After the 2019 Women’s World Cup (WWC), FIFA awarded club benefits to youth
soccer clubs where members of the USA’s WWC team played their youth soccer. Because Kelley O’Hara played at AFC Lightning, our club was awarded $8,000 as part of the WWC club benefits program. We reinvested that $8,000 into the Kelley O'Hara scholarship and have made it an annual award.
"I am very excited for the creation of this scholarship and the opportunity to give back to the club that shaped me as a player," said current USWNT and former AFC Lightning player, Kelley O'Hara. "Soccer has always been a big priority for me, but education was always of equal importance. I’m thrilled to be able to support fellow AFC Lightning players in their college careers, both on and off the field."
This May, Kelley O’Hara and AFC Lightning will award one scholarship in the amount of $5,000 to a deserving winner! Our goal is to help AFC Lightning players continue their participation in our great game while furthering their academic endeavors. 2024 marks the 5th year of this scholarship.
“Kelley O’Hara is not only a soccer champion, but a fantastic role model who wants to give back to the community where she grew up” said Steve Muccillo, AFC Lightning Executive Director. “This money was given to AFC Lightning because of Kelley’s accomplishments on the field, and this is a great way to 'pay it forward' for perhaps another future AFC Lightning world cup champion. We will continue to search for means and methods to motivate, inspire, and assist our players to be the best they can be."