The Galaxy Shootout XVIII went off without a hitch on April 25th and 26th in Hickory, North Carolina, hosting more than 30 teams and 350 young soccer players from around the country.
The Hickory Daily Record reports that last weekend, soccer players ages 10 through 14 competed in the Henry Ford River Soccer Complex for the title. The Rotary Club of Lake Hickory, a community organization, helped sponsor and coordinate the event, along with Galaxy Food Centers and other contributors. The club used the advertising revenue and local contributions to fund scholarships to deserving students.
More than 40 games were played, with the 350 or so players and their families staying in Hickory for the weekend. Eighty local businesses and individuals sponsored the event, raising at least $40,000 outside of the tournament cost. The Rotary Club will use the money for scholarships, which they will present to deserving students in a ceremony later this year.
The 31 teams in the tournament were comprised of boys and girls from the Carolinas as well as from states across the country. No matter the result, each player received a “goodie bag,” which included items from Galaxy Foods, with a retail value of more than $30.
“We are happy to continue the tradition of bringing young, talented soccer players to Hickory for the weekend to enjoy some healthy competition,” said Gary Pope, the director of the tournament. “Since the beginning of the tournament 18 years ago, we have provided over $450,000 in local scholarships to deserving students to help them further their education.”
Volunteers from the Rotary Club managed the tournament facilities throughout the weekend, which the club claims to be its largest fundraising even of the year.
Tournaments like the Galaxy Shootout cater to some of the 8,200 or so youth soccer leagues found across the country.