A soccer tournament untied the Grand Rapids community and Grand Valley State University students in the Laker Turf Building Saturday under a common goal: to raise funds for local Sudanese refugees.
Soccer for Sudan raised about $2000. Minus expenses, about $1500 will benefit two local nonprofits – the Michigan Darfur Coalition and the African Community Center – that offer refugees help in resettlement.
Sponsors Davenport University and the Frederick Meijer Honors College donated funds to the event. Organizers also drew funds through raffles of such prizes as a one-month membership to the YMCA, $10 gift certificates to Celebration Cinema and a $30 credit to Family Fare.
Thirteen teams participated representing Davenport, Ferris State University, Forest Hills High School and GVSU. Bryce Murphy’s team won first place and a set of Grand Rapids Griffons tickets. Rangers/Daly took second, and Hotshotz came in third.