In September, Sounders FC continued its mission to Defend the Right to Play with RAVE Foundation by participating in community celebrations, opening new mini-pitches and giving away over 1,000 soccer balls! In alignment with Latinx Heritage Month, which began on September 15, much of the month’s work centered around and celebrated the Latinx community.
We acknowledge the complexity of the terminology used to celebrate this month and recognize the variety of ways that members of the community identify. At Sounders FC, we use the inclusive term Latinx in alignment with our firm belief in LGBTQ+ equality, and to recognize and celebrate the diversity of culture and heritage of the community represented by Sounders FC players, staff and fans.
Sea Mar’s Fiestas Patrias
We kicked off the month’s festivities at Sea Mar’s Fiestas Patrias on Saturday, September 16. The day was complete with two RAVE clinics for youth of various ages, a soccer ball giveaway, street team activations and a special ticket offer for the October 4 match celebrating Latinx Heritage Month. This community celebration of Latinx culture and traditions was a free two-day event where attendees enjoyed delicious traditional Latin American food, live music, traditional folk dance performances and more.
New Mini-Pitches in Yakima
RAVE Foundation opened two new mini-pitches at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Yakima on Friday, September 22. These special mini-pitches feature a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr., created by artist and Friend of Sounders FC, Teddy “STAT” Phillips. The celebration included representatives from 2026 FIFA World Cup Seattle’s Local Organizing Committee, Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director and RAVE Trustee Roger Levesque, and Consul to Mexico, Héctor Iván Godoy Priske. Immediately following the ceremony, RAVE gave every student a soccer ball to take home.
New Mini-Pitch in Renton
Sounders FC and RAVE Foundation, in partnership with Providence, Regence and the Renton School District, celebrated the opening of a new mini-pitch at Benson Hill Elementary School on September 28. This mini-pitch is the very first to feature the new Sounders FC crest, revealed earlier this month. In honor of the opening, we hosted a full day of celebrations, including a mental wellness focused schooled assembly. Presented by Providence, this assembly taught the elementary school students about the complexity of their feelings and provided different tools to promote their own social-emotional health. Sounders FC Brand Ambassador Brad Evans led the opening ceremony and joined other Sounders FC staff in providing soccer skills training during the students’ physical education classes. The day culminated in each student receiving a free soccer ball courtesy of RAVE Foundation, a water bottle courtesy of Regence and a drawstring bag courtesy of Providence.
Support Latinx-owned Small Businesses
Seattle Sounders FC, Intentionalist and the Seattle professional sports community have collaborated, once again, to encourage fans to #SpendLikeItMatters in support of the Latinx-owned small businesses at the heart of our local community.
In the Receipt & Receive program, Intentionalist and Sounders FC, along with fellow local professional sports teams, have been encouraging the community to buy from local Latinx-owned small businesses this month, and all year long. As an incentive through Latinx Heritage Month, fans who upload receipts from qualifying Latinx-owned businesses have had the chance to win a variety of prizes from Seattle’s professional sports teams, including a pair of Sounders FC tickets and autographed gear.
Help us reach our goal of $25,000 by uploading your receipt here by October 15!
