The team and company made good on their pledge to donate a soccer kit featuring balls , shin guards and goalkeeper gloves to the program for every goal FC Dallas scored this season . The final tally equaled out to 52 kits worth more than $ 2,600 and priceless memory for the 65 members of Strickland GOAL .
While many of the students got to take selfies or briefly chat with Mr . Acosta , almost everyone had the opportunity to practice their moves on the pitch or receive a little one-on-one coaching from him . Acosta , who grew up less than 30 miles away in Plano , even reminded the students that he was proof that they could follow their dreams .
“ This is huge for us us , not just because of the donation , but because of the time Kellyn spent with the kids . It lets them see that what we ’ re telling them is the truth ,” Mrs . Ordonez said . “ Maybe it sinks in a little more coming from a professional soccer player or maybe it just helps them see that their dreams can come true .”
“ The message of being a leader definitely translates from the field to life ,” Mr . Acosta said . “ I didn ’ t have anything like this when I was growing up , so I ’ m thankful that I ’ m able to come out here and let them see that hard work does play off .”
FC Valkyries and SMSC thank FC Dallas and Elephant Auto Insurance for donating a soccer package for every goal scored by the team in 2016 , 52 in all ! The equipment will be distributed to GOAL teams throughout the district , 7 in all .
With more than 600 students participating and branches at each of the district ’ s seven middle schools as well as satellite clubs at schools in the Lewisville , Lake Dallas and Sanger school districts , GOAL ’ s message is definitely spreading .
Each club commits to doing one community service project per year , varying from food and coat drives to trash pick-up and voter registration drives . Student members , many of whom count English as a second language , also are performing better in class academically and establishing friends quicker than ever before .
“ GOAL means a lot to us … having FC Dallas notice what we ’ re doing means a lot to us too ,” said Lira .
“ Yeah , it ’ s not every day a middle schooler gets the opportunity to get face time with a professional soccer player . And it ’ s even rarer when the player happens to be from the same area and reinforces the same message that is preached to them every day ,” said Biridiana Ordonez , a science teacher who also serves as the sponsor of the girls GOAL sponsor at Strickland .
Members of the Strickland Middle School FC Valkyries and SMSC Pedro Ruiz , Anthony Varlos , Teodoro Lopez , Monica Esteban and Lesley Perez hangout with FC Dallas Midfielder Kellyn Acosta ( center ). Acosta delivered a donation to GOAL , an afterschool program run by teacher volunteers to engage the community ’ s youth through celebrating family , school and community .
For more on this gift click on www . facebook . com / fcdallas / videos / 10153917214641152
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