Urban Initiatives’ fall season was a tremendous success – thanks to the hard work of our coaches, teachers, parents, and most of all the program participants! At the culmination of each season, Urban Initiatives hosts parties at each of our school sites to celebrate these stakeholders’ accomplishments.
At the events, attendees enjoy Subway sandwiches and the kids receive medals, certificates of achievement, and goodie bags. This year, thanks to the generosity of the Chicago Fire, Urban Initiatives is able to award the children with perfect or nearly perfect program attendance with a Chicago Fire soccer ball to practice during the off season. The students that received this recognition were thrilled and many who did not receive a ball yet said they were committed to attending all program sessions next season.
The kids at Walsh Elementary received the special honor of having Chicago Fire Defender Dasan Robinson, attend their party. Dasan fielded questions about what it takes to be a professional athlete, distributed medals, signed autographs, and took photos with the kids. At the end of the party, all of the kids followed Dasan upstairs to the school’s gymnasium to play a quick pick up game before their parents arrived. The party ended with a huddle and Dasan sharing how important teamwork is to success both on and off the field. It was an incredible evening. One child even said, "this is the best party I’ve ever been to."
Thank you to everyone for their dedication to the Urban Initiatives Work to Play Program this season! Thank you to the Chicago Fire and to Dasan Robinson for making the fall parties so memorable.
Click here to see more photos from the parties at Otis and Walsh.
