Beyond Soccer receives $100K for 100 grant [Eagle Tribune, June 21, 2016]

Beyond Soccer Executive Director Stephanie McArdle, Joyce Cummings, and Beyond Soccer board member, Paul Wennik at the Cummings Foundation reception]

LAWRENCE — Beyond Soccer, Inc., was recently selected as one of 100 nonprofits to receive a $100,000 grant through the Cummings Foundation’s $100K for 100 program.

Beyond Soccer Executive Director Stephanie McArdle and board member Paul Wennik joined approximately 300 other guests at a June 9 reception for grant recipients in Woburn. Chosen out of a pool of 479 applicants, the Lawrence-based Beyond Soccer was one of several area organizations to receive grants through the program this year. The Cummings Foundation’s $100K for 100 program supports nonprofits primarily in Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties.

“It’s hard to articulate the joy you feel when opening up that envelope and the purple “$100K for 100” poster is staring back at you,” McArdle said.

She added, “This incredible acknowledgement motivates us to do more, and be more effective with our youth development through sports model.”

Beyond Soccer, a youth development program, began in 2007 with 12 girls. Today, it reaches 2,000 girls and boys in Lawrence. The organization works to expand and improve playing spaces as well as providing off-the-field academic, health and leadership support. It has competitive soccer teams and recreational leagues.