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Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, August 17, 2007
1:45 p.m.
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director, Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
MarkDollinger, Weed& Seed Coordinator, 235-7619 or 876-5699
Weed & Seed Kicks Off Soccer League
The South Bend Weed & Seed Alliance, Inc. (SBWSA) will team up with La Liga del
Barrio to kick off its Soccer League and show off their new field and new equipment. According
to Mark Dollinger, Weed & Seed Coordinator, "the league was organized by SBWSA and La
Liga after we surveyed the youth living in the Weed & Seed area and learned that soccer was the
sport they wanted to play."
Today at 4:30 P.M, at LaSalle Park, members of the Weed & Seed Alliance, Mayor
Luecke, community residents, along with coaches and players will gather for the official opening
of the field. "South Bend's Weed & Seed program has long been held as a model program," said
Mayor Luecke. "With the development of this great new Westside soccer field, we have scored
another goal for our kids and our families. Congratulations to all of the residents, players,
parents, coaches, and partner organizations who had the vision and the will to build these fields
and this league. Teams will be playing here not just this year, but for years to come. As
important, this is a place that is available for so many others to enjoy as well. This is a win for
our entire community."
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SBWSA secured a grant through the US Soccer Foundation in the amount of$10,000,
which was used to purchase new goals, balls and other equipment. South Bend's program was
one of only 31 organizations to receive a grant from the Soccer Foundation. In addition,
SBWSA funding, combined with private donations, was allocated for the purchase of uniforms
for each player in the league and the South Bend Parks Department striped the fields for play.
"Prior to the arrival of the Weed & Seed strategy, the fields in LaSalle Park were
underutilized. With the formation of La Liga del Barrio and the Weed & Seed Soccer League,
the field sees play throughout the spring, summer and fall. This is a great example of how
partnerships work to provide opportunities for youth in the Weed & Seed area," stated Mark
Dollinger, Coordinator. There is no cost for the players to participate in the league.
The Weed & Seed program is a federally sponsored community-based strategy whose
purpose is to "weed out"negative and "seed in"positive influences in our neighborhoods. The
South Bend strategy is a collaboration of the City, the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, the
U.S. Department of Justice, the Weed & Seed Alliance, and the South Bend Police Department.
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