UNIROYAL, US YOUTH SOCCER REWARD EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEERS

Outstanding teens recognized for their dedication to kids with disabilities

Uniroyal Tire and US Youth Soccer recently announced the recipients of the new Uniroyal Tire TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year award to five young athletes who dedicate their time volunteering for US Youth Soccer's TOPSoccer Program.

TOPSoccer is a 10-year-old community-based outreach program, developed, organized and administered by US Youth Soccer, the nation's largest sports organization. It provides the opportunity for any boy or girl with a mental or physical disability to play the game of soccer. Each program relies on youth volunteers known as "buddies" to assist with general ball handling skills and movement around the fields. In essence, "buddies" help these kids experience the joy and camaraderie that comes with being part of a team.

It is because of their hard work and constant dedication that Uniroyal Tire, national sponsor of TOPSoccer, has decided to create an annual program to reward these volunteers for their service. Through the Uniroyal Tire TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year Award, one national and four regional youth volunteers have been selected as winners of these first-ever awards. The five winners by region are as follows:

National Winner - Juliana Jones of Shaler TOPSoccer Club (Penn. West State Soccer Assoc.)
Region I Winner - Melissa Bargione of Deep Run TOPSoccer (Eastern Penn. Youth Soccer Assoc.)
Region II Winner - Spencer Loescher of Greater Nebraska TOPSoccer (Nebraska State Soccer Assoc.)
Region III Winner - Matt Kerr of Owasso TOPSoccer (Oklahoma Soccer Assoc.)
Region IV Winner - Stacy Ellingson of JUSA TOPSoccer (California Youth Soccer Assoc. - South)

"These volunteers deserve this recognition because in the eyes of these kids with disabilities, they are true heroes," said Tim Jamison, Uniroyal Tire Brand Director. "Their patience, commitment and positive attitudes put a smile on every participant's face."

Juliana Jones of Pittsburgh, Pa. was named the national Buddy of the Year winner. Five years ago as a seventh grader, Jones began volunteering with Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association's Shaler TOPSoccer Club. Now a senior in high school, the 17-year-old Jones obtained field permits, designed tournament shirts, recruited teammates and volunteers, and arranged to have four professional soccer players participate in a three-day TOPSoccer tournament.

"Juliana took her love of the game and the TOPSoccer players to new heights," said Shaler Soccer Club Commissioner, Michael Ehrenberger. "Her caring dedication has been outstanding - an uncommon trait for a seventh grader which remains with her today."

Uniroyal Tire will donate $5,000 to Shaler Soccer Club's TOPSoccer program in Jones' name, while each of the regional winner's TOPSoccer Clubs will receive a $2,500 donation from Uniroyal Tire.

Melissa Bargione, 18, held registrations, organized the coaching staff and recruited an army of her peers to create Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association's Deep Run TOPSoccer program. The program grew from 17 players last year to 40 for the fall 2002 season.

Spencer Loescher, 15, organized a "real" game between his team and a team representing Greater Nebraska TOPSoccer. The game helped introduce TOPSoccer to rural Kearney, Neb., which grew from nine players in 1998 to 35 in 2002.

Even a knee injury could not keep 18-year-old Matt Kerr from helping volunteering for Owasso (Okla.) TOPSoccer. Although confined to a wheelchair while recovering from knee surgery, Kerr has not missed a game.

Since 1993, Stacy Ellingson, 18, has volunteered with Junior United Soccer Association's TOPSoccer program (Placentia, Calif.). As the program grew from eight to 70 players, so did Ellingson's responsibilities. She began by shagging balls and helping set up goals. She now determines what skills to practice at training, organizes her group's practices and manages the other buddies.

"We are truly blessed to have five such quality young people volunteering for one of our most important programs, TOPSoccer," said US Youth Soccer President, David Messersmith. "With assistance from our partner, Uniroyal, we are now able to recognize these volunteer efforts in a meaningful way that will further advance the program for tomorrow's young athletes."

Nominated through US Youth Soccer administrators, coaches, volunteers or TOPSoccer participants, winners were chosen based on their commitment to the physical and emotional development of a TOPSoccer athlete or group of athletes, commitment to the overall program, and dedication to serving as a role model both to TOPSoccer athletes and other buddies in the program.

"It is so wonderful to see these teenaged volunteers dedicated to helping a worthwhile cause," said Julie Foudy, captain of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team. "It's not often that you see kids taking time out of their busy schedules to make this kind of commitment."

As a national sponsor of US Youth Soccer, and supporter of TOPSoccer since 2000, Uniroyal is committed to enriching the lives of children through the sport of soccer. The Uniroyal brand has a long and proud history in the tire business. It began in 1892 as the United States Rubber Company, changing its name to Uniroyal in 1964. Today, the Uniroyal brand markets a wide variety of high-quality, high-mileage tires for many of America's most popular family vehicles and light trucks.

US Youth Soccer ä- The Game for ALL Kids! â, is the largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.1 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.

For more information on the Uniroyal Tire TOPSoccer program, visit usyouthsoccer.org, or call 1-800-4-Soccer.