BPC and BWPC Awarded 2024 Brianna Scurry Award by U.S. Soccer Federation
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Soccer Foundation announced recipients for its four annual awards recognizing organizations and leaders who have made significant contributions toward advancing social impact efforts through the game of soccer. Organizations and leaders recognized include the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Black Players for Change, Black Women’s Players Collective, Brotherhood Crusade, and Mikyle Covington.
“Soccer is so much more than a game and when used intentionally, it can tackle some of our nation’s most pressing social issues. This year’s awardees have a track record of supporting this vision and embody a commitment to uplifting young people in under-resourced communities through our game. We’re honored to shine a light on their work and the difference they’ve made for so many young people.”
Black Players for Change, Black Women’s Player Collective, and Mikyle Covington received the 2024 Briana Scurry Ally Award which is presented each year to an athlete or ally who helps drive positive social change by leveraging their platform as a force for good in support of under-resourced and marginalized communities.
“Briana Scurry is such a pivotal player to the women’s game. So it is in great honor that we accept the 2024 Briana Scurry Ally Award,” said Imani Dorsey, Founding Board Member of Black Women’s Player Collective. “Our opportunity to partner with U.S. Soccer Foundation on the initial 24 mini-pitches continues to aid in our shared mission to ensure equity and access to the next generation of players.”
Black Players for Change (BPC) is a nonprofit organization consisting of more than 170 Black players, coaches and staff from Major League Soccer, working to bridge the racial equality gap that exists in society. The Black Women’s Player Collective (BWPC) is a non-for-profit organization created by the Black players in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to advance opportunities for Black girls in sport and beyond. Both organizations have partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to install 24 mini-pitches across the country, with two more projects coming in the summer of 2025. These pitches included innovative partnerships between the player groups and several professional clubs, including New York Red Bulls, Sporting KC, KC Current, Portland Thorns, Portland Timbers, Sacramento Republic and the Seattle Sounders. Projects were focused on work creating access in communities that either had personal connections to the leadership within each organization (hometowns, college towns, etc.) or historically Black communities where new play space opportunities are often limited.
For more than 30 years, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has been the leading force focused on advancing soccer as a vehicle for social impact. In three decades, the Foundation has worked collaboratively with 1,000 national and local partners to positively impact youth largely in underserved communities – delivering proven programs that foster improved health and well-being at a time when kids need it most. In the past year, the Foundation engaged 1 million youth in its programs and opened its 780th mini-pitch, on its way to opening 1,000 by 2026.
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