In March, Yumnuts sponsored the Westport Soccer Association’s WIN Tournament. The tournament was held at Staples High School in Westport, CT. The tournament is one of the larger indoor tournaments in the area with over 100 teams from Southern CT and Westchester. For Yumnuts, the event was a way to spread the word about Yumnuts healthy cashews, but it was also a way to support youth soccer, a passion of co-founder Tyler Ricks. “Youth soccer promotes an active, healthy lifestyle”, said Ricks.
Soccer has been a big part of Tyler’s life. Tyler played travel soccer as a kid growing up in Barrington, IL and Rochester, NY. He was named to the NSCAA All-American team in his senior year at Pittsford Mendon High School. He played four years of Division I college soccer at Cornell University and SUNY Buffalo. Tyler has also been a volunteer youth soccer coach for more than 15 years. He currently coaches a team for Fairfield United Soccer Association.
Yumnuts had another reason to support the Westport WIN tournament. The tournament donates the proceeds from the tournament to the Coleman Brothers Foundation. 
The foundation was formed in the memory of brothers Keith and Scott Coleman who died in the World Trade Center Attack on September 11, 2001. The foundation supports soccer players who demonstrate a meaningful commitment to sportsmanship, leadership and integrity. Tyler plays with Todd Coleman (Scott and Keith’s brother) on Westport FC, a men’s over-30 team that plays in Connecticut’s Shoreline Adult Soccer League. Westport FC was formed by former Staples High School soccer players after September 11th and the team crest bears Keith and Scott’s initials.
The event was Yumnuts first consumer event since launching the first week of March. “I cannot think of a better way to launch. We are participating in our local community, helping kids lead an active lifestyle and supporting a great cause”, said Ricks.
