GRS CEO Tommy Clark joined Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah "MamaLeah" Tutu for the Gala Dinner.
In recognition of Grassroot Soccer’s (GRS) work to help children develop important life skills and embrace healthy lifestyles, the U.S. Soccer Foundation invited GRS to join them for their 2010 Gala in Washington, DC on March 4th. GRS CEO, Dr. Tommy Clark was a member of the gala Host Committee and joined Honoree Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife at the head table.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation recognized Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa for his lifelong commitment to justice, equality and humanity. Co- honorees, John and Maureen Hendricks, owners of Discovery Communications and founders of Women’s Pro Soccer were recognized for their leadership in developing soccer in the U.S.
The black-tie event was emceed by comedian, Drew Carey with taped opening remarks provided by The Daily Show host, Jon Stewart. The Gala was co-chaired by Mr. Kevin Payne, President and CEO of D.C. United and Mr. David Sutphen, Partner, Brunswick Group, LLC.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation will be making a donation to Grassroot Soccer to assist its efforts of using the game of soccer for social change in South Africa. Established in 1994, the U.S. Soccer Foundation is the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States and has invested more than $51 million, supporting hundreds of projects in every state. The U.S. Soccer Foundation builds fields and provides programming to children in low-income communities ensuring they have easy and affordable access to quality soccer programs that support their physical and personal development. This is U.S. Soccer Foundation’s first award to Grassroot Soccer.
For more information on the U.S. Soccer Foundation please visit http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org.