For the sixth year, Sounders FC is partnering with MLS WORKS in an effort to Kick Childhood Cancer. The league-wide childhood cancer awareness campaign combines special game presentation elements with individual club programs. The Rave Green continue to be dedicated to creating as many inspiring and empowering experiences as possible for youth with cancer and their families this month, including its Kick Childhood Cancer-themed match on Wednesday, September 18 vs. FC Dallas (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
All of MLS will “go gold” during the month-long campaign, featuring commemorative gold adidas Nativo Questra 2019 Official Match Balls to be used during all matches, as well as gold corner flags and goal nets. Kick Childhood Cancer gold captain’s armbands and gold ribbon jersey patches will be worn by the players, while coaches and technical staff will wear Kick Childhood Cancer caps and pins on the sideline. Sounders FC will be wearing gold pre-match tops for opening processions at every home and away match in September.
These gold pre-match tops are available for purchase at The Pro Shop at CenturyLink Field and on MLSstore.com starting September 1. At every home match in September, fans can also choose to round up their purchase price from The Pro Shop and proceeds will be donated to Strong Against Cancer at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Fans will also have the opportunity to win Kick Childhood Cancer adidas training tops throughout the month by entering the sweepstakes on MLS WORKS Instagram. To enter, comment #KickChildhoodCancer #Sweepstakes, tag two or more friends and follow @MLSWORKS.
At every Sounders FC home match, not just in September but throughout the entire season, Seattle Children’s and Austen Everett Foundation collaborate to identify a local youth who is battling cancer or is in remission. The youth is featured in the Starting XI as the honorary team captain and is cheered by fans as they take part in the opening ceremonies.
Sounders FC is also encouraging fans to nominate youth who are battling cancer to receive a video message from a Sounders FC player. The club is committed to filming up to 200 personalized messages to provide words of encouragement to brave young people fighting cancer. Nominations are currently open via an online form at SoundersFC.com/KCCVideosForKids.
On September 4, over 100 kids battling cancer and their families are scheduled to visit Sounders FC training to watch the team, followed by a chance to meet their favorite players, gather autographs, and even kick around on the field. Each young person will receive a free Sounders FC jersey, courtesy of Zulily, as well as an Alcatel 3T 8 tablet so that they can follow the team during treatment and beyond. A separate media advisory will be issued in the days leading up to the event with more information.
Sounders FC staff and alumni are set to participate in United Way of King County’s Day of Caring on September 13 – the largest day of volunteerism in Washington State. The Rave Green will have a presence at 10 different projects going on throughout the region, including projects supporting the Kick Childhood Cancer initiative such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington. Additionally, Zulily is providing each of the 10 project locations with an autographed Sounders FC jersey to hang in their buildings or to use to raise funds.
The following day, on Saturday, September 14, online retailer and Sounders FC official jersey sponsor Zulily is conducting a special sample sale – typically an event reserved for Zulily employees and their friends and family to raise money for local and national charities – to Sounders FC Season Members. Proceeds raised will benefit Strong Against Cancer at Seattle Children’s. Items made available for sale include apparel for the whole family, home décor, accessories, toys and much more all at an incredible value. In addition to Zulily’s sample product, Sounders FC team gear such as training jackets, jerseys, shorts and socks, as well as autographed boots and jerseys will be available for purchase. An RSVP and proof of Season Membership is required, with registration opening on September 4. Interested Season Members can contact their Sounders FC representative with any questions.
Leading up to the September 18 KCC-themed match presented by Zulily, fans can score another exclusive piece of Sounders gear while also supporting children who are fighting cancer. The team is once again partnering with Love Your Melon to provide fans with a special ticket offer. Each ticket to the match purchased by non-Season Members at https://sndrs.com/8fp47 or by Season Members at https://sndrs.com/plt2h comes with a limited-edition Love Your Melon Sounders FC beanie. The beanie is knit from 100% cotton yarn in natural and green colors and features a Sounders FC patch alongside the Love Your Melon logo.
For those who wish to obtain one of the exclusive beanies but already hold a ticket to the September 29 match, the option exists to buy a ticket through the offer and receive the hat, while the purchased seat is then donated and used by Sounders FC to host local families who are battling cancer.
At both Sounders FC’s September 15 and September 18 home matches, the clubs 2019 Community MVP Christine O’Connell continues to use soccer to make a positive impact on the community. With a booth in Soccer Celebration on both these dates, O’Connell will be selling her Sounders FC player-themed Scarves Fighting Cancer. All proceeds go toward childhood cancer research and Strong Against Cancer at Seattle Children’s. Scarves go on sale in mid-September and can also be purchased at ScarvesFightingCancer.com.
On Tuesday, September 17, the day before the Rave Green take on FC Dallas in the club’s specially themed Kick Childhood Cancer match, the honorary team captain for the match will make a special visit to Sounders FC training. They will be presented with a personalized jersey provided by Zulily and welcomed to the club by Head Coach Brian Schmetzer and players. They will then have their own locker set up in the team locker room the next night and have the opportunity to spend time with the team before walking out onto the field hand in hand with the Sounders FC captain.
To close out the month of activities supporting the fight against cancer, Sounders FC fans can once again take part in a popular blood drive initiative. On September 20-21, the Rave Green is teaming up with BloodWorks Northwest and Slalom for the third annual "Out for Blood with Zach Scott" event, a special blood drive now expanded to three locations throughout the Puget Sound region. Fans can donate in The NINETY on September 20, or at BloodWorks NW centers in Kirkland and Marysville on September 21.
Every fan that gives blood at any of the three locations receives an autographed 2019 Out for Blood t-shirt presented by Slalom and autographed by Scott, former Sounder and current Slalom employee. Space for fans to donate as part of the Out for Blood initiative is limited and an appointment is required, so those interested in taking part should register at SoundersFC.com/BloodDrive.
Fans who want to donate blood but are not available to attend one of the three events are still encouraged to visit any of the Washington BloodWorks NW Donor Centers to be eligible to win one of the following Sounders FC autographed memorabilia and prizes.
