This month, Orlando City Soccer Foundation collaborated with Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) for its month-long clothing and book drive for the youth centers of Parramore. Holding several events throughout the month of February, the Orlando City Foundation and OCYS collected seven boxes of clothes and books for the youth centers of Parramore.
“Our main focus is promoting a healthy lifestyle for children,” said Chair of Orlando City Foundation Kay Rawlins. “Preparing the children for the future is something that the whole city of Orlando should be involved in.”
On February 15, 2014, OCYS and the Orlando City Foundation held a soccer clinic for children in Winter Garden. The soccer clinic was a huge success, as families came out in droves for the event. All participants were required to bring at least book for admittance into the soccer clinic, and in the end, over 200 books were collected.
“We (Orlando City Foundation) were ecstatic with the amount of support we received from the community for the clothing and book drive,” said Rawlins. “We are so grateful to our fans and community who have supported us in our drive to help create a brighter future for the Parramore area.”
One of the major beneficiaries of the drive was the Parramore Kidz Zone (PKZ). PKZ features 14 centers, including the New Image Youth Center, and was the first out of three chosen charities that Orlando City Foundation supported this year. PKZ’s mission centers on leveling the playing field for Parramore’s children, equipping them to become successful, healthy, well-educated adult, by investing in early childhood education, after school programs, programs that build family economic success, youth development programs for teenagers, access to health care, mentoring, and more.
Members are encouraged to continue to donate new or gently used clothing for ages 0-18. Donations can still be made at the OCYS offices (Seminole Soccer Complex) or at the Orlando City SC pro office in Winter Park (1201 South Orlando Avenue, Suite 202, Winter Park, FL 32789).
