Durham Reporter

The North Carolina Courage soccer team has been actively contributing to community development through a partnership that links their on-field success to charitable donations. For every goal scored at WakeMed Soccer Park, Bartol Hoile Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors donates $200 to LEAD Girls of North Carolina.

"This partnership allows us to dream," said Joy Nelson Thomas, Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Girls of NC. "Bartol Hoile have been partners of ours for the past three years and it allows us to continue to do the work that we do in Title One schools as well as our Community LEAD program. It is also an inspiration to other business leaders to show creative ways to support our work. When we work together as a village, we can really impact girls all over North Carolina."

This season, with 22 goals scored at home, Bartol Hoile Wealth Management rounded up their donation to $5,000 for the organization. LEAD Girls works with middle school girls by providing them access to resources that help them realize their potential.

"This partnership with NC Courage and LEAD Girls is very important to Alex and me because we really believe in paying it forward," said Alex Bartol. "Alex and I have both helped a lot in our career and have benefited from people who were willing to lend a helping hand. We believe one of the best ways to make an impact in our community is to focus on girls. That’s how we pay it forward for the people who helped us."

LEAD Girls stands for “Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams” and aims at empowering preteen girls by equipping them with necessary tools and resources.

"We believe everybody has a talent and a skillset," stated Hoile. "If we can remove some of the barriers to allow that to rise to the top, we believe that will benefit everybody."

At the Courage's last home game of the season, LEAD Girls received a check which allowed many girls involved with the organization an opportunity not only to enjoy the game but also meet some of their role models.

"You can’t be what you can’t see and seeing other women on this field just shows our girls that they can do anything," Nelson Thomas added.

Further information about LEAD Girls' programs or volunteer opportunities is available on their website along with details about Bartol Hoile Wealth Management Group.