Literacy Day Gives Children Books and the Joy of Reading

Posted on May 13, 2013 by South Bronx United

South Bronx United held its third annual Literacy Day on Saturday, May 4th at Macomb’s Dam Field across from Yankee Stadium. The event was held to promote literacy through spreading the joy of reading among community children.

This year’s was the biggest event yet!  Over a thousand books were collected and given out for free to children and families.  Books were generously donated by Sole Books/Wild Soccer Bunch Inc., Kiwi Magazine, the New York Public Library-Mott Haven Branch, as well as a number of individuals.  Reading circles throughout the day for all ages prior to their soccer games.  High school students from South Bronx United travel soccer teams assisted coaches in leading reading groups for children ages 4-10.  Sole Books’s donations from its Wild Soccer Bunch series were featured in the readings this year.  Featured books from previous years included Jolly Blast: A Supergalactic Soccer Adventure, by Jeffrey Eagle, and Winner’s Never Quit, by Mia Hamm.   This year, older players also participated in reading groups.  They read Mia Hamm’s o for the Goal: A Champion’s Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life” as well as opinion articles covering the recent Champions League semifinal results.  Though reading about Barca’s loss was painful for loyal fans, it engaged many players in reading through their love of soccer.

Literacy Inc. was also on hand to promote literacy. They offered information on their programs and services, provided reading materials and resources, and held reading and crafts circles the children could get involved in. Raffles gave lucky winners cool prizes such as Bronx zoo tickets and the Wild Soccer Bunch books.

Overall, the event was a huge success with children enjoying reading on the field and taking home more books to read. Special thanks to all the donors and volunteers that made our event a success!  Contact us to make contributions for next year’s event.

 

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3rd Annual Literacy Day on May 4th

Posted on May 1, 2013 by South Bronx United

BRONX, N.Y. – South Bronx United, Inc. is holding its third annual Literacy Day this Saturday, May 1st at Macomb’s Dam Field from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  In line with the organization’s mission to use soccer as a tool to promote educational achievement, the purpose of South Bronx United’s Literacy Day is to foster a joy of reading among community children.

The event will take place in conjunction with South Bronx United’s Recreational Soccer Program, which serves over 400 boys and girls, ages 4-16. High school students will be leading reading groups for children ages 4-10 featuring books from the Wild Soccer Bunch series (http://www.wildsoccerbunch.com). Free books will be available for children and families from the program to take home.  Books have been donated by Sole Books, Kiwi Magazine, and the New York Public Library, as well as individuals.

Literacy Inc. (http://www.lincnyc.org) will also be on hand to promote literacy through by offering information on their program services, providing free reading materials and resources, as well as giving children a chance to participate in fun literacy activities on the field.  Raffles will be held every hour to give out select books and prizes.

For more information on this event, please contact Maya Pasini at South Bronx United, maya@southbronxunited.org or (718) 404-9281.

South Bronx United uses soccer as a vehicle for social change. South Bronx United aims to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, careers, their community and beyond. South Bronx United strives to promote educational achievement, health and wellness, and character development through activities on and off the soccer field and to unite a diverse group of individuals and an incredibly diverse community toward common positive goals.  http://southbronxunited.org

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My last SBU College Showcase Tournament

Posted on April 4, 2013 by sbuyouth

By Kafoumba Doumbia

SBU 93 Sonics took 2nd place in the U19 Division

I play as a winger/forward for South Bronx United’s 93 Sonics travel team. I was born in the Ivory Coast and spent a large portion of my life there before briefly moving to France and then to America 18 months ago. I joined SBU almost immediately as I arrived here and my time with them has helped me a lot to get use to life in America.  Being part of this team has opened me to a diversity of cultures and languages as my teammates represent 12 different nationalities and speak well around 15 languages. It has also helped me improve both my writing and speaking of English as I didn’t speak a single English word when I first came. I am a native French speaker. So basically SBU is like a family for me, it turned me from being a boy to a responsible and disciplined young man.

Last week, I participated in my third South Bronx United college showcase tournament, which occurred from March 29-30th 2013. The three oldest South Bronx United boys travel teams were involved in the showcase. This showcase was an opportunity for all players, especially high school seniors such as myself to show our potential to the college coaches that attended the showcase. We had to essentially prove that we could compete at the collegiate level. It was a little frustrating for me as several of the coaches who have expressed interest in me were all there.

