MLS NEXT and DoorDash Announce Recipients of 2023 Delivering Access Presented by DoorDash

NEW YORK – MLS NEXT and DoorDash today announced the six recipients of funding from the second-annual MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash, a program benefitting MLS NEXT clubs by providing financial resources to create equal opportunities and advance soccer communities throughout the United States. DoorDash will provide $25,000 to each of these six clubs – Alexandria SA, Hoover-Vestavia Soccer, Los Angeles Bulls Soccer Club, Modesto Ajax United, Vardar Soccer Club, and Ventura County Fusion.

After identifying stories of exceptional self-sacrifice to advance the game of soccer in their local communities, MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash contributes annual funding to different clubs across the MLS NEXT ecosystem. Clubs submitted their stories demonstrating the grassroots efforts made by staff, families, and local communities, and the six recipients were selected by a five-person review panel. Only non-MLS affiliated clubs that participate in MLS NEXT were eligible to apply.

In 2022, the six different clubs that were recipients of MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash utilized the funds to open a training center, create outreach programs, increase funding for player scholarships, hire additional staff members, and identify more players for financial aid, among other uses.

2023 MLS NEXT Delivering Access presented by DoorDash Recipients:

Alexandria Soccer Association (Alexandria, Va.)

An internationally recognized community-based club, Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) offers year-round soccer and futsal programming for over 7,500 participants annually with all experience levels. With the Delivering Access funds, ASA will be able to build on its Access4All Project by reducing the annual cost to travel to national events. By doing so, this will give players more ways to be recruited and potentially receive life-changing opportunities professionally or via the collegiate pathway.

Hoover-Vestavia Soccer (Birmingham, Ala.)

The only MLS NEXT club based in Alabama, Hoover-Vestavia Soccer services families across the state and supplies top-class coaching, ACT prep classes, and free treatment/rehab from UAB Sports Medicine. Delivering Access funds will help the club offer scholarships via their ‘Pass It Forward’ initiative to players from several of the low-income areas within Birmingham. The initiative provides additional benefits to families that may not fit the…