Findlay sponsors soccer association

For more than 50 years, Findlay Automotive Group has been entrenched in Southern Nevada, participating in charities and civic events.

One of the company's recent civic-minded activities is sponsorship of the Southern Nevada Soccer Association in Henderson.

Starting the second week of September, Findlay Automotive Group launched a campaign with the association to sponsor nearly 3,000 youngsters who compete at several parks throughout Henderson.

Findlay Automotive executive Justin Findlay, who has two young sons who play in the SNSA, had the idea to sponsor the youngsters.

"Soccer is a great sport," said Findlay, who also serves on the league's board. "Our sons love soccer, so I asked around and found that the SNSA is the perfect place for them to play. If our boys want to play soccer strictly for fun, SNSA has a great recreational league in Henderson United Youth Soccer. However, if they decide to get serious and want to take a more competitive approach, the Heat FC side of the association is perfect for players who want to develop their skills to collegiate or professional levels."

Findlay's soccer-playing sons are Jaxson, 7, and Maddox, 6.

"I feel very fortunate to have such a great nonprofit organization here in Henderson that is dedicated to offering young people the opportunity to have fun and develop their abilities in a sport that is rapidly growing in popularity in the U.S.," Findlay said. "When the opportunity came to sponsor the SNSA and enable this organization to enhance the soccer experience for so many young people, we had to step up. This sponsorship is a perfect fit because it gives us the opportunity to support the families of Henderson who support us every day."

Findlay employees also participate in the events by staffing a tent and giving refreshments to the players.

Findlay Volkswagen Sales Manager Mike Sink is among those who participate and he said he loves what he has seen in the first couple of weeks.

"I think it's great," said Sink, a Detroit native who has worked at Findlay Volkswagen for five years. "The parents have been very responsive and they're excited to be out there. Parents work hard to keep their kids involved and they like the fact that we're out there, too."

Key Reid, the son of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is on the board with Findlay.

"The involvement of the Findlay family is very significant," said Reid, who played soccer at the University of Virginia when the school captured three national titles from 1992-'96. "Partly due to the generosity of Findlay Automotive Group, we have been able to develop a soccer program with everything from the beginning recreational player all the way up to the elite college and professional player."

Reid added that the club began in the late 2001. Its growth is the result of some very dedicated people including Karen Stransky, who formed the recreational component; Eric McDonald, the competitive director; Esad Moreno, the Under 10 academy director; and Eddie Henderson the Under 10 technical director.

"In our competitive club, some of our players have committed to schools like UCLA, Ohio State and the University of Arizona - just this year," Reid said.

Brenda Davies, who has two children playing in the league, said, "The uniforms are fantastic-looking. I think it's very exciting to have a major business like Findlay Automotive supporting the SNSA. Their support brings awareness to this sport at this level and to this particular league."

Findlay Automotive Group was founded more than 50 years ago by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff Findlay, now oversees dealerships in Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho.

For more information, visit www.findlayauto.com or www.snsasoccer.com.