By: Molly M. Fleming – The Journal Record
Fields and Futures founder Tim McLaughlin said previously that the big missing piece for his organization was a corporate sponsor.
Then, he became a partner with the Oklahoma City Energy FC soccer team, which has signed on to not only financially support the organization, but be a marketing arm, as well.
Starting in the 2015 season, $2 of every Energy ticket will go toward the $5 million the nonprofit organization needs to rebuild 44 fields at Oklahoma City Public Schools. Eleven of the fields are for soccer with the rest for baseball, softball, and football. If the level of attendance at this year’s games continues to next season, that means on average the team could donate $7,600 per game to the organization.
“We are going to use the team and the brand as an asset to help drive awareness for Fields and Futures, not just at the games, but in everything we do,” said Bob Funk Jr., owner and operator of Prodigal LLC, the company behind the Energy.
Once the fields are built, the Energy will work with the Police Athletic League and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to help create inner-city leagues that will use the fields. The Energy team and coaches will hold clinics at the fields as well as meet with the students.
“We really have to link together with a lot of folks,” McLaughlin said. “Through that, you can get a lot accomplished.”
The Fields and Futures coaches will go through a leadership and character development training course called Elevate so they can help their players become better people.
“We don’t want to just teach the sport,” he said. “We want to teach life through the sport.”
The upcoming schools to receive new or updated fields are Taft Middle School and Northwest Classen High School. The baseball and softball fields at Capitol Hill High School are now being renovated, which will pair well with the updated football field, funded by bond money.
“Capitol Hill is a big deal,” said Dot Rhyne with Fields and Futures. “This is the first high school that (the organization) has ever tackled. (The fields) will go from rocks in facilities they couldn’t use, to a shiny, new beautiful sports complex. I just think about what that will do for the face of the community and the catalyst that will give them.”
Capitol Hill is the classic public-private partnership that historically works well in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan is helping with the grating of the nearby road, the school district is assisting with the cost of the fencing and Cleats for Kids is giving cleats and equipment for the students.
As the fields and sports programs are developed around the city, Funk said the club hopes to see some future return in its investment. He said as the athletes develop through their years in school they could return to play for Oklahoma City Energy FC. However, first the new fields must attract more players, 3,500 to be exact. That number would bring Oklahoma City up to the national average for inner city sports participation, which is currently 31 percent in the city. The national average of participation is 50 percent.
“We want to elevate the game,” McLaughlin said. “Hopefully (the game) will attract more players. We want to elevate the game of soccer in Oklahoma City.”