Partnership will facilitate youth empowerment program at MDC campuses
Miami, July 17, 2017 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will sign an agreement with the FC Barcelona Foundation and host a press conference, at 11 a.m., Friday, July 28, to launch FutbolNet, a one-of-a-kind program that will provide support to local high school students by using soccer as an innovative teaching methodology to improve school performance, provide conflict-resolution techniques and foster social cohesion. The FC Barcelona Foundation is the community building arm of the globally popular football club in Spain, Barcelona or Barça as called by its fans worldwide.
MDC’s President Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón will join FC Barcelona’s President Josep María Bartomeu to sign the agreement, which will be held during FC Barcelona’s visit to Miami to play against Real Madrid on July 29, in a match dubbed “El Clasico.”
In 2018, Miami will implement FutbolNet, a six-month program offered at MDC’s Kendall and North Campuses. New York City will kick off the program in its public schools this fall. Young people, ages 14-18, will gain a sense of responsibility and acquire self-confidence from the educational methodologies and curriculum provided through the innovative program. Topics will include learning about humility, sportsmanship, respect, conflict resolution, team-work and leadership.
About FC Barcelona Foundation
The FC Barcelona Foundation was created in 1994 with the aim of carrying out the corporate social responsibility of FC Barcelona. At present, the projects they are developing are mainly based on the transmission of values to children through sport, in Catalonia and around the world. It currently has more than 700,000 beneficiaries in more than 50 countries. Since 2006, FC Barcelona adheres to the “Millennium Development Goals” of the United Nations and provides 0.7 percent of its revenue to its Foundation to implement various projects. Since 2010, the players and coaches of the club’s professional sections provide 0.5 percent of their salaries to the Foundation.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the higher education institution with the largest undergraduate enrollment in the America, with more than 165,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. The college’s eight campuses and outreach center offer more than 300 distinct degree pathways including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, engineering, biological sciences, and others. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs are national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the MDC Live Arts Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a major sculpture park and large art gallery and theater systems. MDC has admitted more than 2,000,000 students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. For more information please visit www.mdc.edu.
Members of the media wishing to cover the press conference must RSVP by 5 p.m., July 26, by emailing nli@mdc.edu.