospel Mission in Sacramento, which serves more than 9,000 meals each month, provides shelter for any homeless individual to come in out of the adverse weather and get a warm meal, fresh clothing, a place to shower, and numerous other items they need, 365 days per year.
While there, the boys took a tour and learned about the risks and fears homeless individuals face every day. “This experience has shown me the importance of helping others, as well as why it’s important for us to stay focused on both school and soccer.” said Academy Goalkeeper Cole Phillips. “This was a great way to give back to those who are less fortunate and not provided with the same great opportunities that we are provided with.”
The Placer Academy team consists of seventeen players, practices four days per week and plays one game per weekend throughout their 15-month season. But this weekend the coach and team wanted to do something different. “These boys work hard all season long and get to play on some of the best facilities around,” said Coach Kevin Unsworth. “It’s important we help them develop not only on the field as elite players but off the field as citizens. In an attempt to give something back to the local community we felt it would be nice to organize a small event, while allowing the boys to experience first hand just how fortunate they are to have a stable home life, education and loving families.”
About Placer United Academy: The Placer United Development Academy program provides opportunities for elite players to develop in the most challenging and competitive soccer environment possible. The Academy connects National Team coaches directly with the Academy clubs to develop and identify players for future Youth National Teams. The technical, tactical, physical, and mental development of the players are focal points of the competitive curriculum. Placer has trained a number of players who are now State and Region IV ODP players, Region 6 and State PDP players, ID2 players, youth National Team players, USL and MLS players.