SEATTLE, WASH.
- Seattle Sounders FC is in the midst of its full schedule for 2016 Impact Seattle, a two-week slate of widespread community events across the greater Seattle metropolitan area, culminating in Seattle Foundation's annual GiveBIG campaign. Impact Seattle is the club's largest community outreach event of the year, featuring Sounders FC players and staff members partnering with numerous charitable organizations to participate in local events throughout the week to positively influence the greater Seattle community. The campaign culminates on Tuesday, May 3 with GiveBIG, Seattle Foundation's one-day online charitable giving event that last year raised over $16.3 million for more than 1,700 non-profits.
"GiveBIG 2016 gives each of us a chance to ask the question, 'What can I do to make a difference in my community?'" said Sounders FC Director of Community Outreach Roger Levesque. "I am fortunate in my role at Sounders FC to explore this idea every day, but what excites me most about Seattle Foundation's GiveBIG is the potential collective impact of this year's goal: 50,000 donors contributing $20 million to our community. GiveBIG not only reminds us that we are a city that cares about each other, but inspires us to dig deeper and do more."
GiveBIG is Seattle Foundation's one-day online charitable giving event, this year taking place on Tuesday, May 3. GiveBIG 2015 inspired 39,036 individual donors to contribute $16.3 million to over 1,700 nonprofits. Building on that momentum, Seattle Foundation this year is attempting to inspire businesses, nonprofits and philanthropists to work together with the general public to raise $20 million to help those in our community who need it most.
On the morning of Tuesday, May 3 Seattle Foundation and Seattle Sounders FC kick-off GiveBIG 2016 with the nonprofit community and event sponsors for the second-straight year at The NINETY, Sounders FC's event space located at its Pioneer Square headquarters. That evening, the club is joining Seattle Foundation, KEXP and Amazon to celebrate the magic of GiveBIG at KEXP's new studio in Seattle Center.
For Sounders FC, GiveBIG is already underway. Impact Seattle is the club's campaign to support GiveBIG and the city's nonprofits. In the weeks leading into to May 3, Sounders FC is teaming-up with local nonprofits to Impact Seattle through community appearances, events and projects.
Impact Seattle kicked-off last Friday with Sounders FC coaches and staff attending the America SCORES Seattle Annual Auction & Gala, which was emceed by Levesque. The club's community efforts continued this week, highlighted by Seattle rookie forward and Homegrown Player Jordan Morris attending We Day Seattle on Wednesday at Key Arena. Morris appeared on-stage with Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird addressing over 15,000 students
and teachers in attendance, as We Day brought together world-renowned speakers and award-winning performers with tens of thousands of young people to celebrate their positive their contributions to positive impact local and globally, as well as kick-start another year of change.
This Friday, the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is announcing its "King of the Kilt" as part of the Men in Kilt's fundraiser, featuring Levesque alongside Sounders FC players Brad Evans and Erik Friberg. Voting for the event is open now via the following link:
http://sndrs.com/kilts
. Each is $10, with three votes sponsoring one night of housing for a family at the Ronald McDonald House.
On Saturday, April 23 the club is
hosting Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for an interactive workshop in The NINETY to engage Seattle stakeholders - community, corporate and sports - prior to opening a Seattle PCA chapter this summer. Following the event, a viewing party for Sounders FC's road match at the Colorado Rapids is set to take place at The NINETY.
Continuing next week, Sounders FC, Washington Youth Soccer and Highline Public Schools will unveil a mini-pitch at Beverly Park Elementary School.
Impact Seattle culminates at Sounders FC's GiveBIG match vs. Columbus Crew SC (1:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Prior to the match, CenturyLink Field's North Plaza is featuring a nonprofit fair and an opportunity for Sounders FC supporters to learn more about select nonprofits working hard to serve those in our community who need it most. Sounders FC is also airing this year's official GiveBIG PSA featuring Sounders FC captain Brad Evans and music provided by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
Currently amidst a three-match unbeaten streak (2-0-1), Seattle Sounders FC (2-3-1, 7 points) hits the road to face the Colorado Rapids (4-2-1, 13 points) this Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. PT, with pre-match television coverage from Q13 FOX beginning at 5:30 p.m. PT. Saturday's contest is also being broadcast regionally by Univision-Seattle, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.
