In the Wake of COVID-19 Poverty-Stricken Children and Families Fight to Survive – Nation’s Top Athletes Pledge $300K – $1 Million to Fill The Stadium!
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.—The coronavirus has wreaked havoc this year in a myriad of ways. But it has not stopped a determined community of professional athletes and influencers from advocating for the needs of children living in desperate poverty around the globe.
Already in leadership roles for Fill The Stadium efforts are such standout professional athletes as Nick Foles, professional football MVP quarterback; Alyssa Naeher of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team; Carson Palmer, former professional quarterback; Chris Davis, first baseman of the Baltimore Orioles; Devin and Jason McCourty, defensive backs of New England; Nate Solder of the New York Giants; Brock Huard, former professional quarterback; Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes and many others.
These elite athletes understand that their leadership and participation can help bring much-needed attention to this worthy cause. They are all truly making a difference while inspiring others to give to this important initiative. The athletes’ commitments have led the way for Fill The Stadium to raise more than $10M to date.
Fill The Stadium has a clear goal over the next 12 months: to provide aid to 70,000 children in Compassion International’s programs who missed out on relief this year due to gaps of support created by the COVID-19 crisis. The target of 70,000 is the average capacity of pro-football stadiums in America. Fill The Stadium leaders hope that fans who normally would have spent money on professional sports games this year—but couldn’t—choose instead to support kids and their families.
The Fill The Stadium team notes that $500—approximately the same amount most Americans would spend for a family of four to attend a pro-football game—will help provide 12 months of food, nutritional supplements, hygiene essentials, and COVID-19 medical screenings for children and families in crisis. So far, the group has “filled” over 16,000 seats—well on their way to the goal of helping 70,000 children.
“Because kids all around the world can benefit from this project and live a better life because of our help, I’m challenging youth soccer clubs and others to help ‘fill a seat’ in the stadium for a great cause,” said Alyssa Naeher.
“Our families are all helping,” said Devin McCourty. “We are all donating to Fill The Stadium. This is a stadium that cannot remain empty.”
According to Fill The Stadium team leaders, Carson Palmer has committed to donating $300,000 and is challenging others to match his donation. “When you think about all the children, 70,000 kids that Compassion wasn’t able to reach this year because of COVID, it breaks my heart” said Palmer. “What we can do right now is stand in the gap for all these kids.”
In this year of coronavirus, “We are all experiencing the reality of empty stadiums,” says the Fill The Stadium team. It’s why this effort so desperately needs caring and thoughtful Americans to join in.