Annapolis Blues• A Newfound Club Bringing Communities Together
by Tyler Ingle
Family Level › $100 cost › 10 tickets to one NPSL game donated to families in need. › Financially supports reading programs, soccer clinics, and other community programs in Annapolis. Neighborhood Level › $500 cost › 4 season tickets to all NPSL games donated to a local service operation › Recognition on game days as a contributor › Financially supports reading programs, soccer clinics, and other community programs in Annapolis Service Level › $1,500 cost › 10 tickets per NPSL game, donated to a different local charity. › 2 season tickets as a contributor for personal or company use › Opportunity to identify and choose benefiting organizations › Recognition on game days as a contributor › Financially supports reading programs, soccer clinics, and other community programs in Annapolis Annapolis Level › $2,500 cost › 20 tickets per NPSL game, donated to Annapolis/Anne Arundel County-wide programs › 4 Season tickets as a contributor for personal or company use › Recognition on-field at a Blues home game › Recognition at each game’s stadium announcements when the program is introduced › Opportunity to identify and choose benefiting organizations › Recognition on the Kicks for Kids banner on the field in the stadium on game days › Financially supports reading programs, soccer clinics, and other community programs in Annapolis
Taking the state’s capital by storm, the Annapolis Blues games have quickly become a staple event for families each summer. Based out of the Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Blues compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), an annual, semi-professional soccer league that runs from May to August and is largely composed of men’s college soccer players, with some teams featuring previous professional players. The Blues have become known for more than their on-field skills, taking an active role in the community by engaging with the youth as much as possible. Kicks for Kids is the Annapolis Blues’ main community initiative, aimed at uniting Annapolis with soccer. The program gives families, who may be financially restricted, the chance to experience high-level soccer in a professional environment by going to Blues games. Additionally, children can engage with the team’s coaches and players at various free soccer clinics throughout the year. “In our first year, last said Director of Community Outreach, Devin Pugh, who is leading the initiative. His vision is to help serve those in underprivileged communities. “Kids in these communities don’t have as many opportunities to play soccer or experience it at a higher level,” said Pugh. “As they age, it only gets more and more expensive. We want to provide kids with ways to continue playing the game, watching the game, and staying motivated to achieve their full potential.” Looking to get involved? The Blues offer four levels of sponsorship for the program! year, we raised over five thousand dollars, mostly from individual donations,”
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