More than 400 students at Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy participated in a soccer celebration that marked the launch of the Tampa Bay Sun Foundation, a new nonprofit aiming to expand access to youth sports in underserved communities.
The event included soccer drills led by players from Tampa Bay Sun FC, the region’s first women’s professional soccer team. Students participated in dribbling exercises and goal-kicking activities on the school’s outdoor field. Team mascot Solé also made an appearance before players joined students in a pep rally inside the gym.
Ferrell Girls Preparatory Academy is a Title I all-girls public middle school in East Tampa. The soccer celebration coincided with a major weekend for women’s sports in the area, including the NCAA Women’s Final Four at Amalie Arena and a Tampa Bay Sun FC home game against Fort Lauderdale at Riverfront Stadium.
The foundation’s signature initiative, called Rise Up Soccer Club, is a free, afterschool program that will run for four to six weeks in select Title I schools. It is designed to introduce girls to soccer, while also fostering character development and teamwork. Volunteer coaches and women athletes will lead the program.
The foundation was created in partnership with Tampa Bay Sun FC and will serve as a platform for players to engage with the community through outreach, mentorship and youth development.