BOSTON, Aug. 16, 2012—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley yesterday celebrated a decade as the chief law enforcement officer for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop with a youth soccer tournament loaded with special guests and giveaways in Dorchester.

Each summer since his 2002 election as Suffolk DA, Conley has welcomed kids and teens from across Suffolk County to the DCR Pope John Paul II Field in Dorchester for a day of the world’s most popular sport. Yesterday’s Soccer for Peace tournament was no different, but in addition to bringing more than 100 members of the county’s youth together with Conley’s prosecutors, victim advocates, and support staff, yesterday’s games also featured:

• New England Revolution player Kevin Alston, who spent the day playing with kids, signing autographs, and posing for photos;
• Revolution President Brian Bilello, who gave each young attendee tickets to attend an upcoming game with his or her family;
• Senior Vice President and Director of Public Affairs at Citizens Bank Rick Musiol, who handed out over 100 backpacks full of school supplies to support each young player’s academic success;
• DJ Pup Dawg and DJ Jazz from the JAM’N 94.5 Ramiro and Pebbles morning show; and
• The Boston Police Department’s Operation Hoodsie Cup truck, providing sweet treats after a meal of hamburgers and hot dogs skillfully grilled by the DA’s staff.

“For 10 years, we’ve been out here with the young people of Boston and Suffolk County, sharing the personal side of our office to the kids and families we serve,” Conley said. “It’s fun. It’s healthy. It’s safe. But more than that, it emphasizes values that will support success in every youngster’s life: teamwork, good sportsmanship, and fair play.”

Conley was effusive in his thanks to Boston-area business sponsors who supported the games through donations of food, drinks, raffle prizes, and other materiel. During a break in the play, he presented representatives of the Revolution, Citizen’s Bank, America SCORES Boston, Stop & Shop supermarkets, and JAM’N 94.5 with plaques recognizing their commitment to the area’s youth.

“These aren’t just local businesses,” Conley said. “They’re community stakeholders, and they’ve made plain their willingness to step up for the city and its kids.”

Also lending assistance and joining the fun were staff from St. Peter’s Teen Center, the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, the Dorchester Youth Collaborative, the Upham’s Corner Safe Neighborhood Initiative, the Upham’s Corner Health Center, and the Muslim Athletic League.

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