PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed today hit the pitch with Project GOAL (Greater Opportunity for Athletes to Learn), a non-profit coeducational after-school initiative for elementary school and middle school youth, to kick in a $146,000 federal earmark for the organization’s academic enrichment, mentoring, and soccer training programs.

Senator Reed joined with Project GOAL’s Executive Director and co-founder Darius Shirzadi at Alfred Lima Elementary School as students finished up their 90 minutes of free after-school tutoring and prepared to score some goals on the makeshift soccer pitch set up in the school’s gymnasium.

The federal earmark secured by Senator Reed in the fiscal year 2024 appropriations law will help connect more local youth to Project GOAL’s biweekly after-school programs and help students set and reach their future goals on and off the soccer pitch.

“Project GOAL is more than soccer, it’s about mentorship, teamwork, character-building, and opportunity.  They use soccer training to incorporate life skills training and boost student engagement in the classroom,” said Senator Reed.  “Project GOAL is working overtime with their team of dedicated teachers, staff, and coaches to reach more kids and provide them with the guidance, support, and resources they need to achieve their goals.  The positive impact Project GOAL is having is reflected in its record: 96 percent of students go on to graduate from high school and 90 percent decide to pursue higher education.  I’m proud to give Project GOAL an assist with a $146,000 federal earmark to continue expanding and strengthening its programs on and off the field.”

“We are extremely appreciative of receiving this earmark from Senator Reed's office and helping us to continue Project GOAL programming at Alfred Lima School in Providence to kick off our 21st year.  Project GOAL continues to find ways to offer multiple opportunities for students to achieve higher education, develop life skills, and play soccer,” said Darius Shirzadi, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Project GOAL.  “Senator Reed has been a longtime advocate for the work we do in the communities of Rhode Island and we are very grateful for his visit to the students today.”

Since 2004, Project GOAL has served more than 2,000 students on the middle school and elementary school levels, supporting them with after-school tutoring, health education, and soccer related programs. Project GOAL students attend biweekly programs offering 90 minutes of academic enrichment with accredited teachers and 90 minutes of soccer training with licensed coaches. The programs promote teamwork, perseverance, responsibility, and commitment, while fostering leadership skills.

The federal earmark secured by Senator Reed will help Project GOAL expand and strengthen their award-winning after-school programming to 30 new students in Providence and other urban cities across the state throughout the school year and into the summer. Specifically, Senator Reed’s earmark will assist Project GOAL in boosting their administrative capabilities and technological infrastructure and support free busing, tutoring, mentoring, and supplies so local students can benefit from the program regardless of financial constraints, language barriers, or lack of transportation.

In the fiscal year 2022 appropriations law, Senator Reed scored a $100,000 federal earmark to double Project GOAL’s capacity to support students and offer its after-school programs to underserved middle-school students.