Fan Clubs Continue to Launch in Support of SSUSA
Empire Club and Golden Gate FC to join Royal Court as Fan Clubs- Rob Cann
One of the great advantages of having a national network of programs is that SSUSA has been able to survey what works well in one city and replicate it and share it with the other cities to improve our work. This is how our best practices curriculum has continued to evolve year-to-year with the input of our great program directors across the country.
One such example, in the area of development off the pitch, is that of the launch of a Fan Club for the supporters of one of our most established programs, Street Soccer 945 in Charlotte. With a wide interest across the community in getting involved with the program- from school groups, to volunteer coaches, to restaurants and youth soccer clubs, the program had to adapt to be able to best use all of the amazing support.
The Royal Court was launched in April 2010 and has over 150 members and 6 businesses supporting it. It was launched "to serve as a new court of set of judges to look at the homeless through eyes of compassion...and to make new judgements of worth and create positive change so they are seen, valued, inspirational, strong and transformed." The Fan Cub model has been successful in Charlotte and is a great way to capture all of the enthusiasm and passion that our supporters have in uniting together to end homelessness though sport. Plus it's a great way to show outwardly show your love for your city by wearing the team and fan club gear!
We are excited to announce that two more fan clubs will be launching in San Francisco and New York in the winter of 2010-2011. The New York Program, under the leadership of program director Will Mazzuto, has one of the most established volunteer and fan bases in the SSUSA network and the newly dubbed Empire Club is set to unite the New York City supporters one and all.
The Bay Area has programs in San Francisco, Oakland and a new development in Palo Alto, CA. Support of the program continues to grow and thus the timing is just right to start the Golden Gate Fan Club, or Golden Gate FC. With the start of these two clubs a national model is being created that can be spread to all of the SSUSA programs to create ongoing support and encouragement for our teams. Ending homelessness is a team sport. Join the team, be a part of the fan club!
Visit www.streetsoccerusa.org in December to register for your team's fan club.
Coming Soon:
To register New York visit www.streetsoccerusa.org/newyork
For Bay Area fans register at www.streetsoccerusa.org/sanfrancisco
