Cocoa Expos Men and Women's Soccer Teams volunteer in National Days of Caring 2006

Cocoa, FL - The Cocoa Expo USL PDL Men's team and USL W-League Women’s premier soccer team took part in United Way’s National Days of Caring this Friday volunteering their time and services at four Brevard Headstart program locations just minutes away from their home field. 

“The experience to step away from the field and into the community circle is what teams like ours should be doing. Not only is it a great way to give back to the community but it also allows us players to realize what is important and that the game we play every day is an extra reward in our lives. So often sports are taken for granted and an event like this shows everyone that no matter what we do in our lives everyday we as people are all on the same level. Working hand in hand with the children today was unbelievable and something my teammates and I will never forget" said Cocoa Expo W-League striker and leading scorer, Ashley Gunning from Baton Rouge Louisiana.

The Cocoa Expo Men’s PDL soccer team has been competing in the Brevard community for over twelve years, and this year the Cocoa Expo Sports Center has introduced the brand new Cocoa Expo W-League
Women’s team. Both teams play in the USL Soccer League the largest soccer organization in all of North and South America. The Cocoa Expo Sports Center is the home grounds for both teams and a great place to come watch the best soccer in the country. The Men's squad is a farm team for the highest level of soccer in the country, Major League Soccer. The Women's team play in highest league in the country were many of the Full National team players can be found visiting the Expo each weekend.

Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs, which serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. They are child-focused programs and have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. The Head Start program has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive and high quality services designed to foster healthy development in low-income children. Head Start grantee and delegate agencies provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. In addition, the entire range of Head Start services are responsive and appropriate to each child's and family's developmental, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and experience.  “I think the understanding of the Headstart program is often overlooked.  I never truly understood the impact these programs have on our community and on our young children. After spending the day at the Headstart Center in Merritt Island I can honestly say that not only are the children that participate in this program privileged to be able to spend time in such a caring environment but that our community is privileged to have such a wonderful tool for these families to develop and in turn make our home towns better places. It definitely makes our community reach out important and it is something that can often be overlooked in the rush of our society" said Cocoa Expo Men's goalkeeper, Andy Barth.

The Expos return to the field this weekend to provide the community some great sporting action as both the Men and the Women play in Orlando. The Men visit the Central Florida Kraze Friday night at 7:30 pm while the Women visit the Central Florida Kraze in a late Saturday night tilt with a temporary spot in first place on the line. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm in Orlando. For information and Ticket requests fans can call the Expo Ticket Hotline at (321) 639 EXPO ext 15.