SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced the launch of the RAVE Foundation, which now serves as the official philanthropic arm of the organization. Centered on the mantra of “Small Fields. Big Ideas,” the RAVE Foundation is a 501c-3 charity founded to serve the greater Puget Sound community. Its mission is to build small, accessible soccer fields in urban areas that provide free play to shape young citizens, strengthen communities and encourage physical activity. The first of these fields is set to be constructed as part of a brand new Yesler Park with construction starting in 2017.
On Monday, July 25, media are invited to the Yesler Community Center to observe a Sounders FC Alumni-run youth clinic and hear from key stakeholders as part of a week-long series of events through the RAVE Foundation ahead of Sounders FC’s full-stadium, nationally-televised matchup versus the LA Galaxy on July 31 (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio, El Rey 1360 AM).
“It’s been a long-term passion of mine for Sounders FC to bring free, accessible soccer to underserved communities in the Seattle area, so we’re very excited as an organization to finally launch the RAVE Foundation,” said Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer. “Soccer is a game that brings joy and opportunity to so many people around the world. We see it as an obligation to make sure that no one in our community is excluded from experiencing everything that the beautiful game affords.”
MEDIA RESOURCES
DON RUIZ FEATURE ON RAVE FOUNDATION’S ORIGIN: http://sndrs.com/deu7
RAVE FOUNDATION WEBSITE: http://sndrs.com/lm2w
RAVE FOUNDATION LOGOS: http://sndrs.com/5hvh
FLYER FOR EVENT AT YESLER PARK: http://sndrs.com/dbz4
PHOTOS FOR EDITORIAL USE: http://sndrs.com/kmmh
The RAVE Foundation relies on three core strategies: to use soccer as a vehicle to empower and inspire, to remove barriers on and off the field and to strengthen communities. These small fields constructed through the RAVE Foundation encourage physical activity, creativity and wellness, while also catalyzing community-wide relationships to address inequities. The urban and accessible fields provide a new platform for partners to connect with the club. These partners and their equity causes include: America SCORES Seattle (Education), Street Soccer Seattle (Homelessness), WYS Soccer for Success (Health and Wellness), Special Olympics Washington (Inclusion), Sounders in Schools (Leadership), Rainier Scholars (Mentorship), UWKC Breakfast Challenge (Nutrition).
Additional community partners, including the Seattle Parks Department, Seattle Parks Foundation, King County Parks and Friends of the Waterfront, are set to partner and support RAVE Foundation initiatives.
“The RAVE Foundation represents a new vehicle for Sounders FC to impact the Seattle area community, by raising funds to invest in infrastructure that provide access to safe places for kids to play in communities which need it most,” RAVE Foundation Executive Director and Sounders FC General Counsel Maya Mendoza-Exstrom said. “There is a growing need in this country to support places where kids can play for free and play freely, which allows them to not only grow as players, but also as people and leaders in their communities.”
Along with the launch of the Foundation, Sounders FC unveiled the Soccer Octagon – a transportable, Sounders FC / RAVE Foundation-branded enclosed field that promotes technical soccer through free play. In addition to popping-up at Waterfront Park each weekend in July, the Soccer Octagon is set to appear in Soccer Celebration outside of CenturyLink Field prior to Sounders FC’s matches, including July 31 against the LA Galaxy. It is scheduled to appear at several locations during the week of July 25 – July 31, with Sounders FC and the RAVE Foundation planning events in distinct Seattle locations to promote the launch of the foundation. An entire rundown of that week’s schedule can be found below:
- Monday, July 25 – Event: RAVE Foundation launch event at Yesler Park
- A soccer clinic is set to be held at 2:00 p.m. PT at Yesler Community Center (917 E. Yesler Street) in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation, offering children in the community a chance to learn from Sounders FC Alumni players and Sounders FC 2 players. On-site giveaways from the RAVE Foundation feature balls, t-shirts and additional swag.
- The formal program is being emceed by former Sounders FC player and current Sounders FC Director of Community Outreach Roger Levesque, in addition to a series of community speakers from the Seattle Housing Authority, Seattle Parks Foundation, America SCORES and Yesler Community Collaborative.
