ORLANDO — In the season of giving, Orlando City is giving away in soccer.

Orlando City Soccer Club held a soccer clinic on Wednesday, introducing soccer to youth in the community of Parramore.

“We want to reduce obesity around Central Florida, but also give many kids in not-so-good areas the option of choosing soccer,” said Kay Rawlins, Director of community relations, on the efforts the club is making. “It’s about giving them something else, some new ideas. Many of these kids go to parents who don’t want to help, but New Image is about that.”

New Image Youth Center, who also took part of the soccer clinic, was founded by Shanta Barton and is working closely with the Orlando City Foundation to promote alternatives to inner city kids.

Many of the youth were given indestructible soccer balls and given lessons of the game by Orlando City youth directors.

“We want to raise money, so we can offer some of these kids the chance to be on a team,” said Rawlins.

With the start of the season still being a couple of months away, the Lions have found strives during the offseason by working with communities around Central Florida.

The most current campaign the club has launched and promoted is “Movember” which intends to spread health awareness amongst men, by growing mustaches.

“We’ve got 40 people in our team, and we’ve raised $2,700,” says Rawlins. “It’s a simple way to getting that message out there.”

The soccer clinic which was the third of its installment, however, it won’t be the last according to Kay Rawlins.

For more information about the Orlando City Foundation and ways to help out, contact Kay Rawlins at [email protected].