Clarinex Teams Up With Youth Soccer league & MLS To Host La Copa Comunitaria Tournaments.

Schering Laboratories, makers of Clarinex announced that it is teaming up with local youth soccer organizations and four teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) to sponsor La Copa Comunitaria (The Community Cup), week-long youth soccer tournaments organized specifically for the Hispanic communities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Miami.

La Copa Comunitaria, which is free of charge to all players, was created by Clarinex to give inner-city children further exposure to organized sports, while helping to minimize barriers such as seasonal allergies that may keep children from enjoying favorite outdoor activities like soccer. The tournaments will be held throughout the summer, with more than 5,000 children expected to participate. The championship games and trophy ceremonies will be held in the stadiums
of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Chicago Fire, and the Dallas Burn prior to one of their professional home games.

To organize and host the tournaments in each city, Clarinex has partnered with top local youth soccer organizations that are composed primarily of Hispanic children: The Big Apple Youth Soccer League (New York), the Southern California Youth Soccer Organization (Los Angeles), the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (Chicago), the Progressive Soccer Academy (Dallas), and the Miami Strike Force (Miami). As part of the initiative, Clarinex will donate $10,000 to each league to help maintain equipment and uniforms for the children.

“La Copa Comunitaria soccer tournaments provide an opportunity for us to further strengthen our relationship with Hispanic communities across the United States, while encouraging children to remain active through sports, an important component for a healthy life,” said Richard Zahn, President, Schering Laboratories. “Unfortunately, many children cease to develop their athletic abilities because they suffer from seasonal allergies. We hope that through their participation in La Copa
Comunitaria, families will better understand that treatments exist which help control seasonal allergy symptoms and make it possible for children to play their favorite outdoor sports.”

“We are honored to be a part of La Copa Comunitaria and to have such a positive interaction with our Hispanic fans,” said Kevin Payne, Executive Vice President of AEG Soccer. “These tournaments teach children teamwork and discipline, qualities that will be great assets for their futures, and also help them to become leaders in their communities and on the playing field. We applaud the efforts of CLARINEX® to reach out to these local youths.”

Following the tournament finals, MLS players will present trophies to the winning teams prior to local MLS home games and will sign autographs for the tournament players. (Note: The finals and award ceremony in Miami will be held at the league’s local park.)

La Copa Comunitaria tournaments will take place as follows:(City, Tournament Date, Tournament Location, Finals Date, Finals Location)

Dallas, June 24-June 29, Mountain View Community College, June 29, Cotton Bowl

Los Angeles, July 13-July 18, Whittier Narrows Park, July 20, Rose Bowl

Chicago, July 14-July 20, Calumet Park, July 27, Cardinal Stadium

Miami, August 10-August 11, Tropical Park, August 11, Tropical Park

New York, August 19-August 24, Flushing Meadows Park, August 25, Giants Stadium