Davidson Men's Soccer To Host Street Soccer 945 Exhibition
10/1/2009 1:35:44 PM | Men's Soccer, 'Cats in the Community
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Street Soccer 945, a soccer program for the homeless originally founded by Davidson men's soccer alumnus Lawrence Cann, will play an exhibition match at halftime of Tuesday night's match against No. 12 Duke, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Alumni Stadium. A portion of the proceeds from the game will go to benefit the Charlotte Street Soccer USA team.
"Thanks in a large degree to the help of my fellow alumni, who have volunteered time and expertise, and even joined the board of Street Soccer USA, we have been able to take our idea of using sport as tool for personal development among people who are homeless and transform that idea into 16 programs from California to New York that are changing lives and the way we think about the problem of homelessness in the United States,” said Lawrence Cann. “Davidson head coach Matt Spear, the Davidson men's soccer team, and former Davidson head coach Charlie Slagle have been enormously supportive since day one."
Cann, a defender on the soccer team, was a two-time All-Southern Conference honoree before graduating from Davidson in 2000.
A program of the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, Street Soccer 945 was the founding program of Street Soccer USA. Street Soccer USA is a national network of 16 grassroots soccer programs for the homeless. Lawrence's brother, Rob, is the current director of the program.
"When we first started Street Soccer in Charlotte, it was Davidson who donated us our first set of balls, cones and pennies to hold our first practice with,” said Rob Cann “Still today it is Davidson who has reached out to us to offer support with this event. Street Soccer is about building a positive community, a family environment, where players can grow as part of a team. We are grateful to call Davidson College part of our team and our family. We appreciate the encouragement and support you have given our program and players"
Street Soccer 945 is the first year around soccer program for the homeless and impoverished in the United States. Street Soccer 945 recognizes healthy living, a constructive use of leisure time, a community of teammates that supports you, a personal relationship with people who can help you achieve your goals- these are the key ingredients to anyone's well being. For people who are homeless these components are rarely within grasp. The positive power of sports, especially soccer, is a remarkable tool for delivering these components to people caught in the trap of homelessness. Street Soccer 945 engages over 100 participants annually, and 75% of participants make a significant life change by entering drug treatment, going back to school, finding employment and housing or re-connecting with family.
“I am tremendously proud of Lawrence as a friend, as a leader and as a Davidson soccer alumnus,” said Davidson men's soccer head coach Matt Spear. “His vision, his efforts, and his impact on countless lives is incredibly inspirational. He has harnessed the great sport of soccer, the world's biggest game, to change people and to lift people.”
Player Ebony Wright, who is scheduled to be in attendance, was selected from the Charlotte team to represent the United States at the Homeless World Cup in Milan, Italy in early September. Ebony was one of eight players selected from around the United States and the only female on the team. The U.S. Team finished in 19th place out of 48 participating nations.
“Since I've joined the program, I have gotten a job, I'm getting ready to get my own place and I am enrolling in GED courses,” said Wright. “Soccer has been awesome to me. It's cool. I love it!”
Tickets are available at DavidsonWildcats.com or by calling 1.800.768.CATS.
For more information about Street Soccer 945, visit www.urbanministry.org.