UPCOMING IMPACT SEATTLE SCHEDULE
Friday, April 22
: Sounders FC will participate in the first MLS WORKS Greener Goals Week of Service. This League-wide initiative includes all 20 MLS teams and aims to support and create sustainable communities in each market. On Earth Day, Sounders FC will team up with Washington Green Schools to build raised beds for native gardens and edible plants at B.F. Day Elementary. Washington Green Schools provides a system of support for school communities to set and achieve sustainability goals.
Sounders FC midfielder Erik Friberg joins captain Brad Evans and Sounders FC Director of Community Outreach Roger Levesque for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) annual Men in Kilts fundraiser. The Seattle Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home for approximately 450 families each year while their seriously ill child receives medical treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital. For complete information on the Men in Kilts campaign can be found via the following link:
http://sndrs.com/kilts
.
Saturday, April 23
: Building on last year's joint career development events, Sounders FC staff is joining representatives from Microsoft, PWC, Starbucks and others to participate in YouthForce University's Teen Employment Conference. YouthForce is the youth professional development program at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County dedicated to helping young people explore opportunities and develop skills that lead to success in the workplace and beyond.
Sounders FC is hosting Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) for an interactive workshop in The NINETY to engage Seattle stakeholders - community, corporate and sports - prior to opening a Seattle PCA chapter this summer. PCA is a national nonprofit whose mission is to improve the culture of youth sports so that all kids have a positive, character building experience. Following the interactive workshop, Sounders FC and PCA are hosting a viewing party at The NINETY for the Rave Green's road match at the Colorado Rapids. To RSVP to the event and learn more about PCA, visit the following link:
http://sndrs.com/PCA
.
Tuesday, April 26:
Sounders FC forward Darwin Jones is set to visit White Center Heights Elementary to celebrate outstanding student participation in United Way of King County's Fuel Your Future Breakfast Challenge. The Fuel Your Future campaign reduces the barriers to school breakfast by working to lower the stigma of eating in school, linking families to food banks, food stamps and other support and providing nutritional education.
Wednesday, April 27
: Sounders FC, Washington Youth Soccer and Highline Public Schools are unveiling a mini-pitch at Beverly Park Elementary School. The mini-pitch is part of a commitment made by adidas, MLS WORKS, Southern New Hampshire University and the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 20 mini-pitches in underserved communities across North America. The mini-pitch provides a safe place to play, support the continued growth of the game and enhance Washington Youth Soccer's Soccer for Success program, which addresses childhood obesity through soccer by promoting healthy lifestyles and encourages positive decision-making.
Saturday, April 30:
Impact Seattle culminates at Sounders FC's GiveBIG match vs. Columbus Crew SC. Prior to the match, CenturyLink Field's North Plaza is featuring a nonprofit fair and an opportunity for Sounders FC Supporters to learn more about select nonprofits working hard to serve those in our community who need it most. Participating nonprofits include: Peace Corps, Seattle Children's Hospital, United Way of King County, Virginia Mason Foundation, Washington Green Schools, Washington Youth Soccer, Seattle Humane, The Hope Heart Institute, WOZA Soccer, Youth in Focus and more. Additionally, Sounders FC is airing this year's official GiveBIG PSA featuring Sounders FC captain Brad Evans and music provided by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Sounders FC supporters can learn more about the causes and nonprofits their favorite Sounders FC players support.
Tuesday, May 3:
Seattle Foundation and Seattle Sounders FC kick-off GiveBIG 2016 with the nonprofit community and event sponsors for the second straight year at The NINETY, Sounders FC's event-space located at its Pioneer Square headquarters. That evening, the club is joining Seattle Foundation, KEXP and Amazon to celebrate the magic of GiveBIG at KEXP's new studio in Seattle Center. Complete information on GiveBIG can be found via the following link:
http://sndrs.com/ta65
.
