WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2009) - D.C. United announced today plans to kick off the 2009 season of United Drives by collecting children’s books at the first home game of the season. All books collected at the March 28 game will benefit the team’s charitable arm, United for D.C., and its seven adopted schools. Each month during the 2009 Major League Soccer season, D.C. United will collect items at every home game to benefit pre-determined non-profit organizations within the Washington, D.C. area.
“The United Drives initiative has become increasingly successful through the years,” said United Director of Community Relations, Aprile Pritchet. “We’ve added two new beneficiaries in 2009, both in Prince George’s County, and we couldn’t be happier about the partnership! The United Drives program supports a number of worthy non-profit organizations and we look forward to our fans, players and staff contributing again this season.”
Fans who donate an item will receive a "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket voucher, redeemable for that day’s match or selected 2009 regular season home game. The collection bin is to be located outside RFK Stadium’s Gate A, and is open from two hours prior to the game until 15 minutes after kick-off. Donations are also accepted in the D.C. United offices, located on the fourth floor of Gate A. This season marks the seventh year of the United Drives campaign, which collects much-needed items to help with each beneficiary’s mission. Below is a list of what items will be collected in advance of each home game:
United Drives dates:
Drives - collection item (Beneficiary)
March 28 - Children’s books (United For D.C.)
April 4, 17 - Baby Essentials (Child Resource Center)
May 2, 9, 23 - Food (Capital Area Food Bank and Children of Mine)
June 4, 13 - Toys (Children’s National Medical Center and The Children’s Center)
July 18 - Soccer Equipment (United for D.C.)
August 8, 22 - School Supplies (United for D.C.)
September 12, 27 - Toiletries (Thrive DC)
October 3, 17 - Coats (Mission of Love)
United For D.C. is a 501(c) 3 organization chartered to serve the Washington, D.C. community through the creation or support of programs, events and organizations that advance educational and social welfare opportunities (primarily health and recreational) for the area’s youth, particularly those who may be economically, physically or mentally disadvantaged.
For more information on United Drives or any of D.C. United’s community initiatives, please call (202) 587-5000.
Broadcasting and P.A. Request: When speaking of the organization, please refer to the team as either “D.C. United” or “United,” but not “the D.C. United” or “the United.” We appreciate your cooperation.
Doug Hicks,
dhicks@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5448,
Boris Flores,
bflores@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5452,
Kyle Sheldon,
ksheldon@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5450 or
Cristina Cruz,
ccruz@dcunited.com
, (202) 587-5440