My team was really prepared and we worked hard together even though we have some new players on the roster. The showcase was really important for all of us as it helped improved the unity, built chemistry between and bonds us together as one. Due to this showcase, I know what we are capable of and where we stand as a team. Most of the teams we played against were mentally and physically prepared as we were. The games were really challenging, and we showed everyone present at the showcase that even though we have good individual players, we are also great collectively. This showcase made me realized that I am a great player and I can achieve great things. Many college coaches finally saw me play in person and told me that I can be a great fit for their program. Soccer is something that motivates. My coach, Kimani, did a great job by keeping us focus and encouraging us to give our best. I remember Coach Kimani saying “who said they are going to beat SBU” and we all yell “no one.” These were motivational words that kept us awake throughout the showcase; I also believe it will motivate us throughout the season. South Bronx United is who we were and the Bronx is what we represent. Since we are the only travel team in the Bronx, we are essentially ambassadors for the borough everytime we play.

This was also my last SBU showcase, and even we did not win the tournament, I am still very proud of the job we have done. We played until our last breath even though we had only a 30-minute break between both semi-final and final. We lost in extra time in the final but everyone knows that SBU was the better team. After the game we realized that we could be have a strong spring season if we all decide to play exactly as a unit. I’m personally confident that this season will be great. It was so wonderful to see all SBU family supporting and cheering for us. The showcase was a success; I personally enjoyed being part of it. I look forward to being present at the next South Bronx United showcase. Even though I will be a college player by then, I look forward to always supporting SBU much the same way they’ve helped me.

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4th Annual SBU College Showcase Tournament Recap

Posted on April 4, 2013 by South Bronx United

BRONX, NY – South Bronx United held it’s 4th annual College Showcase Tournament on Friday, March 29th and Saturday, March 30th on Randall’s Island.  The event has grown into an annual tradition with the primary purpose of showcasing youth soccer talent from the South Bronx, New York City, and beyond to college soccer coaches from the tri-state area.

Although South Bronx United attempts to highlight urban teams who have fewer resources to attend other costly college showcase tournaments around the region, the 2013 tournament attracted 23 premier and top division travel soccer teams from throughout the metropolitan area including New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester County, and Connecticut.

The college coaches attending came from a diverse set of schools including Fordham University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Morrisville State, Monroe College, ASA Institute, Lehman College, Buffalo State, and SUNY-IT.

South Bronx United’s teams qualified for the semifinals in each division–U16, U17, and U19 boys–and finished second place in the U19 division falling in overtime to Blue Weiss Gottschee Blue.

Special thanks to ball sponsor Score Sports, to Westchester Square Physical Therapy (WSPT) for providing physical therapy services during the event, and to Randall’s Island Sports Foundation the NYC Parks Department for allowing the event to take place on the island fields.

 

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A Better Season

Posted on February 12, 2013 by sbuyouth

By Bakary Bagayoko, 14

Members of SBU 98 Boys U14 team

During the season, almost every Saturday and Sunday South Bronx United U 14 boys have games. This is the team that started this year. I’m happy to make the traveling team this year because last summer I was only getting ready to make the traveling team. Last year, I just moved from Mali and I was in the recreational team that got me ready to make the traveling team.

One of the games I remember the best is when I woke up at 5:00 in the morning and I had to get to the field at 6:30. We had to leave at 7:00 to make it to Randall’s Island and start the game at 8:00. We were playing the team that was all the way from Brooklyn. I got to score my first goal of the season and my friend Alexis scored his first goal of the season too. The game ended with a score of 2:1.

That's me behind Cristiano Ronaldo when we went to the AC Milan-Real Madrid game at Yankee Stadium last summer.

Even though I’m a good player, most of the times in the games I argue with somebody in the team when we are losing. I get angry because I don’t want the other team to be better than us. I also don’t want my team to lose because I think that other people may count on us and may also get upset, sad, and mad etc…..

I hope this season won’t be the same as last season. I realize that being mad doesn’t help me and the team. We won all our games going 8-0-0 but I was still mad. I realize again moving into Division A is going to be harder so I learned to not be mad or angry towards the other teammates. I hope I’ll do better controlling my frustrations this season.

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Applying to High School

Posted on February 1, 2013 by sbuyouth

by Crystal Balvuena, 13

SBU 8th graders discussing high school options

I am an eighth grade honors student at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School. I am 13 years old and I am a member of South Bronx United’s U 14 Girls Travel Team. I like to achieve the impossible.  This year, I was introduced to the process of applying for public high schools in New York City.

Applying to high school is the starting point in our careers. Decisions need to be made thoroughly and carefully. The next four years of our lives are extremely important for getting prepared for college and learning to overcome obstacles in order to be able to succeed in our lives, careers, and beyond.

Eighth grade is the last part of the journey in middle school. Eighth grades get their high school application and the high school guide book that contains all high schools in NYC. It gives a brief description and information about the school. However, do not believe everything that the book says. Remember that schools only talk about the great things in their school and never the bad things. Schools will write anything down to attract students.

It is recommended that you make an appointment to visit the school or attend an open house. The majority of schools have open houses. You can also visit the school’s website to learn more about the school and see if it fits you. You are going to spend the next four years in a school preparing you for college, and you want to feel good in the environment and have the best preparatory experiences.

