Reading United A.C. and Olivet Boys & Girls Club have agreed on a partnership that would see the creation of soccer programming for hundreds of youth in Reading and all of greater Berks County.

The agreement will involve Reading United creating soccer programming to be rolled out during Olivet’s youth summer camp during the summer of 2020. This programming will also encompass Olivet’s after-school activities at the end of the current school year and continuing in the 2020-2021 school year. The future soccer programs will guide the Boys & Girls Club’s efforts to promote healthy lifestyles as part of its core programming.

“Reading United is delighted to partner with Olivet Boys & Girls Club,” stated Troy Snyder, Reading United President. “Olivet plays an integral role in our community in developing Berks County youth into the leaders of tomorrow. Our soccer programs will help enrich the lives of hundreds of children that utilize Olivet for after-school programming and summer camps.”

Reading United has extensive experience creating programming for all ages, abilities, and genders in order to grow the love of soccer in the local community. The team was recently recognized by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer with their 2019 Service To Community Award, in part for United’s consistent and impartial approach to growing the game of soccer locally.

“Olivet will continue our effort to raise the level of enthusiasm for athletic programming that focuses on the well-being of our children; not a win-loss record,” said Chris Winters, President, and CEO of Olivet Boys & Girls Club. “With the experience and knowledge of the game of soccer, we welcome this partnership with Reading United as we strive to promote good sportsmanship and skill development of athletics to our Olivet children and our community.”

Olivet Boys & Girls Club has a long history in Berks County in providing education support, afterschool programming, and mentoring. Olivet adheres to the National Boys & Girls Club of America’s initiative to help young people between the ages of 6 and 18 get a healthy start and enter school ready to perform to the best of their ability cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.
“Over the years, we (Reading United) have demonstrated our commitment to our communities and youth by giving access to our soccer pros of tomorrow,” added Snyder.

Reading United previously announced the donation of season tickets to Olivet through its “Out-Of-Town” season tickets, which encourage soccer fans who are not local to Berks County to purchase and donate their seven-game pack of tickets to the Boys & Girls Club.

So far, over 30 states and even the United Kingdom have a season ticket holder for the 2020 season, with over 350 tickets donated to Olivet as a result.

Read the original article at Berks Weekly.