MLS NEXT and DoorDash Announce 2024 Access Delivery Presented by DoorDash Recipients

NEW YORK (Friday, November 22, 2024) – MLS NEXT and DoorDash today announced the six recipients of the third annual MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDasha program that benefits MLS NEXT Elite Academies (non-MLS academies) by providing financial resources to generate equal opportunities and promote soccer communities in the United States. DoorDash will give $25,000 to each of these six clubs – AFC Lightning, Beadling Soccer Club, Carolina Core FC, Ironbound Soccer Club, Players Development Academy and Triangle United Soccer Association.

Recognizing exceptional dedication to promoting soccer in local communities, MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash contributes annual funding to various clubs in the MLS NEXT ecosystem. A five-person judging panel assessed the club’s applications, which highlighted the extraordinary efforts made by staff, families and local communities at the MLS NEXT Elite Academies. Only non-MLS affiliated clubs participating in MLS NEXT were eligible to apply and be named one of the six recipients.

Over the past three years, 18 different clubs have received MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash, totaling $450,000 in contributions. These clubs have used program funds to increase player scholarships, implement a player leadership program, implement a state-of-the-art video analytics program, provide college guidance mentoring, and create a mental health, among many uses.

Located in South Metro Atlanta, AFC Lightning will use the funds to expand and increase financial aid, provide travel scholarships, increase club awareness and broaden the talent pool by expanding into more diverse communities. These efforts will provide more opportunities for young players in the Atlanta area by reducing costs and expanding access to the club.

“Everyone here at AFC Lightning is so excited to be a recipient of the 2024 MLS NEXT Delivering Access Presented by DoorDash. We intend to reinvest this award into our scholarship fund, travel and field user fees to provide better opportunities for our current and future players. Thank you to DoorDash and MLS NEXT for this incredible blessing to our club.” – Steve Muccillo, AFC Lightning Chief Executive Officer

One of the oldest soccer clubs in the country, Beadling Soccer Club plans to use the additional resources internally through additional scholarship funding and improved player performance programming. The external access will enhance the relationship between Beadling and Open Field Pittsburgh, a program that promotes education, health, girls’ empowerment, leadership and workforce training through the global game of soccer. More than 400 immigrant and refugee youth participate in after-school and summer programs through Open Field. The community-based initiative also offers neighborhood-based programming, employment and leadership opportunities for teens, college support and more.

“Beadling SC is honored to be one of this year’s MLS NEXT Delivering Access recipients presented by DoorDash. Beadling prides itself on providing as many opportunities as possible to players, families and the local football community. Delivering Access will help fund scholarships for families, increased expansion for our community programming, and additional resources for the development of our athletes. We want to thank DoorDash and MLS NEXT and look forward to supporting our players as well as the Pittsburgh soccer community.” – James Thomas, Director of Beadling MLS NEXT Soccer Club

A fully funded academy, Carolina Core FC plans to launch the Holistic Personal Enrichment Program at no cost to players and their families. The program will focus on helping develop players off the field, educating them on coaching, study skills, social/communication skills, mentoring, nutritional and sleep counseling, financial literacy, mental health resources, personal branding, workplace development/shadowing and philanthropy. These traits will be beneficial not only when players are part of the academic system, but also as they progress in life.

“CCFC is proud to be recognized as a recipient of the Delivering Access Award 2024. Our club strives to provide players with access to opportunities in collaboration with MLS NEXT by removing the barriers of the pay-to-play system. In addition, it provides access. to high-quality youth soccer programs as they foster the development of a diverse group of youth players on and off the field, building individual leadership and strengthening communities. We look forward to using this award to continue to advance our mission and provide more opportunities.” – Chief Sporting Officer, Eddie Pope

Ironbound Soccer Club, based in Newark, NJ, is a volunteer-run organization dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged families with the opportunity to play soccer. Through MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash, Ironbound will work with their strategic funding partners to lower costs for players and provide additional full scholarships for those in need. In doing so, the Ironbound will give more inner-city youth the opportunity to pursue their soccer dreams.

