Today, Sounders FC joins in the observance of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day worldwide celebration. Despite Major League Soccer’s current suspension of play, the Rave Green remain dedicated to that commitment in 2020 and going forward, partnering with Earth Day Northwest 2020, an organization working toward a sustainable Pacific Northwest for all people, focusing on the pillars of environment, equity and inclusion and the built community.
In 2019, Sounders FC became the first professional soccer team in North America and the first sports team among the five major American leagues – MLS, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB – to go completely carbon neutral. This pledge continues in 2020 and beyond, as earlier this year, players, Sounders FC staff members and fans joined with local nonprofit Forterra to plant over 450 trees along the Duwamish River in Tukwila to offset the club’s carbon footprint while revitalizing a riverside habitat.
For this Earth Day, Sounders FC has worked with Earth Day Northwest 2020 to support the #NEXT5 campaign, which looks forward – be it five months, years, or even decades – by asking organizations and individuals to make a public commitment to do something big and tangible that preserves and protects the environment and our communities. Severalmembers of Sounders FC, including Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, are taking part in the campaign during these uncertain times, providing their vision of what they would like to see in regard to sustainability over the next five years.
Earth Day Northwest 2020 also worked with Grammy-nominated artist Hollis, who wrote and performed an anthem for the organization, which was debuted at halftime of Sounders FC’s April 18 Sounders FC Classics match.
Additionally, being released today, fans can tune in to Sounders FC’s StoryLAB, where former team captain Brad Evans interviews four sustainability icons, including Denis Hayes, lead organizer of the inaugural Earth Day and president of the Bullitt Foundation, Kevin Wilhelm, CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting, Christy Briggs, First & Goal Inc. Sustainability & Logistics Manager, and Peter Hodum, 2018 Sounders FC Fan of the Year and professor of environmental policy.
Evans and Steve Zakuani will also have a special edition of their podcast, Winging It with Steve & Brad, featuring Kevin Wilhelm – a Sounders fan in addition to his environmental work – discussing moments in Sounders FC history along with a timeline of sustainability and environmental developments.
