Panel Discussion

Growing the Beautiful Game: The U.S. Soccer Foundation's Legacy Impact

Name: Growing the Beautiful Game: The U.S. Soccer Foundation's Legacy Impact
Start: 2025-03-10T14:00:00-0400
End: 2025-03-10T14:45:00-0400

Sports

Event Details

Date

Day 2 - March 10, 2025

Time

2:00PM- 2:45PM

Location

Keystone House - 75 1/2 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

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The U.S. is in the midst of a mega-decade of large cultural and sports milestones and events—including the FIFA World Cup 2026, America’s 250th birthday, the 28 Summer Olympics and more. One of the most important things business, sports and community leaders need to keep front of mind is maximizing these opportunities to social impact through youth sports mentorship as part of these major events and milestones. This panel will announce a new movement—and north star—to leverage these moments: celebrate and train more adults to positively contribute to their communities by becoming youth sport coach-mentors who will support and shape the next generation of thriving young people. The panel will dive into the unique and outsized role of coaches as mentors, the need for this work, and solutions that will work to catalyze this movement to grow the game and leave a legacy long after FWC26.

Speaker Information

Derek Johnson

Derek Johnson is responsible for the strategy and grant making at Stand Together, a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. Stand Together’s comprehensive approach includes partnerships with thousands of nonprofit leaders and university scholars, Fortune 50 CEOs and philanthropists, NFL legends, civil rights leaders, Grammy and Oscar-winning musicians and filmmakers, tens of thousands of educators, and millions of grassroots policy activists. Derek serves as the executive director of both the Stand Together Trust and Stand Together Foundation and has held leadership positions within the Stand Together community for over 15 years. He also serves on the boards of the Charles Koch Foundation, Abundance Institute, VELA Education Fund, and Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. Derek lives with his family in Alexandria, VA.

Ed Foster-Simeon

Ed Foster-Simeon, a champion of soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change, has served as President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation since 2008, transforming it into a nationally recognized leader in sports-based youth development with a focus on improving the health and well-being of children in under-resourced communities. His leadership has earned the Foundation prestigious accolades, including the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy and the Football Is More Role Model Award. A former Deputy Managing Editor at USA Today, he has also held leadership roles in youth soccer, including Vice President of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association and President of Prince William Soccer, Inc.

His contributions have been recognized with a Community Leadership Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, induction into the Virginia-DC Soccer Hall of Fame, and selection as a 2020 Honorary All-American by United Soccer Coaches. A Brooklyn native, Foster-Simeon holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland University College, is a U.S. Navy veteran, and serves as a Trustee of the NAACP Foundation.

Meg Kane

As the Host City Executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, Meg is the driving force behind bringing the FIFA World Cup to the City of Brotherly Love. If that sounds like a big job, it is - but it's just one entry in her impressive playbook. This is the same talented strategist who helped coordinate Pope Francis's historic visit to Philadelphia in 2015. 

When she's not orchestrating world-class events, Meg runs Signature 57, a strategic communications firm where she's become the go-to expert for tourism, arts, and culture in Philadelphia. Her client list reads like a who's who of the city's most beloved institutions. 

A proud alumna of La Salle University, Meg's work has earned her some remarkable recognition, including the Benemerenti Medal from Pope Francis and a place on the Philadelphia Business Journal's Power 100. 

In 2026, while you're enjoying World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field or living it up at the 40-day Fan Fest, remember: it all happened because Meg Kane knows how to turn "impossible" into a "done deal."

Lauren LaRusso

Lauren Nathan-LaRusso currently serves as the Co-Host City Manager and General Counsel of the New York New Jersey Host Committee for FIFA World Cup 2026™, which is responsible for delivering all aspects of the tournament with FIFA. Lauren's professional background spans both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she served as Senior Counsel for NJ Governor Phil Murphy and oversaw various state and bi-state authorities. She has a BA and master’s from Rutgers University and a JD from Seton Hall University.  

Amobi Okugo

Amobi Okugo is a former professional soccer player turned entrepreneur, recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient. Drafted in the first round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft from UCLA, he played over 200 competitive games for teams including Philadelphia, Orlando, Kansas City, Portland, and Austin, while also representing the U.S. at the youth national team level from U-14 to U-23, including the 2012 Olympic qualifying cycle. Beyond soccer, Amobi co-founded Serve Consulting, a boutique management firm focused on facilitating authentic growth for athletes, talent, brands, and organizations through education and service. He is also the founder of The Ok U Go Foundation, which provides resources and opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds through athletic, educational, and social programs.

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