RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced special club programming surrounding the celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. The annual celebration culminates at the club’s Bruce Lee-themed match against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 29.
As part of the Rave Green’s ongoing commitment to fight racism, one of the pillars of Sounders FC’s Social Justice Framework, the club is using the month of May to feature programming and projects designed to promote and support local AANHPI-owned small businesses, educate the community around the harmful impacts of implicit bias and systemic racism, amplify the voices of local experts and invest in and give back to the community in historically under-resourced and underfunded spaces.
More information detailing the club’s plans for this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month celebrations can be found below.
SUPPORT AANHPI-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSESS
The club’s activities this month continue Rave Green’s season-long collaboration with Intentionalist, an online guide to intentional spending. This year, and as part of National Small Business Week (NSBW) 2024 – an annual celebration hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners – Sounders FC and Intentionalist are collaborating to encourage fans to #SpendLikeItMatters in support to AANHPI-owned small businesses in the community.
As part of the Receipt & Receive campaign, fans are encouraged to visit their favorite AANHPI-owned food trucks and vendors at any of the club’s upcoming home matches, including the Heritage Match vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 18 and at the Bruce Lee Match vs. Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 29 at Lumen Field in Seattle. Qualifying food vendors are located in Lumen Field’s North Plaza and in pop-up kiosks outside of Section 113.
Fans can upload receipts from qualifying purchases for a chance to win a variety of prizes from Sounders FC, Intentionalist and other local professional sports teams. This year, the club aims to catalyze $35,000 of spending at AANHPI-owned businesses through the month of May from the community.
ONE SEATTLE DAY OF SERVICE
As part of Sounders FC’s efforts to give back to the community – and in partnership with the City of Seattle – the club is excited to once again participate in the One Seattle Day of Service taking place on Saturday, May 18.
Launched by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to turn the values behind his vision for One Seattle – inclusion, cooperation and service – into shared action and meaningful improvement for the city and the quality of life of all residents, the One Seattle Day of Service campaign is an open invitation to every Seattle neighbor to roll up their sleeves, come together and give back to the community, with volunteer opportunities in each neighborhood across the city.
This year, Sounders FC is focusing efforts on the club’s home at Lumen Field by hosting street beautification events in Pioneer Square and SODO, with multiple volunteer opportunities available to Sounders FC fans who would like to participate. Any volunteer who participates in One Seattle Day of Service project will receive special access to a Buy One, Get One ticket offer for the club’s Bruce Lee Match on May 29 at Lumen Field.
- Street Beautification in Pioneer Square: This event, hosted by Sounders FC in partnership with Alliance for Pioneer Square and Reign FC, is a great opportunity to make a positive impact in the community and make Pioneer Square an even more beautiful and welcoming neighborhood. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. PT. Those in attendance will meet at Occidental Park (117 South Washington Street, Seattle, WA 98104). To ensure a successful event, registration for Spring Clean will close on Friday, May 10. If you would like to register for Spring Clean after May 10, please contact publicrealm@pioneersquare.org.
- Street Beautification in SODO: This event, hosted by Sounders FC in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. PT. Those in attendance will meet at Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104). Sturdy closed-toe shoes are highly recommended. Those who would like to register for this event can register here.
- Street Beautification in Chinatown-International District: This event, hosted by Chinatown-International District BIA, is a great opportunity to make a positive impact in Seattle’s historic C-ID neighborhood. For over 20 years, the CIDBIA has led regular volunteer clean-up events in the neighborhood with the goal of creating a clean, safe, and welcoming business district. Volunteers will participate in various beautification efforts throughout Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon including cleaning business windows, gardening work in nearby Danny Woo Community Garden, general litter pickup and graffiti cleaning. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT with registration starting at 9:00 a.m. PT. Those in attendance will meet at Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104). Please arrive early for the day-of registration. Online registration is currently closed.
SOUNDERS FC DAY & ANNUAL SPRING MARKET AT WING LUKE MUSEUM
Sounders FC continues its partnership with the Wing Luke Museum during AANHPI Heritage Month as the museum is hosting its second annual Spring Market on Saturday, May 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. PT at the Museum Community Hall. The annual celebration highlights local Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander small businesses and artists.
Once at the museum, visitors can experience a free lei-making craft table in addition to a free resource table lead by community partner United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance (UTOPIA Washington), a queer and trans people of color-led, grassroots organization born out of the struggles, challenges, strength and resilience of the queer and trans Pacific Islander communities.
In support of the Spring Market – and to provide the opportunity for all to learn about AANHPI Heritage Month – the club and Wing Luke Museum are offering free admission to anyone wearing a Sounders FC gear from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT. Fans who visit the museum that day are also entered to win an autographed Bruce Lee Kit in addition to access to a special Sounders FC ticket offer to the Bruce Lee Match on Wednesday, May 29 at Lumen Field.
The Rave Green encourages fans to explore Wing Luke’s exhibits, which share the history of the Chinatown-International District. Although subject to exclusionary policies and practices for over 100 years, the community demonstrates strength through its business and community life. Stories of individuals, families and organizations reflect the resilience and creativity within the Chinatown-International District. The museum also features highlights of the American martial artist, actor, philosopher and filmmaker Bruce Lee in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The interactive exhibit invites viewers to step into the mind, body, and spirit of Bruce Lee and learn how his unquenchable pursuit of knowledge informed his philosophy and life.
The Wing Luke Museum is located at 719 S King St, Seattle, WA, 98104. Although the museum does not offer on-site parking, visitors can utilize street parking for free on Sundays and holidays.
BRUCE LEE MATCH & AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION
Seattle Sounders FC – in collaboration with the Wing Luke Museum and the Bruce Lee Foundation – closes out the month’s festivities by celebrating the AANHPI community at the Bruce Lee Match against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field.
Once in the stadium, fans can enjoy a variety of AANHPI-owned food vendors and pop-up restaurants as part of the club’s goal to support local BIPOC and diverse-owned businesses, giving the opportunity to discover new culinary delights with food trucks in the stadium’s North Plaza and a pop-up restaurant location in the PNW Marketplace concessions area, located in the east concourse outside of Section 113. In the month of May, featured businesses are all AANHPI-owned, in recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month.
Additionally, the Wing Luke Museum will host a pop-up museum exhibit at the match that fans can enjoy pre-game and there are a wide variety of Bruce Lee-themed matchday elements planned.
For additional information on any of the mentioned AANHPI Heritage Month events, please contact Gisselle Pichardo of Sounders FC Communications [GisselleP@SoundersFC.com].
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