FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist and former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player Mia Hamm joined Andrea Perez, North America General Manager of Soccer for Nike, and Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, to announce a partnership to bring the Soccer for Success youth development program to East Los Angeles.

Nike and the Mia Hamm Foundation have provided a grant that will allow 250 girls from East LA to participate in a yearlong soccer program. The Soccer for Success program has positively impacted over 55,000 kids since it’s inception in 2009. The free after-school program utilizes soccer as a tool to a healthier, active lifestyle. The Brotherhood Crusade, an organization whose principal mission is to raise funds and resources from within the community and distributes those funds directly back into the community, will operate the program at the Weingart YMCA in East LA.

The event, held on May 20, 2015, was highlighted by Mia Hamm and members of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Christen Press and Amy Rodriguez, participating in a Q&A session to share their personal experiences and to provide advice for young girls.

The event was also part of “SheBelieves in Her Community,” a week-long celebration where the U.S. Women’s National Team players give back to their local communities with special events focusing on young kids. Conceived and developed by the players, the #SheBelieves campaign is a message to young girls that they can accomplish all their goals and dreams.