PORTLAND, Ore. – As part of the Fields For All partnership between the Portland Timbers’ community initiative, Stand Together, and Operation Pitch Invasion (OPI), the Timbers announced today the club will develop a new futsal court at the Boys & Girls Club’s new Rockwood campus in Gresham, Ore.
The development of the futsal court at the Boys & Girls Club (SE 165th and Stark Street) marks the third set of futsal courts made possible by the Fields for All partnership, with Stand Together and Operation Pitch Invasion partnering on the development of King’s Court at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School last year, which followed the development of SNAKE Court at Vance Park in 2015.
Since 2011, the Timbers have contributed to 13 soccer fields and futsal courts, providing the greater Portland area with organized outlets for playing soccer.
“We are excited to support one of our Stand Together community partners, the Boys & Girls Clubs, in a great community-driven project at their new Rockwood campus,” said Mike Golub, president of business for the Timbers. “We are proud to collaborate with OPI through Fields for All, and we are committed to helping revitalize local communities and creating a gathering place for youth and their families.”
The pair of new futsal courts at the Rockwood Boys & Girls Club will support local youth programs, encourage children to live a healthy, active lifestyle and signifies the strong commitment the Timbers, OPI and fans have to supporting the surrounding community.
“Thanks to the Portland Timbers and Thorns FC Fields for All for their generous contribution of two futsal courts to the Rockwood Boys & Girls Club campus,” said Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis. “This field will provide youth in the area with a new recreational opportunity and contributes to our vision of the Rockwood Boys & Girls Club as a thriving gathering place for Gresham’s youth and families. Fields for All is an incredible partner and we appreciate their continued investment in Gresham to ensure that kids throughout our community have opportunities to get outside and be active in their neighborhoods.”
The development of the new futsal court is supported by generous donations from Portland Timbers’ community sponsors, including adidas, IKEA Portland, JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, KeyBank and Providence Health and Services.
“What an honor it is for the Clubs to be chosen as a Fields For All partner with the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC," said Erin Hubert, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro. "They are so loved throughout this region and by bringing these courts to our Rockwood campus they will truly be creating a new hub for this special community to gather and have fun."
Fields For All aims to identify 'recreation deserts' – communities underserved by recreational activities for kids – and fill them with safe, healthy and high-quality playing surfaces. Its work focuses on areas with open community access and neighborhood support. In addition, Fields For All targets locations in close proximity to schools, youth clubs and recreation centers, providing ongoing programming to support organized and structured play for local area youth.
Through their community outreach platform, Stand Together, the Timbers are committed to furthering their community mission to harness the power of sport to improve the lives of children and families in the region through targeted programs, deep partnerships and philanthropic giving. For more information on the Timbers community outreach programs and partners, visit timbers.com/stand-together.
OPI is a local, grassroots organization that builds, revitalizes and maintains soccer fields and futsal courts throughout the Portland metro area so that players of all ages and skill levels have high quality and safe playing surfaces to enjoy the beautiful game. OPI is an Oregon 501(c)(3) corporation. For more information, visit www.pitch-invasion.org.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro’s mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Portland-Metro Clubs have been at the forefront of providing facility-based enrichment programs for youth ages six to 18 for over 70 years, providing them with a safe and secure place to belong when school is out. For more information, visit www.bgcportland.org.
