AYSO Region 154 and its V.I.P. Soccer Program for children and adults with ‘special needs’ announced it was the recipient of a $5,000 donation from UnitedHealthcare at their board of directors meeting in March. V.I.P. registration continues today at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, April 21 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, May 4 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Season Ticket Pizza in Buena Park (Ralph’s Shopping Center at Valley View and Ball Road). Online registration is required and available at www.eayso.org.
This is the fourth consecutive year that UnitedHealthcare, based in Cypress, has supported the program. Its commitment to V.I.P. has reached to more than $10,000 since 2010. The funds will support the continued expansion of the fall soccer program that serves nearly 150 players annually from the cities of Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Westminster and West Anaheim.
“We are thrilled and excited to continue our support of V.I.P. Soccer in 2013,” said Mariann S. Ivan, a director for UnitedHealthcare. “As a Cypress-based company, we’re pleased to partner with the parents, players, high school volunteers, AYSO Region 154 and the city of Cypress that make V.I.P. the success story it is in Orange County and nationally.”
“UnitedHealthcare believes in ‘Health in Numbers’,” she added. “Helping V.I.P. Soccer serve more children and adults with ‘special needs’ is an example of our commitment to the community while seeking to improve the lives and health of those we serve.”
“UnitedHealthcare’s involvement has allowed us to grow the program while keeping registration affordable for V.I.P. families,” said Ben Singer, volunteer director of the V.I.P. Division for AYSO Region, 154. “We especially appreciate their serving on our advisory board and getting involved with our efforts to make families aware of what V.I.P. has to offer their special needs children and young adults.”
Funds provided by UnitedHealthcare will go toward the purchase of player uniforms, adaptive soccer equipment for special needs players and educational and training materials for high school student volunteers who serve as ‘buddies’ during practice and games during the fall season.
“Our mission is to ‘Improve the lives of children and young adults with special needs through soccer,’ Singer added. “Support from UnitedHealthcare and other community organizations make it possible for V.I.P. Soccer to go and grow.”
V.I.P. Soccer is made possible through the support of AYSO Region 154, UnitedHealthcare, the Bandai Foundation, CalOptima and other community supporters. For more information on the V.I.P. program, visit www.Region154.org or contact V.I.P. Director, Ben Singer at 562-936-1466 or online at benjamin.singer2@verizon.net and like them on Face Book at “V.I.P. Soccer.”