AYW Community Spotlight | SLSG-MO
RICHMOND, VA (February 28, 2017) – The ECNL and the Amazing Young Women movement is dedicated to showcasing females that have helped shape the league into the top female youth soccer development platform in the world. As part of the movement, the ECNL is encouraging amazing young women to share their stories. We are excited to announce St. Louis Scott Gallagher- Missouri (SLSG-MO) as the ECNL Amazing Young Woman Team Spotlight of the Week.
The SLSG-MO ECNL teams are living up to the club’s mission of being a club that positively impacts the development of their players both on and off the field, making a progressive impact on the community.
Last winter, the WWT Soccer Park was flooded and nearly destroyed, devastating the entire club and soccer community of St. Louis. However, the entire community jumped in to rebuild the park. This drive to restore their home inspired the club to give more to the community.
Ralph Richards of the SLSG-MO ECNL program wanted to find a way to give back to the community, since the people of St. Louis played such a huge role in rebuilding their soccer park. The outpour of selfless acts influenced the member club to come up with a motto for the year: “More Than A Game.” SLSG-MO players and staff began using the hashtag #MTAG on all social media handles to share stories of their community.
A prime example of how the Amazing Young Women of the SLSG-MO ECNL U18/U19 team gave back, was the role they played in the Upper 90 Project. Coming off one of the most successful ECNL conference seasons in program history, several team members took on leadership roles, targeting two organizations in St. Louis to work with: Food Outreach Program and North Grand Neighborhood Services (NGNS).
“I am so proud of our ECNL players. Their actions on the field have been noticed, but their actions off the field have been felt by so many,” said Ralph Richards, SLSG-MO ECNL Director. “Led by the senior class, current juniors down to the 6th graders within our club, these young ladies brought so many smiles and comfort to the less fortunate in our community. The joy from working with both the Food Outreach Program and NGNS had a humbling effect on our players and everyone touched by the movement.”
Testimonials from the players that participated:
Brynne Polivka, ECNL U18/U19
“Leading the club in service projects throughout St. Louis was really special to me. Taking on the challenge of finding noble causes helped me to understand the importance of giving back. This was also a great opportunity to bring the newly formed teams in the Elite Program together.”
Sam Cary, ECNL U17
“My experience at the Food Outreach Program really opened my eyes to a new perspective. It made me realize how fortunate I am to be given countless opportunities to succeed in life.”
Cassidy Nurnberger, ECNL U18/U19
“Volunteering at the Food Outreach Program in the city brought my team closer together. It was an amazing experience to be a part of, especially representing SLSG, strengthening our community presence.”
Hannah Higgins, ECNL U16
“It was humbling to see how volunteering and giving back brought so many smiles to everyone on the team, and happiness to all the people we helped.”
Take a peek into their community service journey with the photo gallery below, provided by SLSG-MO.
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About Amazing Young WomenTM: Launched by the ECNL, the Amazing Young Women is a dynamic platform of online and local market activations that showcase and celebrate female role models offering an aspirational focus for all female athletes and teens as they prepare to be our next generation of leaders. The ECNL is calling on all of the nation’s women to join the movement to celebrate the endless potential of today’s girls.
Women of all ages can share their personal moments of inspiration through social media and at www.AmazingYoungWomen.com. Every share and submission helps drive a movement that celebrates the power of what it is to be a girl today.
Amazing Young Women of the ECNL will be showcased at AmazingYoungWomen.com. Through testimonials, tips and tools, the website is providing all girls to view, share, and celebrate what it is to be motivated, strong, and successful.
About Elite Clubs National League: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for college and youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.
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