COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — To date, almost $24 million has been raised in the first half of Compassion International’s Fill the Stadium initiative, aiding nearly 48,000 children and their families living in extreme poverty in the wake of COVID-19. In addition, over 40 professional athletes and national leaders have personally joined the Fill the Stadium lead team to help save children in crisis in the developing world. Included in this remarkable group is Pro Golfer Sam Burns, who joined the Fill the Stadium team in early 2021.
Burns, who has recently competed this year in the Genesis Invitational (PGA), the Arnold Palmer Invitational (PGA) and THE PLAYERS Championship (PGA) is the most recent top athlete to join the Fill the Stadium initiative.
“This past year, everyone has experienced some type of adverse change in their lives due to the pandemic,” stated Burns. “The children who are being helped by the Fill the Stadium team experienced changes that were devastating. They need to have those negative changes reversed – this effort is truly making a difference in the lives of these children. Joining my fellow athletes at Compassion International is a way for me to support this critical change, and to serve God as well.”
Joining Sam Burns in leadership roles for Fill the Stadium efforts are such standout professional athletes as Nick Foles, professional football MVP quarterback; Adam Engel of the Chicago White Sox; Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Alyssa Naeher of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team; Jordy Nelson, former professional wide receiver; Carson Palmer, former professional quarterback; Devin and Jason McCourty, defensive backs of New England; Nate Solder of the New York Giants; Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes; Brock Huard, FOX Sports Broadcaster and former professional quarterback, and many others.
So far, the initiative has “filled” nearly 48,000 seats — continuing their commitment and leadership — on their way to the goal of helping 70,000 children. In this era 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.
Founded in 1952,Compassion International is a Christian child development organization that works to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Compassion revolutionized the fight against global poverty by working exclusively with the Church to lift children out of spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty. Compassion partners with more than 8,000 churches in 25 countries to deliver its holistic child development program to over 2 million babies, children and young adults. Its child sponsorship program has been validated through independent, empirical research.