Scoring Goals For Autism Earns Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s “Service to the Community Award”
Plymouth Meeting—February, 25, 2015—On Saturday, March 7th Scoring Goals For Autism will receive Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s inaugural Service to the Community Award at the association’s Annual Awards Reception held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center-Lehigh Valley.
“We are so proud to receive this award,” said Scoring Goals For Autism Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Erin Lopes.
Currently 1 in 68 children in the United States has an Autism Spectrum diagnosis. Scoring Goals For Autism is an annual soccer tournament fundraiser that benefits autism research. This one-of-a-kind indoor soccer tournament offers both competitive team play for adult players as well a TOPSoccer skills and drills clinic for children and adolescents with special needs including autism.
"We admire the work that Tim (Bak) and Erin have done with Scoring Goals For Autism," said Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Chief Executive Officer Chris Branscome. "For soccer to have that kind of impact on these kids, is truly special. We are honored to formally recognize this tremendous organization with our inaugural Service to the Community Award. It is well deserved."
Scoring Goals For Autism Co-Founders Erin Lopes and Tim Bak have a 15-year-old son, Tommy, who was diagnosed with autism at age two.
“Scoring Goals For Autism was Tommy’s idea,” said Lopes. “It was his vision to create a soccer tournament where everyone can play”.
The mission of Scoring Goals For Autism is to bring the beautiful game of soccer to all athletes and to raise much needed dollars for autism research. All proceeds from Scoring Goals For Autism benefit the Autism Science Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, which supports evidence-based research into better understanding autism.
“Our goal is to create a day of soccer that embraces all participants and that will build community and acceptance for all athletes that goes beyond the soccer field,” said Lopes. “Each year we are inundated with requests from people looking to volunteer at our event. It’s exciting to see so much interest, especially from youth soccer players, looking to give back to the community through soccer.”
Scoring Goals For Autism offers a TOPSoccer coaching certificate course for coaches from local clubs interested in starting soccer programs in their area for children with special needs. Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Technical Director Mike Barr is heavily involved in the program.
“We are grateful to Coach Mike Barr for his continued support of the TOPSoccer program and TOPSoccer Coaching Course offered at Scoring Goals For Autism,” said Bak.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Scoring Goals For Autism has been chosen by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer to receive the Service to The Community Award,” said Lopes. “Everyone at Scoring Goals For Autism is really happy to be recognized and we are very grateful for Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer’s support. It is truly an honor.”
For more information about Scoring Goals For Autism please visit www.scoringgoalsforautism.org.
To purchase tickets for the Awards Reception please click here.