‘This Is A Stadium that Cannot Remain Empty,’ Says Devin McCourty
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO.— New England defensive backs Devin and Jason McCourty have joined Compassion International’s Fill The Stadium Team —along with fellow professional athletes and national leaders—to help children living in extreme poverty around the globe.
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 underprivileged kids and their families.
“Our families are all helping,” said Devin McCourty. “We are all donating to Fill The Stadium. This is a stadium that cannot remain empty.”
“Compassion International is working tirelessly to try to fulfill the poverty needs all around the world for young kids,” said Jason McCourty. “They are helping these kids reach their full potential. Every empty seat in a stadium, which is about 70,000, represents a child in need.”
Fill The Stadium team leaders—Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, CEO and president of Compassion International, and Steve Stenstrom, president of Pro Athletes Outreach—have already received a strong assist from 37 athletes and leaders.
The Fill The Stadium team notes that $500—approximately the same amount most Americans would spend for four tickets 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.
Joining the McCourty twins, Mellado and Stenstrom in the Fill The Stadium effort are such standout professional athletes as Dakota Dozier of the Minnesota Vikings; Alyssa Naeher of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team; Nate Solder of the New York Giants and many others. These elite athletes understand that their leadership and participation can help bring much-needed attention to this worthy cause.
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 a caring, prayerful and thoughtful community to join together in this needed relief.
To learn more, visit the Fill The Stadium website, and Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.