The Seattle Sounders are proud to support Major League Soccer’s Kick Childhood Cancer campaign during the month of September. Sounders FC looks to empower and inspire kids battling cancer throughout the year with a special focus during the month of September.
During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Grey + Mae Co. owner Natalie Neagle shifted production from clothing to face masks. And when Neagle, a former oncology nurse herself, had the opportunity to partner with Sounders FC and Zulily to donate Sounders-colored masks to kids battling cancer through the Austen Everett Foundation, she jumped on it right away.
“I’m always looking for ways to give back and donate,” Neagle said. “I have a special place in my heart for oncology patients, and I can’t imagine the situation of parents sitting in the hospital with their children during the pandemic.”
If the last name “Neagle” sounds familiar, it’s because Natalie is married to former longtime Sounders forward Lamar, who played with the club in 2009, 2011, 2013-15 and 2017-18. The two grew up together in nearby Federal Way, Wash., and have two young children. She started her company when her son was six months old and couldn’t find a pacifier clip that she liked from a company that was safe. So instead, she made her own design and had it certified for infants.
Natalie pivoted to face masks at the beginning of the national lockdown because no one was mass-producing them yet. She researched what the Center for Disease Control suggested for fabrics and, like she does for the clothing she makes, sewed her own.
“I want someone to wear something that they enjoy wearing,” she said. “We’re fashionable with our clothes, so why not be fashionable with our face masks?”
Natalie is also putting Lamar, who is still an active contributor to Sounders FC’s RAVE Foundation, to work. Lamar cuts the fabrics for the face masks, and she sews. The response has been terrific, and it’s something with which Zulily, in particular, is excited to be involved.
“Zulily is proud to invest in the Seattle community, especially alongside Sounders FC,” said Megan Marshall, Zulily's Director of Brand Marketing. “We are honored to partner together again this year for Kick Childhood Cancer month during a time where more than ever, we must focus on what matters most: family. At Zulily, we pride ourselves on serving families and kids around the world and doing what’s right – it’s core to our values. By raising awareness and money to find a cure while supporting those affected by pediatric cancer, we hope to make a difference with the help of fans across Washington state and beyond.”
Added June Leahy, Executive Director of the Austen Everett Foundation: “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Sounders FC, Zulily and Natalie Neagle for providing the Austen Everett Foundation with 50 face masks...Thank you, Lamar and Natalie, for your kindness. It will never be forgotten by these cancer warriors or AEF.”
While the seats at CenturyLink Field remain empty for now, Neagle is excited for the day when she and her family can return to watch the Sounders play. But in the meantime, she’s content contributing to the club in a different, albeit more impactful, way.
“We love supporting the Sounders,” Neagle said. “They’re so integrated into the city and love to give back. We will always be Sounders fans and continue to support the [club].”
