Irvine, CA, June 10, 2019 – Sixteen of Orange County’s leading companies took the field for Orange County United Way’s inaugural Corporate Soccer Cup on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1. The tournament, in partnership with Orange County Soccer Club and presented by CISOSHARE, brought together hundreds of players competing for company pride and for a good cause: reducing childhood obesity in Orange County.
NAIOP SoCal took home the first-ever Corporate Soccer Cup trophy, beating out the team from Bank of America during the final game played at Championship Soccer Stadium, Orange County Soccer Club’s home venue, on Saturday night.
“NAIOP SoCal was proud to compete in the tournament and be a part of the good cause it represents,” said Christopher R. Coburn, Vice President, US Bank Commercial Real Estate, and team captain of the NAIOP SoCal team. “Being a part of the larger movement to positively impact our community was the true driver for our participation – taking home the trophy was just icing on the cake.”
The four semi-finalists who competed for the top title on Saturday were the teams from NAIOP SoCal, Bank of America, CISOSHARE and Edward Lifesciences. In total, more than 320 players representing 16 Orange County companies, including Eaton Aerospace, Pacific Life, Experian, Antis Roofing, Hilton Anaheim and FivePoint, came together to compete. Chick-Fil-A provided free chicken sandwiches and snacks for spectators, and Irvine-based Massage Matters helped players recover with free onsite massages and get back in the game.
The tournament raised more than $40,000 for United Way’s Healthy Schools Initiative aimed at reducing childhood obesity in Orange County. The most recent data confirms that 1 in 3 children in Orange County is overweight or obese. The money raised will provide critically-important fitness and nutrition opportunities for young students and their families throughout the county.
The Orange County United Way Corporate Soccer Cup is the latest 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.
“The success and funds raised at our first-ever Corporate Soccer Cup allow us to make significant strides to combat the obesity crisis affecting one-third of our local students,” said Susan B. Parks, President and CEO, Orange County United Way. “We are thrilled by the participation and excitement from all 16 of the participating companies – they truly represent some of the most philanthropic-minded businesses in our county.”
The full roster of teams that competed in the tournament were:
- Antis Roofing
- Bank of America
- CISOSHARE
- Eaton Aerospace
- Edwards Lifesciences
- Experian
- FivePoint
- Hilton Anaheim
- KCOMM
- L3 Technologies
- NAIOP
- Pacific Life
- Synoptek
- Union Bank
- Ware Malcomb
- DoingMore4OC Team – combination team of United Way and Orange County Soccer Club Staff and community members
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
