OKC Energy FC Feature

Friday, November 6, 2015

OKC Energy FC’s second season in the USL was a big success on the field, and behind the scenes the organization has taken pride of its work, as well. The Fields & Futures program particularly was a resounding success in Oklahoma City.

To date, Energy FC fans, coaches, players and staff have donated nearly $200,000 in money and resources to the program. That includes a cash donation of $2 of each ticket sold at Taft Stadium, which saw big crowds attend Energy FC games throughout the 2015 USL season following the renovation program led by the club. Players have also donated plenty of time in coaching the student-athletes associated with the program.

Fields & Futures was created to help grow student participation in sports for Oklahoma City Public Schools and give more students a reason to go and stay in school. The design of the program is the fundamental belief that all children deserve the opportunity to play on safe, well maintained fields to grow participation.

“The whole concept is to keep everyone engaged in athletics through fields at schools, and anchor the community to be involved through athletics,” Energy FC President and Owner Bob Funk said earlier this season.

By giving back to the community in that fashion, Fields & Futures has rebuilt or renovated 44 athletic fields across the district. Outside of renovations, the program has also constructed 11 fields at four complexes and is in the process of working on a fifth complex.

According to various scholastic studies that OKC Energy FC has compiled to drive the Fields & Futures program, athletes’ GPAs increase over non-athletes by a 2.98 to 2.17 margin and graduation rates are 97.6 percent for athletes versus 89.5 percent for non-athletes.