NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 12, 2023) – Nashville Soccer Club announced today the second grant awards from the Nashville SC Community Fund, which once again will serve to provide pivotal support to local nonprofits, community initiatives, and projects throughout the Nashville and Middle Tennessee regions.
The second grand cycle of the Nashville SC Community Fund is awarding a total of $50,000 to six exemplary local organizations. The allocations have been determined based on the specific grant requests from each organization, ensuring that the funds will be used most effectively.
“We are once again excited to manifest our dedication to Nashville and its surrounding communities through the Nashville SC Community Fund," said Brandon Hill, Nashville SC Head of Community Engagement. "These grants will enable six more impacting organizations to further their mission, and in turn, enrich the lives of many in our community. Our team is deeply committed to bolstering the wonderful work these nonprofits do day in and day out.”
Grantee overview:
- Water Walkers is set to receive $10,000 for its Water Walkers After-School Program, which will instate an after-school program in the historic Edgehill neighborhood. This initiative will offer youth soccer activities and recreational periods four days a week for almost the entire year. The ethos of Water Walkers lies in harnessing the transformative nature of water, sports, outdoor activities, and education to inspire and empower Nashville's youth.
- ABLE Youth will be granted $5,000 to bolster its Sports & Independence Program. This unique initiative uses sports as a catalyst to teach independent living skills to Middle Tennessee youth who use wheelchairs. The program emphasizes the importance of complete independence, fostering self-esteem and life skills.
- Catholic Charities will use their $10,000 grant to host soccer clinics that foster unity, character, and sound decision-making it their North Nashville mini-pitch and center.
- Corner to Corner will harness their $10,000 allocation to champion the Script to Screen after-school program. This innovative endeavor introduces students to the world of filmmaking, simultaneously improving their literacy skills.
- Nations Ministry Center is set to benefit from a $10,000 grant for their Project GOAL!, a multi-faceted program aiming to equip refugee and immigrant youth with essential life skills through a range of after-school and summer activities.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters will employ their $5,000 grant to fund the Sports Buddies program, a one-to-one mentoring scheme harnessing the universal language of sports to forge powerful bonds between mentors and youth.
With its origins at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and its association with Ingram Charities, the Nashville SC Community Fund is steadfast in its mission to support organizations that echo the club's core values of Youth, Physical and Mental Health, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
For regular updates on Nashville SC and its continued community engagement, visit www.NashvilleSC.com/community or follow the club’s official social media channels on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
QUOTE REPOSITORY:
Brandon Hill, Head of Community, Nashville SC: “We are once again excited to manifest our dedication to Nashville and its surrounding communities through the Nashville SC Community Fund. These grants will enable six more impacting organizations to further their mission, and in turn, enrich the lives of many in our community. Our team is deeply committed to bolstering the wonderful work these nonprofits do day in and day out.”
Archie Davis, Program Director at Water Walkers: "We are so humbled and honored to have a partner like the Nashville Soccer Club. 100% of this grant will help fund our vision and mission to help those in need."
Amy Saffell, Executive Director at ABLE Youth: “When kids and their families come to ABLE Youth, for so long, the world has told them what they can’t do because of their disability, but when they come to ABLE Youth, they find out what they can do, which is pretty much any sport they can dream of, and they can be more independent than they ever imagined. The kids learn from each other what is possible. My favorite thing about ABLE Youth is seeing the kids’ self-confidence bloom as they realize that they have a bright future ahead that they never knew they could have. We are so grateful for Nashville SC for this grant because it makes these life changing moments happen for our kids, moments that truly change the trajectory of their lives. Thank you, Nashville SC!
Judy K. Orr, LMSW and Executive Director at Catholic Charities: “We are thrilled to partner with NSC, whose team roster with players from around the world mirrors our diverse community. This partnership will bring together after-school kids from both our refugee youth program and a similar North Nashville program at C.E. McGruder Center. The kids will learn soccer skills from professionals and, of course, learn to love the game even more.”
Tara Holt, Operations Director and Academy Invested Specialist at Corner to Corner: "In the world of dreams and goals, Nashville Soccer Club's generous grant of $10,000 to Corner to Corner is a beacon of hope. With deep gratitude, we embrace this gift as a powerful assist on our mission field, helping kids fall in love with literacy through screenwriting and filmmaking. Nashville Soccer Club is not just our ally; they're the champions of our cause, turning dreams into scripts and stories into inspiration."
Abby Mosby, Director of Youth Success at Nations Ministry Center: “This grant will make a significant impact in the lives of refugee and immigrant youth in our community by providing incentives, such as soccer balls and NSC t-shirts, to motivate these youth to achieve their goals and excel in school. Thank you, Nashville Soccer Club, for partnering with us to support these young people on their path towards a successful future!”
