D.C. United’s first annual DC SCORES Day ticket fundraising program, held during the May 20 match against Chicago, raised $12,000 for United’s official charitable partner DC SCORES.
The program, which ran in conjunction with Kids Day presented by Safeway, was created with the goal of giving Black-and-Red fans and the team’s membership base an opportunity to donate directly to DC SCORES. In addition to the $12,000 gift, the program provided 2,700 tickets to DC SCORES youth and their families.
“D.C. United is proud to continue to give back to our local community through our partnership with DC SCORES,” Victor Melara, United's director of community relations, said. “It's programs like this that truly show the generosity of our fans, who help provide support to local youth in need.”
The funds raised will help DC SCORES continue to expand its year-round program serving low-income District youth through an innovative combination of soccer, poetry, and service-learning. DC SCORES’ spring programming served 2,200 elementary and middle school youth throughout the District at 55 sites.
“It was incredible to see so many kids, their coaches, and their families in DC SCORES shirts rooting on D.C. United,” Bethany Rubin Henderson, DC SCORES executive director, said. “For many of these kids, this was their first experience at a professional soccer game, and that’s something they won’t soon forget."
"It was incredible for our whole family to get to enjoy a D.C. United game together," Julia Caldera, mother of a Lincoln Middle School DC SCORES participant, said.
DC SCORES’ mission is to go where there are youth in need and create neighborhood teams that give kids the confidence and skills to succeed on the playing field, in the classroom, and in life. To learn more and get involved, visit DCSCORES.org.