Monday's event at Yesler Park is open to working members of the media for still photography, b-roll and interviews. Those wishing to attend should contact Danny Ciaccio [DannyC@SoundersFC.com] of Sounders FC Communications to RSVP and receive further details.
- Wednesday, July 27 – Event: Pike Place Market fish toss with Sounders FC captain Brad Evans and goalkeeper Stefan Frei
- Media and fans are invited to attend Pike Place Market from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. PT, where Evans and Frei are taking place in the famous fish toss. After this iconic Seattle event, the players are scheduled to shop the Evening Farmers Market, where they are set to interact with vendors and donate their purchased goods to Pike Market Food Bank and Senior Center.
- The Pike Place Market Evening Farmers Market features more than a dozen local produce farmers with tents set-up in a double row on Pike Place. The market hosts special events, such as live music and cooking classes, as well as family friendly activities on the second Wednesday of each month, held from June 1 – October 12.
- More information on the Pike Place Evening Farmers Market can be found via the following link: http://sndrs.com/8gla.
- Thursday, July 28 – Event: Soccer Octagon lunch at Westlake Square
- From 12:30-2:00 p.m. PT Sounders FC 2 players are set be at Westlake Square to play in the Soccer Octagon with fans, with giveaways including – match tickets, soccer balls and signed Sounders FC merchandise.
- Saturday, July 30 – Event: Sounders FC and RAVE Foundation at Pier 58
- From 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT, the schedule includes a session of “free play” for fans in the Soccer Octagon presented by Virginia Mason and live music from DJ John Richards of KEXP, plus programming that includes games and skill challenges for 20 minutes each hour.
- On-site giveaways from Sounders FC, the RAVE Foundation and Virginia Mason include balls, t-shirts, match tickets and additional swag.
- Sunday, July 31 – Event: Matchday activities
- The Soccer Octagon is scheduled to be set-up at Soccer Celebration at 11:30 a.m. for “free play” and additional giveaways prior to the match.
- A Charity Beer Garden will be held in The NINETY, Sounders FC’s clubhouse space at its Pioneer Square headquarters, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT, sponsored by Anheuser Busch and El Jimador and includes giveaways, games and food.
- Sunday’s contest presented by adidas includes a poster giveaway of Sounders FC’s roster to 50,000 fans post-match.
Fans in attendance at next week’s events are encouraged to share photos on their personal social media channels using #SoundersInSeattle. Fans who share a photo and use #SoundersInSeattle may win Sounders FC tickets or swag.
Following Wednesday’s 4-2 loss against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinal Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Sounders FC (6-11-2, 20 points) visits Sporting KC (8-10-4, 28 points) Sunday afternoon in a nationally-televised match on ESPN. Kickoff is slated for 12:00 p.m. PT from Children’s Mercy Park, with local radio coverage from KIRO Radio 97.3 FM beginning at 6:30 p.m. PT. Saturday's contest is also being broadcast locally on El Rey 1360 AM.
ABOUT THE RAVE FOUNDATION
The RAVE Foundation is a 501c-3 public charity with the mission to build small, urban, accessible soccer fields for free play, to shape young citizens, strengthen communities and encourage physical activity. In addition to serving on its Board of Directors, Sounders FC Owner Adrian Hanauer pledged the lead gift which is being used to construct RAVE’s first field at Yesler Park in partnership with the Seattle Parks Department. In 2016, the RAVE Foundation became the official charitable arm of Sounders FC. It is governed by a separate Board of Directors which manage the organization in furtherance of its charitable purposes.
ABOUT SOUNDERS FC
Winner of the 2014 MLS Supporters' Shield and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014), Sounders FC is Seattle's Major League Soccer franchise. With an ownership group led by Seattle-based entrepreneur Adrian Hanauer, Hollywood executive Joe Roth, Seattle Seahawks Chairman Paul G. Allen and entertainer Drew Carey, the club received an MLS charter on November 13, 2007 and has reached the MLS Cup Playoffs in every year of its existence. Since the club's debut MLS season in 2009, Sounders FC has set the standard for soccer support in North America by leading the league in attendance each year, culminating in the top six single-season attendance totals in league history and an active streak of 136 consecutive MLS sellouts. Prior to joining MLS, the Seattle Sounders organization has been a part of the greater Seattle community and U.S. Soccer professional scene since 1974.
