FC Tulsa Launches Foundation To Support Underserved Kids

Pro soccer club, FC Tulsa, recently announced a new foundation to serve the greater Tulsa area. The goal of the FC Tulsa Foundation is to unite and inspire all Tulsans and give back to the community with a focus on youth serving initiatives.

This includes areas of education, health and wellness, and recreational sports. Director Suzanne Maniss said this program, with the help of the team, would inspire kids to reach reading and math goals, develop artistic abilities and engage in after-school sports. 

Maniss said a program like this has all sorts of positive benefits for our youth.

"Statistics show if kids are on track with reading and math and if they’re coming to school, the world and just opens up for them on a different level. They are able to succeed and feel good about themselves. If we can have them in an after-school clinic, they’re making friends, they're learning sportsmanship. The benefits just go on and on," Maniss said.

Maniss said part of the reason the foundation was created was to unite and inspire all Tulsans while giving back to the community. There's a particular emphasis on helping underserved kids.

Maniss said this is why it's important FC Tulsa has players come out to visit with kids all over the community, both in and out of the school setting.

Having players come out to schools to inspire kids before testing or coming out to camps to teach them how to play soccer builds a stronger community.

"I think when you’re talking about children, you don’t want isolated kids. You want kids that can be part of something, be it a soccer team or be it some kind of a club, but it’s important for people to feel connected and to have camaraderie, and just mental health-wise, it does wonders. It's huge for mental health," Maniss said.

Maniss says if you're interested in volunteering or donating to the FC Tulsa Foundation, you can visit FCTulsaFoundation.org to learn more about the program.