To choose what the best is for YOU and not your parents or your cousins, you will need to look at three important factors: transportation, the programs and extracurricular activities, and the way the school works. You do not want to end up in a school that is too difficult or easy for you and you want to enjoy your experience throughout high school to become successful. If you want to apply to any of the nine specialized high schools, you need to talk to school’s counselor and ask him or her for a ticket to take the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). The test is not facile and the competition is fierce. Hundreds of kids prepare for the test months earlier. So don’t get so disappointed for not getting accepted. There are many other schools that will help you prepare.

The process for choosing a school was difficult. I want a school that would have many sports, (especially soccer) and several extracurricular activities because I like trying new things. I would like a school that offers an environment with teachers that care for their students and students that also want to succeeded and challenge themselves as learners. I applied for a few specialized high school such as Bronx High School of Science and High School for American Studies at Lehman College. I also chose Beacon High School (not specialized high school) as my first choice.

Going through the process of applying to high schools is not facile and can be very stressful when your family and teachers are expecting the best from you. However your hard work, ambition and determination always pays off and you’ll end up in a school that is fit for you and have great learning experiences.

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South Bronx United Receives U.S. Soccer Foundation Grant

Posted on January 30, 2013 by South Bronx United

[Bronx, NY] – The U.S. Soccer Foundation has awarded a grant to South Bronx United, Inc.  to support its youth development and soccer programs.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, announced that it has awarded 48 grants totaling more than $2.4 million to non-profit organizations serving youth in underserved areas across 21 states and the District of Columbia.

The Foundation strives to assist and grow the sport of soccer, as well as improve the well-being of children in under-resourced communities, by awarding grants to support all aspects of the game. Specifically, non-profit organizations that provide children with the opportunity to play soccer and live a healthy lifestyle are awarded grants to support their programming and field-building initiatives.

Of the 48 grant awards distributed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation, 29 were given as part of the Safe Places to Play program. Supported by adidas and FieldTurf, the Safe Places to Play program develops or enhances field spaces in underserved areas to provide safe places for children to play. To date, the Foundation has helped create or improve over 1,100 safe places for children nationwide.

Andrew So, Executive Director of South Bronx United, said, “South Bronx United is incredibly fortunate to have the U.S. Soccer Foundation support us in our mission of using soccer as the tool to reach at-risk youth and provide quality youth development programming in the nation’s poorest congressional district.  It is because of the Foundation and other supporters that we are able to ensure that our youth graduate high school and go on to college and that they have access to the same recreational and competitive opportunities as other children around the country.”

“The U.S. Soccer Foundation believes that every child should have the opportunity to enjoy the game of soccer in an environment that is safe and promotes positive development,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, president and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We are happy to support organizations that, through impactful community-based programs, harness the power of soccer to improve the well-being of children.”

Support for the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s grant process is provided by the Foundation’s corporate partners, including Eurosport, FieldTurf, Hunter Industries, Musco Sports Lighting, PEVO Sports and Sport Court. Since its inception in 1994, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has now awarded more than $59 million in grant awards to non-profit organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

About the U.S. Soccer Foundation

The U.S. Soccer Foundation is a recognized leader in sports-based youth development programs for children in underserved, urban communities.  Since its founding in 1994, the organization has provided more than $59 million in funding to create and sustain innovative programs across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Proven to deliver positive health and social outcomes, the Foundation’s affordable initiatives offer safe environments in which both boys and girls thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C. the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org to learn more.

Editor Note: For your understanding, we are a separate entity from USSF/US/U.S. Soccer. When referring to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, please refer to it by its proper name.

 

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My Team’s Tournament Preview

Posted on January 17, 2013 by sbuyouth

By Isaac Amoako, 11

There’s a big tournament coming up this Sunday at Chelsea Piers. South Bronx United (U-12) faces 3 teams in their group. They are the SC Gjoa Vikings, Kickers Junior of Southeast Queens, and Soccer Fun for Kids.

Their first game starts against the Soccer Fun for Kids team at 11:20 am. Then at 12:00 pm, they face the Kickers Junior of Southeast Queens. After that, at 12:20 pm they face the SC Gjoa Vikings. There’s a big chance that SBU (U-12) could win this tournament. They have great strikers like Ali Camara and Jordy Flores.  They also have midfielders like Mohamed Kouroma, Isaac Amoako, and Alex Navarez. They also have special defenders like Williams Oussinou, Alexis Tigua, Brayan Balanos, Sandou Cisse and Samuel Jr. Krapa and Robert Rivera and last of all their goalie whose name is Alexis Vidal.

This tournament is different from a regular game. This tournament is indoors, and it will have 6 players playing in it. Also, there’s no out of bounds. There are walls so if you kick the ball, it will hit the wall and come back to you.

