More than a game, Birmingham United Soccer Association gives back to the community

Earlier this month, over 80 players from the Birmingham United Soccer Association’s (BUSA) Academy, Competitive and ECNL teams took a day away from soccer practice to volunteer with organizations across Birmingham, during the annual BUSA Serves Day project.

One of the state of Alabama’s largest soccer clubs, BUSA’s players, staff and families “gave back”  locally to their community in a multitude of ways including  picking up litter along the Cahaba River, making back-to-school preparations for classrooms, organizing food boxes for communities in need and cleaning  gravesites at the Alabama National Cemetery.

“The theme for our club this year is ‘Leave YOUR Mark,’” shared Andrew Brower, Executive Director of Birmingham United Soccer Association. “Our annual BUSA Serves Day was a great opportunity for staff, coaches, players and parents to do just that. It was wonderful to see so many unique projects and outreach opportunities that were passionate to our membership.”

The Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Ronald McDonald House, King’s Home, Grace Klein Foundation, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Cahaba Riverkeeper, NorthStar Soccer Ministries and Restoration Academy all hosted projects with significant meaning to BUSA participants.

“We wanted our teams to take ownership of their projects with something that was important to them. We feel this year our membership did a wonderful job serving and impacting areas of great need within our communities,” added Brower.

Formed in 2006, BUSA registers over 3,200 players a season and over 7,000 annually.  Their annual Red Diamond Tournament in the Spring attracts more than 300 teams to the Magic City and is one of the largest soccer tournaments in the Southeast.

“BUSA Serves Day is a great reminder that one of the main goals of BUSA is to impact those around us so that we can leave our mark into making our community a better place,” concluded Brower.