Chairman Mendelson, and members of the Council:
My name is Victor Melara. I am D.C. United’s Director of Community Relations and also a resident of the District, and I am testifying today on Bill 20-805 in light of the consultants report.
Last week, we heard Councilmember Evans reference the “civic pride” of having D.C. United in this great city. Civic responsibility is intrinsic to D.C. United. It’s in the team’s name, which was chosen as part of its vision to be a unifying force in the city. For 19 years, the club has been committed to serving its community. D.C. United makes a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of district residents each year and provides a positive effect on my own hometown.
- Related: #AStadiumForAll conversation
Every year, D.C. United staff, players, corporate partners and fans work together on community projects and initiatives benefiting a variety of organizations in the local metropolitan area, including D.C. Public Schools, Miriam’s Kitchen, Special Olympics D.C., Children’s National Medical Center, the Salvation Army and Dreams for Kids D.C. So far this year, D.C. United has helped serve close to 20 organizations and has provided over 400 hours of service.
D.C. United Drives and Kicks for Kids are also staple in-season programs. So far in 2014, D.C. United has conducted 11 donation drives, collecting hundreds of items, from clothing and soccer equipment to canned food and school supplies. Kicks for Kids provides a game day experience for underserved youth throughout the D.C. region, and this year more than 700 tickets were distributed through 35 different local organizations.
On Saturday, children from all over the city will once again descend upon RFK Stadium for our semi-annual season-ending tournament for the D.C. United Soccer Club. This free afterschool program continues to introduce the sport of soccer and teaches important life skills to youth in inner-city and underprivileged communities in the District. Through a partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, D.C. United has been the steward of nearly $1 million in grant funding for the program’s operation over the last seven years. The United Soccer Club currently operates at 14 different sites in Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. In 2014, the program has impacted more than 1,000 local children.
A new stadium reinforces D.C. United ‘s commitment to community service and ensures that it will continue for another 30 years. In negotiations with the Community Benefits Coordinating Council, we agreed to more than 90% of the specific requests to D.C. United to benefit the children and families specifically residing in ANC6D. Many programs are already underway in this area, and next week D.C. United will team with Sasha Bruce Youthwork to provide 100 families in Wards 6 & 7 with a free Thanksgiving meal. A new stadium at Buzzard Point would play a defining role for the next generation of District residents, and we remain committed to serving the community in the entire District including the team’s proposed home in Southwest.
Thank you.
