UYSA GRANT • Justin Seely, mayor pro tempore; John Bradley, Nephi Recreation director; Carly Brown, Member Services Manager; Amanda Sanders, Member Services Coordinator; Bryan Attridge, Chief Operating Officer, for the Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA), presenting $5,500 grant.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The official presentation of a grant from Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA), was made to the Nephi Recreation Department on Tuesday. The grant is to help pay for the new soccer fields recently constructed in Nephi. John Bradley, Nephi City Recreation Director, accepted the check from the association and thanked them for the grant. “It was gracious of you to consider us,” said Bradley. Bryan Attridge, Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Sanders, Member Services Coordinator, and Carly Brown, Member Services Manager, represented the Utah Youth Soccer Association in presenting a grant for $5,500 to Nephi Recreation to assist with development of the Nephi Town Square Soccer Fields. “We are so excited to be here,” said Sanders. “We provide around 5,400 players the opportunity to play soccer.” She said that players with the UYSA are from ages 4 to 18. Of those, 2,300 are in competitive groups. The association also has another competitive level. The UYSA is a non-profit corporation established January 9, 1978 and holds tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. The organization is also considered a charitable institution under the Utah State Tax Commission code. As a result, the association is not operated for personal or corporate gain; rather, it is managed by a volunteer board of directors solely for the benefit of Utah’s children. “We are here to present you with a field grant check,” said Brown. She said the association was impressed with the soccer fields the city had built and with how quickly that construction had been accomplished. They were pleased with the work the city had done to make the fields a reality and wanted to help with a grant to pay some of the expenses. Bradley said he would also like to thank Gerratt Bethers, Nephi City Parks and Cemetery Superintendent, for the work he had done in getting the playing fields ready in spite of the many days of wet weather. They had also had a problem with getting sod for the same reason and ended up cutting and using the city’s own grass. “He deserves a lot of credit for what was accomplished in getting the fields ready for play this season,” said Bradley. Bradley said that Bethers was operating a shovel and heavy equipment within seconds of each other. With educated and USSF or NSCAA licensed coaches, USSF certified referees, insured players, organized leagues and sanctioned member organizations, UYSA is the largest youth sports organization in Utah, said Attridge. He said the organization was happy to present the grant to Nephi and was also pleased to see additions to the facilities of a city that would allow the growth of the sport of soccer. “What you have done here is pretty phenomenal,” said Brown. She said that UYSA also had another gift for all of the players participating from Nephi. UYSA had partnered with Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. “We have 400 cards for sandwiches at Jimmy Johns so that each player can have a card,” said Brown. Of course, the closest Jimmy Johns is located in Spanish Fork, she said. Jimmy John’s owners support local organizations in their communities. Two sponsored organizations include the Utah Youth Soccer Association and the Arizona Soccer Association. UYSA is sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer to be the governing body of soccer in Utah. They are also recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the governing body for youth soccer in Utah.
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