Brandi’s Response to the Bride

Dear Brittany,

Please excuse the delay in responding to your incredibly humbling, emotionally overwhelming and

Brittany and her fiance (now husband) on the day of their engagement in her Carly Lloyd tank top.

heartfelt email. Both Andy and I were so touched by your words, and to be honest that doesn’t really

envelop or grasp the enormity of it for me because that journey, that day, and that moment was a lifetime in the making. The beauty of it as I sit back and look at it with perspective is that it was done with the deepest amount of respect, love, passion and friendship. When I look at your photo that is exactly what I see. My teammates and I are ever so grateful for your support since you were little. Playing for the national

team was a privilege and I dream of one day giving back to our next generation through coaching one of our now many national teams. I hope that you will continue to be ever present in the stands and sharing your friends’ stories while proudly wearing your USA gear!

I hope to see you at a game soon.

Happy holidays.

Brandi

Play It Forward Project: Interview with Jessy Giordano

I recently got to know an amazing coach and soccer trainer named Jessy Giordano @jgiotraining who works with some very special girls in Northern New Jersey. We are so excited to partner with Jessy and her girls, supporting the teams as they play this summer! Jessy introduced her girls the PlayItForwardProject and says it meshes perfectly with her philosophy of making better people, not just better players.

Soccer Sisters: How did the girls react when you told them about the PIFP?

Jessy Giordano: They loved the idea! Especially my youngers ones. They kept saying “I know what I can
do!” and coming up with different acts of kindness. They kept thinking about it and talking about all kinds of ideas. I think kids like pleasing other people. When we were making the video, they also wanted to take it home and think about it some more and talked to their parents about it and decided it was also something they were going to do at home. I think making and sharing the video is motivating. I’ve seen it even with my older girls. When they see my training videos they tell me it motivates them to do it at home. I think anyone seeing that video will think, “I just want to do something nice for someone today.”

SS: It looks like a lot of fun to make the video, was it?

JG: It was one of the most fun we’ve had making a video! I wanted to have strangers in it so we just approached people and asked if we could open the door, and even one girl helped an older lady with her groceries. I think they learned a lot and it makes them feel empowered to help and not feel weird about it.

SS: Your focus is on technical skills, but also on building players who have strong character. How does PIFP fit in with your philosophy?

JG: I honestly think they play so much better when they are having fun and feel more comfortable together and when they are supporting and motivating themselves and others. My girls come from all over the place, and many who don’t know each other and the only way they are going to play well is when they are having fun. I want to teach them to help each other, not just on the field, but to help even people they don’t know.

SS: What do you think is the best way to Play It Forward for teams, coaches or parents who want to encourage their kids to engage in acts of kindness?

JG: I think talk to your teams about it. I always pick two captains every week, and switch it up and try to get them to step it up. I want them to be good leaders, good teammates, role models, and mostly a good person.

Thanks Jessy!

Follow Jessy here:

www.JgioTraining.com

@JgioTraining

New York City Football Club Hosts ‘Soccer Sisters’ at Yankee Stadium

In February, NYCFC announced the launch of its Girls Academy as part of its commitment to growing girls soccer.

Now, NYCFC is proud to bring one of the legends of the women’s game to Yankee Stadium.

Two-time World Cup and Gold Medal winner, Brandi Chastian, will be in the house on Thursday, June 29 to cheer on NYCFC, share the love of the game, and introduce fans to the new book series “Soccer Sisters.”

Brandi Chastain commented:

“This is exactly the kind of book I wish I’d had the chance to read as a girl.”

Hundreds of lucky fans will get to meet Brandi and author, Andrea Montalbano, at a book signing and photo op before NYCFC face Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. During the match, the group will sit together in a girl power section to root on the boys in blue.

About New York City FC:

New York City Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in New York City that competes in Major League Soccer. It was announced as the league’s twentieth franchise on May 21, 2013 and is the first and only Major League Soccer Club located within the five boroughs of New York City. Majority owned by City Football Group, which includes Manchester City FC, Melbourne City FC and Yokohama F. Marinos, New York City FC plays its home games at Yankee Stadium, which is also home to minority owner, the New York Yankees.

New York City FC is embarking on its third ever season in 2017 and has former US National Team captain Claudio Reyna as its Sporting Director and former World Cup winner Patrick Vieira as its coach, in addition to Designated Players: Captain David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, and Maxi Moralez.

Website: NYCFC.com | Twitter: @NYCFC | Instagram: @NYCFC | Hashtags: #NYCFC | Facebook.com/NewYorkCityFC

Stadium: Yankee Stadium | Training Facility: SUNY Purchase

About Soccer Sisters:

“Soccer Sisters” is a new book series which follows a young girl trying to not only do well on the soccer field but build lasting relationships with teammates through sportsmanship and friendship.

About Brandi Chastain:

Brandi Chastain is an iconic U.S. sporting figure. Brandi and her U.S. teammates brought women’s soccer to the masses during the 1999 Women’s World Cup finals. That’s when Brandi scored a goal on a penalty kick after the second overtime of the U.S. versus China match and struck her famous pose. She was photographed on her knees, mouth wide open, eyes closed, fists in the air, wearing a black sports bra, and white soccer shorts. Her celebration pose was featured on magazines and newspapers around the world. After that, Brandi became a household name. People knew her for her sports bra, but she’s much more than that. She is a devoted wife, a mom, a reporter, an author, a philanthropist, and more.

Brandi has been one of the best ambassadors for soccer during her playing and post playing career. She has faced adversity while winning Two World Cups, Two Olympic Golds, One Olympic Silver, the Inaugural WUSA Championship, and recorded 192 caps in her International Career. This summer she was elected into the US Soccer Hall of Fame and is the Official Soccer Sister.

About Andrea Montalbano:

Andrea Montalbano is the author of the “Soccer Sisters” series. She grew up playing soccer in Miami, Florida, benefiting from the opportunities provided by Title IX. A star in high school, she was a four-year starter and co-captain at Harvard and in 2008 was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame. Andrea enjoyed a long career as a journalist and was a writer and Supervising Producer for NBC News’ TODAY Show. Andrea left NBC to write books, determined to write a soccer series for girls. Out of Bounds (Sourcebooks), the first of the three-book series was released in April. Each book tells the story from the perspective of a different player on the team. Caught Offside will be available in October 2017 and One on One in spring 2018. Andrea is also a long time coach and advocate who believes in the power of sport for education and empowerment.

Press Contacts:

Amanda Marston, NYCFC Director of Communications

(512) 565-8755

amanda.marston@nycfc.com

Alex Yeadon, Sourcebooks

(630) 961-3900 Ext. 343
alex.yeadon@sourcebooks.com

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