Dynamo Charities expands outreach in Houston’s Third Ward

The Houston Dynamo Football Club is committed not only to excellence on the pitch, but also in working throughout the city to ensure that citizens of Houston have access to the necessary space and instruction required for learning the game of soccer. 

It is for this reason that Dynamo Charities, in conjunction with MLS, donated $5,000 to the Emancipation Park Conservancy and why the Club will hold six weeks of soccer programming at the park starting in 2022.  

Today at the park, star Dynamo forward Fafà Picault presented a check to the Conservancy’s Executive Director Lucy Bremond and Executive Administrative Assistant Iris Garcia. According to Executive Director Bremond, the money will go a long way towards helping the Conservancy achieve its goals. 

“Our three initiatives are health and wellness, economic empowerment and education,” Bremond said. “The Dynamo partnership is helping us realize all three of those. There are programs and opportunities that we can utilize in helping us achieve our strategic plan.” 

The money, which comes in part from MLS, Black Players for Change (BPC) and BPC’s Juneteenth jersey auction. BPC is an independent organization of Black MLS players, coaches and staff seeking to increase inclusion in soccer that was established on Juneteenth 2020. 

As the Dynamo’s representative in BPC, Picault was instrumental in choosing Emancipation Park as the recipient of the donation. The park has deep ties to the Black community in Houston, as the 10-acre park was purchased by four community members in 1872 as a space to host Juneteenth celebrations.  

The contribution comes a few months after the Dash visited the park on Juneteenth, learning about its storied history and its importance to the Third Ward community.  

Just as significant as the monetary contribution is the six weeks of the “Futbolito in the City” free youth soccer program that the Dynamo will host at the park starting in early 2022. For a community that is so close to BBVA Stadium, Bremond believes that exposing a generation of kids to the beautiful game is incredibly powerful for the community.  

"We're talking about bringing soccer to the Third Ward. Bringing soccer to a community that I think has not been introduced to the sport. And it's right down the street (from BBVA Stadium).” 

Today's check presentation continued an ongoing commitment from the Dynamo to increase access to soccer in the Third Ward. In November 2020, the Dynamo, in conjunction with Adidas and Bumpboxx, donated more than $10,000 in equipment and gear to the Jack Yates High School soccer teams.  

For Picault, being a part of an initiative to spread the game that he has dedicated his life to is very meaningful. 

“I've always said that soccer lacks in a lot of neighborhoods in America and now that I see more people involved in trying to bring it forward in different neighborhoods, I think it's special,” he said.

For more information on Futbolito in the City and all of the Dynamo’s other community initiatives, visit HoustonDynamoFC.com/Charities.