For those of you that might have missed the announcement, this is a nice initiative to have created about on many levels. First of all, some very deserving youth in the Chicagoland area will benefit from this program. Not only does it allow them to learn, play, and understand the game of soccer. More importantly, they will also gain valuable skills in the classroom that will be useful throughout the rest of their academic careers.
Programs like this also reinforce the fact that the Chicago Fire are very active in the community and are what can be called good neighbors. Part of playing soccer in Chicago (and Bridgeview to be more specific) is giving back to the city and helping make it a better place. Simply put, it's a win-win situation for all of those involved.
Another benefit of this is that it helps get the team even more visible in the community. I think we can all agree that the footprint of the Fire is woefully unrepresented in many parts of the city. Programs like this help awareness of the team rise as well as fostering the appreciation and love of soccer. To continue to grow the fans base, the Fire have to utilize unique means to compete in a crowded landscape. And when it also helps the city's youth it's a perfect scenario.
Here is a link to the full press release if you want to read it.