BankNewport and Project Goal Celebrate Academic Achievement through the Power of Soccer

NEWPORT, RI – July 31, 2024 – BankNewport CEO Jack Murphy recently joined Project GOAL Co-Founders Darius Shirzadi and Peter Whealton for a visit to Moses Brown School in Providence, where Project Goal youth were participating in their summer academic and soccer programming sessions.

Project GOAL is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring academic achievement and personal growth through soccer, and collaborative, experiential learning opportunities for underserved youth in Rhode Island. BankNewport provided $20,000 in funding support to the program this year.

“BankNewport takes great pride in its commitment to champion education programs that impact youth throughout our communities,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “We’ve had a long partnership with Project GOAL, a program focused on student accountability and responsibility as they work toward academic goals with rewards of soccer training, gameplay, and teamwork.  It’s exciting to see how our funding has helped positively impact and expand this important program.”

Project GOAL, recognized as a FIFA Foundation grant program recipient for positive social impact through soccer – one of only six programs in North America to be recognized, offers free academic tutoring, mentoring, and soccer training to middle and high school students from diverse backgrounds. The program aims to improve academic performance, increase school attendance, and promote social awareness and community belonging.

Project GOAL’s mission is to facilitate the development of New England’s underserved inner-city youth through after-school tutoring, health education, and soccer-related programs. Since its inception in 2004, Project GOAL has served over 2,000 students, with more than 90% of its participants graduating from high school and over 90% pursuing higher education or entering the workforce.

For more information about Project GOAL, please visit www.ProjectGoal.org.

Photo Caption:

BankNewport President and CEO Jack Murphy (center), Senior Vice President, Director of Digital Banking and Project Goal Board Member Nelson Teixeira (center left), and Senior Vice President, Director of Community Relations and Charitable Giving Kathleen Charbonneau (center, second to the right) visit Project GOAL at Moses Brown in Providence, RI, guided by Project GOAL Executive Director Darius Shirzadi (center, second to the left) and Co-Founder Peter Whealton (center right).