South Bronx United honored Maria Martinez at the organization’s 15th Annual Benefit on November 13, 2025. Maria graduated from Lehman College in 2025 with a degree in Psychology, and also competed for the Women’s Soccer Team. She is currently a case manager at Bronxworks. Ms. Maria joined South Bronx United in 2012 in sixth grade shortly after immigrating from Mexico. Thanks to SBU’s immigration legal services, she was able to get her legal permanent residency and eventually become a United States citizen in 2022.

South Bronx United announced today that it will honor JT Batson, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the U.S. Soccer Federation, as the recipient of its Soccer for Good Award at the organization’s 15th Annual Benefit. The event will take place on Thursday, November 13, at the Prince George Ballroom in Manhattan. The Soccer for Good Award recognizes individuals who leverage the power of the sport to promote community cohesion, dignity, and opportunity, and uplifting lives through soccer.

Early Bird Tickets available now for SBU’s 15th Annual Benefit! Save $50 when you buy now until September 30! The evening's program will include an annual update from our Executive Director, address from Alumni Honoree Maria Martinez, special guests including USMNT's Matt Freese and New York City FC Kevin O'Toole and others, buffet and hors d'oeuvres from Relish Catering, open bar, a silent auction, raffle, live music, and more!

Check out and support our #PowerOf11 campaign. Watch 11 videos highlighting the program and services provided by South Bronx United. As our largest annual campaign and end-of-program-year appeal, the #PowerOf11 raises funds that sustain SBU programs into the next year! Help us reach our goal by June 30th. Give $11 or whatever you can to support.

South Bronx United celebrated a banner year in 2024. We hit several organization milestones while growing our impact in one of the nation’s most underserved communities. In our 16th year, we served more than 1,800 children and young adults for the first time. We received a transformational $2 million stamp of approval from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Fund; we launched the Clubhouse Café as a youth-run social enterprise, a core component of our Workforce Development Program; and we received global recognition as the FC Barcelona Foundation’s first US-based program. Read our 2024 Annual Report to learn more about how these and other investments will lead to lasting outcomes that strengthen and unite our community!

Meredith Whitley, a professor of Sports Based Youth Development at Adelphi University, recently completed a two-year evaluation of the SBU Academy, South Bronx United's highest commitment program. Learn more about the SBU Academy’s uniquely impactful approach to youth development and how the evidence validates the transformative impact that South Bronx United and the SBU Academy have with middle and high school participants and graduates. Read the report

Pix 11 news featured South Bronx United and the Clubhouse Café and how the organization and café is supporting the neighborhood and providing job opportunities and job training to youth. The segment highlighted SBU Academy alumna, Café Fellow, and Lehman College student Heidy Trujillo and included clips from our MLK Day of Service Community Free Store at the SBU Clubhouse. Pix 11 journalist Amy Yensi reported on the story.

Drop by the Clubhouse Café at 812 River Avenue open 7am-6pm through Friday, 8am-5pm Sat, 8am-6:30pm Sun. Every purchase goes right back to the community and support soccer, academics, college prep, mentoring, immigration legal services, social work, and of course workforce development at South Bronx United!

South Bronx United rang the Nasdaq closing bell on October 13! Virtually, that is… See the video and hear from our Executive Director Andrew So here!

From a community vaccination drive to the return of fully in-person programming to the expansion of crucial college prep resources for more SBU student-athletes than ever before, there was a lot to celebrate. Read South Bronx United's 2021 Annual Report to learn about all that inspires us as we push ahead in increasing recreational opportunities, narrowing the growing academic achievement gap, and providing a comprehensive support network for at-risk, immigrant, and first-generation youth.