Long Island's premier professional sports organizations have joined together to benefit the region's youth soccer community. This unprecedented alliance will promote the participation and development of promising players from economically disadvantaged families. The Long Island Soccer Center, Inc. (LISC), a nonprofit IRS section 501(c)(3) private foundation, was established with seed funding from Charles B. Wang to support the development of quality soccer fields and soccer infrastructure for the benefit of Long Island's soccer community.

The LISC initiative is being supported by Long Island's top professional sports franchises, including the Long Island Rough Riders, Long Island Ducks, New York Islanders and New York Dragons. In addition, Wang's real estate companies will lend their expertise and resources to the effort. Jim Kilmeade, the general manager of the Rough Riders, has agreed to serve as the LISC's executive director, giving the LISC a direct connection to Long Island's premier professional soccer franchise.

"I will support the foundation's mission through encouragement and assistance on projects and activities that grow the sport by seeking out and supporting new partnerships and programs each year," said Kilmeade.

To achieve its goals, LISC's first step was to open a new soccer resource center known as the Soccer Resource Center, located in the Plainview-Old Bethpage area at 1425 Old Country Road, Building A, which is adjacent to the Long Island Junior Soccer League Soccer Park.

The LISC has entered into an agreement with Globall Soccer Concepts, a leading youth soccer training and facilities management organization. Globall will manage the day-to-day operations of the Soccer Resource Center, which will provide a centrally located soccer hub for all of Long Island's youth players, coaches and parents. Long Island's vast soccer community will now be able to access valuable information regarding the many great soccer programs and activities available for their children. This facility will be open to all players and their families from Long Island's entire youth soccer community and will serve as a one-stop "shop" for the sport. Globall will also continue to work with the LISC on developing additional facilities.

Furthermore, the LISC acknowledges the tremendous contributions of the thousands of volunteers that have helped grow the sport of soccer on Long Island. To that end, the Foundation is committed to building on this body of work and the further development of Long Island youth soccer through a variety of financial assistance programs. This will include offering training scholarships to promising youth soccer players whose families lack the necessary resources, as well as contributing towards the development of improved fields and facilities across Long Island.

ADIDAS USA will manage a product showcase facility for Long Island, which complements their New York City offices. Through local retail soccer stores the LISC will provide equipment, apparel, souvenirs and other game day necessities for the growing soccer community. Also, the LISC will offer The Endline Café, an internet café and computer gaming center, which will be operated by Intrech Communications, an e-business and marketing consulting company based in Long Island. Intrech Communications has provided connectivity solutions and free Wi-Fi internet access to the LISC.

More details regarding the Long Island Soccer Center can be found at www.lisoccercenter.com.

The Long Island Soccer Center, Inc. is a nonprofit IRS section 501(c)(3) private foundation established with seed funding from Charles Wang to facilitate the development of quality soccer fields and facilities for the benefit of Long Island's soccer playing youth. The Board of Directors includes: Robert T. Bell, CPA; Frank Boulton; Michael Jay Feller, CPA; Jeffery D. Forchelli, Esq.; Brian Kilmeade; Paul Lancey; Abraham Poznanski and Charles Wang.

Globall Soccer Concepts is a leading youth soccer training organization developing all levels of youth soccer players across Long Island. Founded by Peter Zaratin, Globall Soccer Concepts produces a successful system of multicultural and multidimensional methods to better educate our young players. To ensure that the players coming through the Globall program achieve their personal and team goals, Peter has recruited some of the most accomplished athletes, who are now prominent coaches in their field. For more information, please visit www.globallsoccer.com.

Northern Bay Management Group, L.L.C. is a real estate management and services company. Northern Bay manages the real estate interests of Charles B. Wang, including Plainview Properties, the owner of an144 acre park-like site in Plainview-Old Bethpage, located on the southwest corner of Round Swamp Road and Old Country Road. For more information, please visit www.plainviewpropertiesllc.com.

Intrech Communications is an E-Business and Marketing Consulting company based in Long Island, NY. Intrech will be providing connectivity solutions and free Wi-Fi internet access to the Long Island Soccer Center, as well as operating The Endline Café, an internet and computer gaming center in the LISC. You can find out more about Intrech at www.intrech.com.