This is so exciting because we haven’t had a game for about 6 weeks. About one month ago, South Bronx United (U-12) faced the SC Gjoa Fire. It was a pretty good game, but SBU (U-12) lost 5-2.

Coach Jvon’s strategy that could help SBU (U-12) win is through practice like running, skills and dribbling. Many people’s expectations are for SBU (U-12) to win this tournament.  Wish us luck.

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VISTA Update: Fundraising Through a Hurricane

Posted on December 12, 2012 by South Bronx United

Hello again! This is Maya reporting on month four as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at South Bronx United.

I can honestly say that I’ve adjusted to the city quite a bit during this time. Since moving from Michigan, I’m finding New York to be quite livable and navigable on a VISTA stipend. I’m so thankful that the city is so rich in culture since it offers so much free entertainment (and occasionally food for this hungry VISTA). The city is looking quite beautiful lately too. Strange though, since it’s so warm out but the city decorations are so Christmas-y. Where is this winter wonderland the radio speaks of? I’ve replaced my ugly holiday sweaters with light jackets. I’ve never wished for snow so much in my life!

Two major events have happened in the two months. The first is Hurricane Sandy. The second, South Bronx United’s Annual Benefit.  I live on the outskirts of Bed-Stuy on the G train.  I wasn’t  in a hurricane zone and we didn’t lose power at my place, but the G train was down for ages.  We were second to last in getting our train back (poor L train commuters) so I was working from home for a while.  This was nothing in comparison to the horrible devastation that so many communities felt from Red Hook to Staten Island to Battery Place to the Jersey Shore.  It was heartbreaking to read about so many families, children, and businesses losing everything they had lived for.  Some areas of the Bronx also were hard hit by flooding and outages: one nonprofit we know of World Vision had its warehouses fully flooded, and some SBU youth, including our Benefit alumni-speaker were out of power for more than a week. Still, we have been incredibly fortunate that most of the borough seemed to escape relatively unscathed.

Preparing for the benefit was tricky due to the chaos caused by the storm. Unreliable internet is never good for work in this day and age. Thank goodness the benefit was able to continue regardless.  The event brings in a significant portion of funding for SBU’s youth development programs, so it was crucial that the benefit could continue without a hitch.  It was the first fundraising I have attended or planned for. My duties prior to the event included procuring sponsors and donors, updating databases, and recruiting event night volunteers. Event night duties for me were mostly set-up, supervising the volunteers, and making sure everyone was having a good time. I sure know I had a great time learning about SBU and listening to different speakers.  The Bareburger sliders were a definite plus.  Overall, the evening was a big success.  We were able to raise more money than last year and all proceeds will be going directly to our education,  leaderships, and soccer programming.

Since the benefit has passed I have been keeping record of donations and coordinating deliveries for the silent auction items. And as always, I’ve have enjoyed the after school tutoring programs. Seeing the kids is a joy as always.  It’s inspiring seeing how much of an impact the academic program makes.  Some of the kids I work with are featured in the 2012 Youth Impact Video that was premiered at the Benefit.  If you haven’t seen it yet, catch it on SBU’s YouTube Channel.

Well that’s it for now.  I’m leaving for Michigan to spend the holidays with my family. I hope everyone has a happy holiday and tune in next time!

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South Bronx United Hosts Second Annual Benefit

Posted on November 19, 2012 by South Bronx United

(Bronx, NY) - South Bronx United held its second Annual Benefit on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at the Hudson Terrace located in New York City.  Thanks to the generous support of the over 200 attendees and a number sponsors, the second Annual Benefit raised over $44,000.  All proceeds will go directly to South Bronx United’s youth programs, which serve nearly 600 boys and girls, ages 4-19.

South Bronx United’s mission is to use soccer as a tool for social change in the community.  The organization, which was founded in 2009, aims to help youth build character, teamwork, and leadership so that they can succeed in high school, college, career, their community and beyond.  Its programs strive to promote educational achievement, health and wellness, and character development through activities on and off the soccer field and to unite a diverse group of individuals and an incredibly diverse community toward common positive goals.

The event was hosted by Shep Messing, currently a broadcaster of the New York Red Bulls as well as soccer matches worldwide.  Mr. Messing is also the former goalkeeper of the New York Cosmos, playing alongside such soccer legends as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.  Alumni Kebba Sanneh, a freshman at Borough of Manhattan Community College and recipient of a South Bronx United 2012 college scholarship also shared his experiences with the crowd.  The evening’s sponsors included Bareburger, Relish Caterers, Ya Mastiha, Wines of Chile, and Two Sigma Investments.

Read a full recap of the event from Christopher Dobens at TotalFootblog.com

To learn more about South Bronx United …..

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