“This DoorDash Delivering Access award is perfectly aligned with ISC’s 35+ year mission to enable every inner-city child to play the beautiful game at the highest level at the lowest possible cost. We look forward to continuing to work with MLS, DoorDash and all entities to positively change the Pay to Play system in the US youth soccer development landscape.” – ISC President Al Coutinho

Located near low-income areas of New Jersey such as New Brunswick, Trenton and others, the Players Development Academy (PDA) seeks to provide more opportunities for players in those areas by offering scholarships to talented young players. PDA was one of the top clubs in MLS NEXT and has a long-term vision to expand into urban environments and develop players regardless of their financial capabilities.

“The Player Development Academy is honored to receive the generous DoorDash Delivering Access award. Congratulations to MLS and DoorDash for working together to create this exciting program. These funds will be used to create scholarships for players from underprivileged football communities in support of PDA. “Urban Initiative” programming, where we build “street soccer” fields and provide “street soccer” programming in underserved areas of New Jersey. This generous grant will provide opportunities for players and families in these areas who may not otherwise be able to navigate the current youth soccer ecosystem. – Gerry McKeown, CEO PDA Boys

A staple of North Carolina soccer, the Triangle United Soccer Association’s mission is to provide all families with a positive, healthy and progressive environment for youth development through soccer in the community. With the funds, Triangle United will work to provide more financial aid packages and travel stipends to help players and their families. This will help the club when players are given the opportunity to go on trial along with any travel for weekend league games.

“We are incredibly grateful to receive 2024 MLS NEXT Delivering Access Presented by DoorDash. This funding will significantly support our financial assistance program and allow us to have a greater impact in helping more players in need. We deeply appreciate that our club has been chosen to receive this funding.” – John Cirillo, Triangle United Director of Football.

All submissions were reviewed by a six-person review panel that rated clubs that demonstrated needs or challenges, scoring each application on a scale of 1 to 10, with one being the highest and 10 being the lowest. All scores were tabulated to determine the six beneficiary clubs. The panel considered the following factors:

• Coaching and Training: Clubs that have financial need to support training, equipment, facilities and/or coaching tools.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion: Clubs that prioritize building and supporting an inclusive and fair environment for all in their football community, including players, staff and parents.
• Community: Clubs that rely on community members to provide volunteer services or products to a club to ensure quality operations and an acceptable training environment.
• Financial difficulties: Clubs demonstrating the need for financial assistance to support players’ scholarships to participate.
• Transport: Clubs demonstrating the need for transport to enable players to attend.

The six-person judging panel consisted of:

• DoorDash Representative: Kofi Amoo-Gottfried – Marketing Director
• DoorDash Representative: Ariel Gambardella – Head of Sports Partnerships
• MLS NEXT Representative: Luis Robles – Technical Director, MLS NEXT
• MLS NEXT Representative: Jordan Rouse – Senior Manager, MLS NEXT
• MLS NEXT Equity Action Committee Representative: Rumbani Munthali – Head of Player Development, Nashville SC
• MLS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Representative: Tunde Oguntimein – Vice President, Club Performance Group

About MLS NEXT
Launched in 2020, MLS NEXT is the most elite youth player development platform in North America. With a commitment to innovation and providing access and representation, MLS NEXT players receive top-notch training and coaching as they prepare for their futures, both in soccer and in life. Over the course of a season, MLS NEXT hosts four major events across the country, including the Generation adidas Cup, which features MLS academies playing against top international clubs. Membership for the 2024-2025 season included 29 MLS academies, 122 elite academies (151 clubs in total), 753 teams and over 16,000 players from the US and Canada. Official partners of MLS NEXT include adidas, Allstate and DoorDash. For more information on MLS NEXT, visit www.mlssoccer.com/mlsnext.

About DoorDash
DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local businesses in more than 30 countries around the globe. Founded in 2013, DoorDash creates products and services to help businesses innovate, grow and reach more customers. DoorDash is your door to more: the local commerce platform dedicated to enabling merchants to thrive in the convenience economy, giving consumers access to more of their communities and providing empowering work.