- Friendly Competition for a Good Cause: Reducing Childhood Obesity in OC
- In Partnership with OC’s Professional Soccer Team Orange County Soccer Club
Irvine, CA, April 3, 2019 – Orange County United Way is pleased to announce the 1st annual Corporate Soccer Cup, a recreational-style soccer tournament for a good cause, kicking off this May. The tournament, presented by CISOSHARE and in partnership with Orange County Soccer Club, will raise money for United Way’s Healthy Schools Initiative to help reduce childhood obesity in Orange County.
“The first annual United Way Corporate Soccer Cup is a unique fundraiser and opportunity to engage top companies in Orange County to get active for a good cause,” said Susan B. Parks, President and CEO, Orange County United Way. “Obesity has reached crisis levels here in Orange County, affecting one-third of our local students, and the funds raised at the Corporate Soccer Cup will allow us to make significant strides to combat this epidemic.”
The round-robin, 16-team co-ed tournament is open to all Orange County businesses as a unique way to participate in corporate social responsibility, engage with employees and do more for the community.
The United Way Corporate Soccer Cup round-robin matches will be played at the Orange County Great Park Soccer Complex in Irvine on Friday, May 31 and the semi-final round on Saturday, June 1. Later that day, the final match will be played on the professional field at Orange County Soccer Club’s home venue, Championship Soccer Stadium, following Orange County Soccer Club’s 5:30 p.m. game versus Rio Grande Valley.
“CISOSHARE is proud to combine some of our favorite things: working with local Orange County businesses, improving the world through cyber security, and last but not least soccer, all wrapped up in the best reason of all — giving back to the community,” said Mike Gentile, President and CEO, CISOSHARE. “We couldn’t be prouder to partner and support this inaugural tournament.”
The most recent data confirms that 1 in 3 children in Orange County is overweight or obese. At $1,000 per team, the Corporate Soccer Cup will raise critical funds to provide fitness and nutrition opportunities for young students and their families. In addition, net proceeds from select tickets sold for the Orange County Soccer Club’s June 1st game will help fund these efforts.
Corporate Soccer Cup teams can be male, female or co-ed and have a roster of up to 15 players. Games will be comprised of two 25-minute halves with a 10-minute half time. Each team can use unlimited substitutions and is guaranteed three games in group play. Teams will also have access to an Orange County Soccer Club player for a private training session prior to the tournament start.
Each participant will also receive two game tickets to the Orange County Soccer Club game versus Rio Grand Valley FC on Saturday, June 1. The Corporate Soccer Cup final will be played on the stadium field immediately following the pro-game.
“We are thrilled to be a part of the first-ever Corporate Soccer Cup,” said James Keston, owner, Orange County Soccer Club. “United Way is doing critical work to improve the health of Orange County’s youth – a cause that we too are passionate about. We are proud to join hands with them to create a mission-driven soccer tournament and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of today’s young students.”
So far, seven teams from leading Orange County companies have signed up to play in the inaugural Corporate Cup, including CISOSHARE, Antis Roofing, Edwards Lifesciences, FivePoint, KCOMM, Pacific Life, and Ware Malcomb.
The Orange County United Way Corporate Soccer Cup is the newest example of how the nonprofit is engaging with Orange County’s business community through unique corporate social responsibility campaigns to address the community’s most critical issues.
Team registrations are now open here: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com/corp-cup. Use the same link to purchase tickets for the June 1st Orange County Soccer Club game – click on the banner and enter offer code UNITED to activate a special discounted ticketed price.
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, contact Doug McKay at DougM@UnitedWayOC.org or (949) 263-6125.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY
Today’s Orange County United Way is doing more for the Education, Health, Housing and Financial Stability of every person in Orange County. More than a fundraiser, we’re hands-on, delivering more than 50 Community Impact programs countywide. We focus on long-term solutions to the most critical interconnected challenges facing local children and families. United Way is doing more to make long-term measurable difference in the lives of children and families right here in Orange County. To learn more or do more with us, visit www.unitedwayoc.org.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 36 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
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Media Contact: Nicole Morrison, nmorrison@cornerstonecomms.com, (949) 200-6110
