[Newark, New Jersey – May 22, 2019] The Newark Board of Education recently partnered with soccer heavyweights to host the second Soccer for Success Jamboree at Newark School Stadium. More than 2,000 people participated in the day-long event, which included 650 student soccer players, 24 schools and 37 teams.

Superintendent of Schools Roger León said, “Soccer is growing in interest throughout our school district. I want to personally thank our students for their interest and engagement, their parents, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the NY Bulls and Just One Soccer for their generous support of our program. I also want to thank our coaches and the office of Family Engagement and Expanded Learning – their leadership in this program is priceless.”

This is the second year of the Soccer for Success Jamboree, according to Margarita Muniz, Executive Director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement. The office of Family and Community Engagement, along with the Expanded Learning Time Office, headed by Sarah Cruz, manage the Soccer for Success program for the Newark Board of Education.

“The Soccer for Success program is a great addition to our Expanded Learning Time programs afterschool in Newark Public Schools,” said Sarah Cruz, Special Assistant for Expanded Learning Time. She continued, “This partnership gives students a constructive activity where they learn about being active, living healthy and they get to play soccer. More girls joined the program this year and we nearly doubled the number of overall participants. The students and the staff really enjoy the experience.”

For the program, the U.S. Soccer Foundation provided for each player; a soccer Jersey, a soccer ball, a par of shin guards and a set of collapsible soccer goals for each school.