Sports/Business Luminaries to Drive Soccer For Social Change Agenda Ahead of World Cup 2026. Annual Times Square Cup Kicks off Saturday, July 14th.
Steve Nash, Tim Howard, Sheila Johnson, Charlie Stillitano, Dennis Crowley, Nick Swinmurn and Chairman, Kyle Martino join forces to launch Street Soccer USA National Board at Street Soccer USA Times Square Cup on July 14th
“No matter where we come from … rich, poor, immigrant, refugee, born in USA….”@SteveNash x @TimHowardGK x @Kylemartino with @StreetsoccerUSA talk about how to make America a soccer nation. pic.twitter.com/De9BaoJVcc
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) July 13, 2018
July 11th, New York, New York—They comprise a two time NBA Most Valuable Player, A FIFA World Cup Captain, founders of leading tech, media and sports companies, a social activist, a non profit innovator, and sought after experts in sports psychology, behavior health, and the U.S. government; They are the newly formed and first ever national board of Street Soccer USA, a national non profit whose community based bottom up approach harnesses the of the worlds game to create a more level playing field for all.
“The vision is a level playing for all. There is so much energy around the growth of soccer in the United States right now and the opportunity to harness that energy and use it as a transformational tool on a large scale, I think that is what brought us all together,” commented Tim Howard, the standout goalkeeper of the United States in the past few FIFA World Cups.
The timing of the board announcement on the heels the United States, Mexico, and Canada, winning the right to host the 2026 World Cup is fortuitous, if only coincidental. What is really driving the formation of the board are the conditions on the ground–the vibrant, growing soccer community ignored by the formal US Soccer system and the once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of shaping a maturing soccer culture and harnessing its power to create positive social change. Joining Howard and Johnson to seize that opportunity is a diverse list of members that include
- Former Professional America Soccer Player, US National Team Member, and current NBC Sports Analyst, Chairman of the Board, Kyle Martino
- Two time NBA MVP winner, Steve Nash
- Co-found or BET, business-woman, and sport owner, Sheila Johnson
- Chairman of Relevant Sports, Charlie Stillitano
- Current Professional Soccer Player, US Men’s National Team Captain and Veteran of two FIFA World Cups, Tim Howard
- Zappos.com founder, Fated Brands CEO, and host of the The Startup Addict Podcast, Nick Swinmurn
- Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Foursquare, Founder and owner of Stockade FC of National Premier Soccer league, Dennis Crowley
- Immigration reform activist and lawyer, Catalina Cruz
- Sports and child psychologist and cofounder of Personal Best Media, Clinical Faculty at the NYU Child Study Center, Dr. Marianne Engle
- Environmental Scientist, UC Berkeley, Dr. Thomas Azwell
- Principal and Government and Public Services National Leader, Deloitte, Dan Helfrich
- Head of Street Soccer USA’s San Francisco Board and CEO of Future Sense, Jim Finkelstein
- CEO & Co-Founder of Classy, the world’s leading online fundraising platform for nonprofits, modernizing the giving experience and accelerating social impact around the world, Scot Chisholm
- Special Projects Coordinator for Redhorse Constructors, Project Manager for Human Needs Project, Cal Women’s Soccer Alumnus ’13, Lauren Battung
- Peabody and Emmy Award winning film producer, known for The Invisible War (2012), The Hunting Ground (2015) and Newtown, Chairman of the Board of HELP USA, Maria Cuomo Cole
- Principal of Sachs Policy Group, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
- The Board will be chaired by Kyle Martino of NBC Sports.
Martino commented, “I’ve been a part of teams for as long as I can remember. Soccer has been a transformative gift in my life and I’m honored to work with this incredible team to bring that gift to those who need it most.”
Street Soccer USA was founded nine years ago by brothers Rob and Lawrence Cann at the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, NC. The organization then grew under the umbrella of national housing and social service provider, HELP USA in New York, and has since spread to 8 hub cities in New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Charlotte with partner programs in 6 other cities. To date Street Soccer USA has helped over 15,000 youth and young adults and hosted in Street Soccer Cup in Times Square, Union Square, San Francisco, the Museum Steps in Philadelphia, and will host its event in Los Angeles for the first time at L.A. Live on August 18th in partnership with the L.A. Galaxy.
“Our commitment to our communities is long term. Our cup series and our new national board are part of building and sustaining that long term commitment. In today’s environment, where immigrant communities feel under threat and with opportunity of the 2026 World Cup, it’s more important than ever that we build strong community institutions; it’s silly to think that soccer shouldn’t be one of the cornerstone of those institutions.”,” said CEO and Cofounder, Lawrence Cann.
In the aftermath of Street Soccer USA’s marquee Times Square Cup Event on July 14th, marshaled by City Council President, Corey Johnson, the Street Soccer USA National Board will meet for a strategy session, followed by their first official meeting in late August.
For further information, please contact us at event@streetsoccerusa.org, www.streetsoccerusa.org, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram @STREETSOCCERUSA