Community Relations Evolve As The Columbus Crew SC Foundation
Black & Gold organization spent more than 900 hours in the community in 2014 and earned the Pillar Award for Community Service from Smart Business Magazine
Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club’s community initiatives are being organized under a new platform titled Give Forward. Formerly Dare to Care, the new platform of Give Forward will continue the club’s commitment to serving challenged youth, encouraging healthy and positive lifestyles, honoring the military and keeping Columbus beautiful.
Additionally, the club’s charitable arm, formerly called the Crew Soccer Foundation, will now be known as the Columbus Crew SC Foundation.
In recognition of the club’s efforts in the community, Columbus Crew SC and the Columbus Crew SC Foundation last night earned the Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service, presented by Smart Business Magazine. The award honors businesses of all types and sizes that make outstanding contributions to their communities. This is the sixth year that the Pillar Award has been presented, with the judging being conducted by past honorees, sponsors and business leaders within the community.
In 2014, the club was active in the Central Ohio community, with highlights including:
– More than 350 staff and player community appearances
– More than 900 total hours spent in the community
– Special camouflage kits worn on Military Appreciation Night presented by Heartland Bank raising more than $11,000 for area military non-profit organizations
– Donating more than 3,000 items to various non-profit organizations
– Participating in the Massive Makeover Project with Habitat for Humanity: Home of Hope as well as the second annual Casting with the Crew event presented by Kroger with the Wounded Warrior Project
– Engaging in special events with the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Operation Buckeye, Faith Mission, Easter Seals and United Way of Central Ohio
– The Active Bodies Active Minds youth activity and reading program presented by OhioHealth and supported by Kroger reaching more than 3,000 children from Boys & Girls Clubs, Ohio elementary students and Capital Kids
– The Get a Kick Out of Reading summer reading program having more than 650 participants
– The first-ever Barson’s Boots campaign, donating new and gently used soccer gear to Columbus children spearheaded by Homegrown defender Chad Barson
– Homegrown goalkeeper Matt Lampson launching his own non-profit organization, the LampStrong Foundation, Inc.
– At home and away matches, Matt Lampson welcoming LampStrong Heroes and their families to the stadiums for the matches and a personal meet and greet with them on the field
– Thanksgiving dinner delivery to eight local families
– Players and staff holiday volunteer partnership with The Salvation Army
– Medical Mutual Pillar Award recipient
The mission statement of the Columbus Crew SC Foundation is to change young lives through a passion for soccer with four core areas of focus: soccer field development, providing funds and grants for underserved leagues and clubs, providing Major League Soccer experiences for challenged youth and supporting coach, player and referee development in underserved communities.
Among the Foundation highlights in 2014:
– The completion of two field development projects at Huy Road Park and Krumm Park as part of a $70,000 initiative to create soccer space and programming in the Central Ohio Community, in partnership with Barbasol, Scotts Miracle-Gro and CheckSmart
– The awarding of the Linden McKinley Student-Athlete award and $1,000 college scholarship for the tenth year
– A $50,000 award to Nationwide Children’s Hospital through the Kirk Urso Memorial Fund, the largest grant ever awarded from the Foundation
– The distribution of more than 5,000 Crew SC tickets to child-focused organizations through the Kicks for Kids program, supported by Cardinal Health, CheckSmart, Columbia Gas, Jani King and Medical Mutual
– The participation of 105 children in the Heroes League, a record for the five-week program offering soccer instruction for challenged youth ages 6-9
– The participation of more than 100 children in the Foundation’s clinic series, designed for children ages 9-14 to enhance basic soccer skills and reinforce the importance of physical activity
– The assistance of 30 youth in becoming referees through the Foundation’s Referee Scholarship program
