The U.S. Soccer Foundation has increased its grant fund this year by 30 percent, awarding more than $2.65 million to organizations around the country. All grant awards have matching requirements, so an additional $16 million is expected to be pumped into programs to promote American soccer. The Foundation was founded in 1995 as a non-profit coporation to support U.S. soccer with profits generated by the 1994 World Cup. The largest single recipient was the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which was awarded a $1 million grant toward the construction of its museum and sports complex, payable over five years in installments of $200,000 a year. More than half the awards went to field projects. More than 30 percent involve programs dealing with at-risk or disadvantaged youth. Forty-one grant projects will be funded out of more than 400 applications. U.S. Soccer Foundation Grants: National Soccer Hall of Fame $1 million. Springfield (Mo.) Lake Country YS, Peoria Heights (Ill.) Sporting Futbol, San Bernardino (Calif.) CYSA, Greater Des Moines (Iowa) JSL $100,000. ENYSASA-Verrazano Sports Complex $94,000. USYSA-national youth license $82,500. Morganton (N.C.) Rec & Park $80,000. Lincoln (Neb.) Abbott Sports Complex $79,500. Sante Fe (Mex.) Calle Lorca $75,000. Indiana Soccer House $65,000. USYSA-Topsoccer $61,500. D.C Scores, Cincinnati GSECSA $60,000. Union (N.J.) Mattano Park, Danville (Pa.) ASA, Gwinnett (Ga.) SA, Illinois YSA Inner City, Mansfield (Conn.) Lions Club Park, East Lansing (Mich.) Complex, Philadephia FC Bayern, EPYSA West Philadelphia Project, Spokane (Wash.) Valley JSA $50,000. Danville (Ill.) SA $45,000. Quincy (Mass.) Parks $40,000. Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove $30,000. Bellingham (Wash.) Whatcom Comm., Gates (N.Y.), Hancock County (Ill.) Health, Livingston (Calif.), Los Angeles Woodcraft Rangers, Medford (Ore.) School District 549C, Plainfield (N.J.), Rantoul (Ill.), San Rafael (Calif.) Canal YSA, West Chester (Pa.) Utd. SC, Yavapai (Ariz.) SL $25,000. Shelton (Ore.) South Mason $24,000. El Centro (Calif.) PAL $22,000. Pace (Fla.) Santa Rosa $20,000. Jupiter (Fla.) $11,500.
