Seattle Sounders FC today announced that the club’s recently established COVID-19 community relief fund, the Seattle Sounders FC Relief Fund, has opened its first grant cycle. Qualifying individuals and small businesses are encouraged to apply to access assistance from the fund at SoundersFC.com/ReliefFund. The initial grant cycle is open through April 16, with additional two-week cycles immediately following and continuing contingent upon available resources.
“Since launching the Sounders FC Relief Fund, our biggest goals have been to provide direct support to those who need it, and to do that as quickly as possible, recognizing that our community needs help now,” said Sounders FC Majority Owner Adrian Hanauer. “We’re excited to announce the opening of the fund’s first grant cycle and hope all those eligible and in need will apply. We’ve been touched by the generosity of our fans and supporters who have donated to the fund, along with the additional nearly $25,000 that has been added thus far from our annual Sports Science Seminar, which is donating all registration fees this year. I’m proud to be part of a community that comes together more than ever in difficult times.”
Small businesses and individuals – including independent contractors – interested in applying for a Seattle Sounders FC Relief Fund grant may apply one time every calendar month, and receipt of a grant award in a previous month will not make an applicant ineligible. To learn whether an individual or small business meets eligibility requirements and to apply for a grant, as well as to learn more about grant proceed conditions, please visit SoundersFC.com/ReliefFund.
Grant applications will be reviewed by the Sounders FC Relief Fund Review Committee, comprised of the following members:
- Fred Mendoza, Relief Fund Review Committee Chair and Chair of the RAVE Foundation Board
- David Chen, RAVE Foundation Board Member
- Cameron Collins, Sounders FC Alliance Council President
- Stefan Frei, Sounders FC Goalkeeper and At-Large Committee Member
- Max Kleinman, Sounders FC Ownership Group and At-Large Committee Member
- Maya Mendoza-Exstrom, Sounders FC Senior Vice President of Legal and External Affairs
In addition to grant applications for individuals and small businesses, the Review Committee will work to identify in its discretion a non-profit serving individuals and small businesses primarily in the South Downtown neighborhoods of SoDo, Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District, in order to award between $10,000-20,0000 each month.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC RELIEF FUND
The Sounders FC Relief Fund has been established to support individuals, non-profits and small businesses, primarily in the South Downtown neighborhoods of SoDo, Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District, all of which have been impacted by the club’s lack of matches at CenturyLink Field and Sounders FC’s Pioneer Square front office adapting to a work-from-home policy during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The fund is intended to support a range of needs, from groceries to rent assistance and monetary packages that will fund the following priorities:
- Direct support of resources to shift workers and service providers in and around CenturyLink Field, and in neighborhood businesses that support and serve fans on matchday.
- Direct resources to small business owners to pay their critical expenses during this crisis so that they can stay in business and keep their doors open.
- Direct resources to non-profits that serve and support individuals and small businesses in the South Downtown neighborhoods of SoDo, Pioneer Square and the Chinatown-International District.
