Region 1 donates $21,000 to help West Virginia flood victims

(Via ENYYSA) – Before the Region 1 Championships were played at the Barboursville Soccer Complex in West Virginia from June 30 to July 5, there was a concern about the games being played due to the unprecedented flooding in the Mountain State. Yet Barboursville, in the southwest corner of West Virginia, did not get the historic rainfall that other parts of the state received, although the semifinals and finals toward the end of Regionals had to be moved to other venues because of wet fields.

Yet the floods affected some in the West Virginia Soccer Association’s volunteer base due to property damage and power outages so the 15 state youth associations in Region 1, including the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA), stepped up and provided volunteers so that Regionals could run as smoothly as possible. Additionally, every state president volunteered to help further.

$16,000 was donated by the teams and families attending Regionals, including people giving money as they entered the Barboursville Soccer Complex. Volunteers also walked around the fields with buckets seeking donations. An additional $5,000 was donated by Region 1 for a total of $21,000 going to those in the West Virginia State Association affected by the flooding.

“Region 1 is a family of 15 states as we all have soccer in common,“ explained Region 1 Director Natalie Schwoeble. “To see the generosity of all 15 states was amazing. When high-powered individuals such as the state presidents volunteer their time by standing in the middle of the street and accept donations for families in West Virginia, that was inspiring.“