RICHMOND, VA – (Thursday, June 29, 2011) – The Richmond Kickers are proud to partner with Richmond-based VistaOne Corporation to sponsor a new community outreach program to provide children with an opportunity to work with professional athletes in a fun, safe and constructive environment. Kickers midfielder and VistaOne associate Mike Callahan heads up the program, alongside VistaOne President, Steve Inman.
“This is a chance for us to give back to the community and to provide unique, constructive, and hopefully sustainable opportunities for children who may not otherwise have them,” commented Inman. “We are proud to partner with the family and community-focused Kickers organization, and we are looking forward to a fun summer of bringing soccer to area children.”
VistaOne hosted their first event on June 9 when they brought “The Kickers Soccer Station” to The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club End of Year Celebration. Callahan was on site, interacting with the children and organizing fun soccer games. Prizes were given away to participants and an autographed Kickers jersey was donated to the club. Hundreds of Salvation Army Club members were in attendance to enjoy the fun at the club’s location on R Street.
Callahan will have a busy summer heading up the new community service venture for both VistaOne and the Kickers. In addition to participating in The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Celebration, Callahan is hosting a week long soccer clinic at The Salvation Army site in July that will include a trip to a Richmond Kickers home match and a chance to play on the stadium field. Callahan has also partnered with the Special Olympics of Central Virginia to host 15 of their athletes at a Richmond Kickers pro match, where they will promote their “Unified Sports Program.” Finally, kids from The Neighborhood Resource Center will participate in a clinic at City Stadium run by players from the Kickers professional team at the end of the regular season.
“The Richmond Kickers strive to identify and work with partners that share our commitment to enhancing the Richmond community,” added Shelley Sowers, Richmond Kickers General Manager. “We admire VistaOne’s dedication to the Richmond area youth and believe we have found a great long-term partner to assist us in fulfilling our mission to teach life skills through the beautiful game of soccer.”
About VistaOne
VistaOne is a local Value Added Reseller (VAR) of technology from companies such as Riverbed and F5, whose products optimize enterprise-wide application software performance while driving down costs. Founded in 2004, VistaOne serves over 200 enterprise customers across the United States and abroad. VistaOne also has a division focusing on enhancing and securing internet performance for higher education institutions, which proudly includes VCU, UR, William and Mary, JMU, CNU, and RMC as local Customers among over 300 such institutions in the US and its territories.
About the Richmond Kickers
Today over 8,000 soccer players participate in programs sponsored by the Richmond Kickers and partner clubs, including Ashland Youth Soccer League, City of Richmond Parks and Rec., Goochland United Soccer Association, TOPSoccer, Elementary Soccer and Little KICKS. The Richmond Kickers Soccer Club provides opportunities for all players of all abilities and unites soccer in the Central Virginia community. Benefits include economy of scale, consistency of coaching philosophy, professional administrative and coaching staff expertise, positive role models for youth players and a clear pathway from youth to pro for aspiring young players.
