PepsiCo Donates $15,000 to the Big Apple Youth Soccer League

By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer BAYSL_logo_for_Web

Association

May 4, 2021-PepsiCo, Inc. has created the Team of Champions, a national purpose platform building upon its global UEFA Champions League partnership to provide the gift of soccer to underserved communities. The $1 million commitment over three years will make actionable investments on and off the field to help create transformational change across the United States through soccer.

Team of Champions is supported by international soccer star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez as he joins the PepsiCo athlete roster. In his first national effort partnering with Pepsi and Lay's, he shared, “I'm proud to partner with Pepsi and Lay's to bring the beautiful game to underserved communities across the country. From access to safe play, gear and equipment, to coaching and role models, Team of Champions looks to remove barriers to the game that have become harder to move, particularly during the pandemic.”

The Team of Champions features a “Starting Eleven” comprised of 11 local organizations in select cities across the United States that provide opportunities and access to the sport. Part of this commitment is a $15,000 donation to the Big Apple Youth Soccer League (BAYSL), a player in this “Starting Eleven.” The funds will go to league members still suffering financially from the effects of Covid-19 and will be used to pay for registration, equipment plus coaches licensing courses.

“We are very grateful to Pepsi and Lay's as we never thought that we would receive such an amount, because we did not receive any large donations for more than 15 years and we don't have sponsorships like other leagues,” BAYSL President Carlos Vergara stated. “I hope this help from Pepsi and Lay's will continue to help poor communities like us to promote the beautiful sport of soccer. We can take kids off the streets and help them receive scholarships. That was the goal for league founder and former President Luis Montoya and we are proud to carry on his great work.”

Team of Champions is another step in PepsiCo's Racial Equality Journey, which in 2020 saw the company announce commitments of more than $570 million over the next five years to lift up Black and Hispanic businesses and communities in the U.S. to address issues of inequality and create opportunity.

With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.