The FC Dallas Foundation is the charitable arm of FC Dallas and Toyota Stadium. The Foundation strives to positively impact the health and well-being of disadvantaged youth through the sport of soccer.
The Foundation seeks to promote healthy, active children by programs such as:
- The BR Heart Project – Which promotes good heart health by participating in the AHA Heart Walk and partnering with the AHA in various initiatives.
- Field Development – A project to build well-lit turf soccer fields in low socio-economic areas which will provide safe playing environments and facilitate active lifestyles in local youth.
The Foundation encourages character building and service learning through these partners:
- FCD Youth – A partnership to help FCDY in its service endeavors for the youth’s PRACTICE program, which promotes strong character traits such as compassion and integrity.
- Special Olympics FC Dallas (SOFCD) – A partnership to build an SOFCD team annually to compete against other SO teams of MLS and give the athletes a professional soccer experience.
The Foundation is committed to supporting disadvantaged youth through activities such as:
- The Gear Up Project – A project which collects new and gently used soccer gear to distribute to those in need locally and globally.
- Harper Fund Scholarship – An effort to scholarship children to play rec soccer, through a partnership with the Friends of Rob.
For more information about the FC Dallas Foundation and its programs, contact Melissa Reddick or call 469-365-0147.
FC DALLAS FOUNDATION FIELD
In 2011, the FC Dallas Foundation partnered with the Freddy Fund to complete a small-sided turf field at Maple Lawn Elementary. The Freddy Field was built in memory of Freddy Garcia Jr., an FC Dallas youth player who passed away suddenly. Freddy, the son of Dallas Tornados player Freddy Garcia Sr., grew up in the neighborhood so it was only fitting that the community would receive this special gift from Freddy’s friends and family.
After the completion of the Freddy Field, the Foundation decided that more urban areas in the DFW area would benefit from similar fields and, to date, the Foundation has dedicated three fields. These fields provide well-lit turf soccer pitches in low socio-economic areas which will provide safe playing environments and facilitate active lifestyles in local youth.
Thanks to the generosity of individuals, partners and grant agencies, the last two fields were completed in 2014 at Mercy St. in West Dallas (VIDEO) and Jubilee Park in South Dallas (VIDEO). The FC Dallas Foundation broke ground on a new field presented by AdvoCare at The Salvation Army in East Plano. (link to ribbon cutting video) (include photo attached) This project would not be possible without the generosity of AdvoCare, Toyota, Huawei, Carter Weinstein, the Williams Family, FedEx Office, Dallas Children’s Charities, Sewell Motor Company and Piada Italian Street Food.
THE BOBBY RHINE HEART PROJECT
FC Dallas lost a beloved member of our family, Bobby Rhine, to a sudden heart attack in early September 2011 at the age of 35. Bobby played for FC Dallas from 1999 until 2008, and then transitioned to become an FC Dallas staff broadcaster and the voice of the club. To honor Bobby, the FC Dallas Foundation has created the Bobby Rhine Heart Project. The Project raises funds for the American Heart Association (AHA) and promotes good heart health by walking in the annual Dallas Heart Walk in September.
From 2012 to 2016, our team of FC Dallas staff, players and fans, as well as the Rhine family, raised over $35,000 each year for the American Heart Association. Online registration for next year's Heart Walk will begin in the summer of 2017, so check back.
Check out video recaps from Team BR19 in the Dallas Heart Walk in 2014 and 2015.
See you in 2017!
ROB HARPER MEMORIAL FUND
Rob Harper grew up in Richardson, Texas. He began playing soccer at age eight in youth leagues and went on to play for select teams, JJ Pearce High School and SMU. He loved the game and continued playing on adult recreational teams and served as a referee and youth team coach for many years. Upon his untimely death at age 52, Rob's former teammates and associates (Friends of Rob) were so moved by Rob’s memory and the impact he made on their lives that they established this Memorial Fund to realize Rob’s hopes of helping introduce young kids to the sport of soccer who otherwise would not have the opportunity. Through gifts from donors and the annual Texas Shootout, the Foundation will be able to scholarship youth to play soccer in local soccer associations.
Save the date for the 3rd Annual Texas Shootout on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Elm Fork Shooting Range. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION on the 2016 Texas Shootout pres. by AdvoCare and please visit www.friendsofrob.org for more information.
