SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced special club programming surrounding the celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. As part of the Rave Green’s ongoing commitment to fight racism, one of the pillars of Sounders FC’s Social Justice Framework, the club is using the month of May to feature programming and projects designed to promote and support local AANHPI-owned businesses, educate the community around the harmful impacts of implicit bias and systemic racism, amplify the voices of cultural experts and invest and give back to the community in historically under-resourced and underfunded spaces.
The club’s activities this month serve to continue the Rave Green’s season-long collaboration with Intentionalist, an online guide to intentional spending. Intentionalist supports small businesses and diverse local communities by making it easier to find and support businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, families and people with disabilities.
This year, to celebrate National Small Business Week (NSBW) 2023, Intentionalist is partnering with multiple companies and nonprofits organizations to amplify the diverse Main Street small businesses at the heart of our communities. NSBW is an annual celebration hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.
During the week of April 30 to May 6, Sounders FC is opening a $500 prepaid tab at Rainier Teriyaki, a local AANHPI-owned business to align with the celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month and the club’s goal to support local BIPOC-owned businesses. By visiting Rainier Teriyaki’s listing on the Intentionalist website, fans obtain a code through which they can order a delicious Teriyaki Combo #1 plus a canned drink courtesy of Sounders FC and until the tab runs out.
**Rainier Teriyaki** is a family-owned restaurant in Seattle’s Mount Baker neighborhood that specializes in freshly made, natural and healthy Korean-Japanese style teriyaki dishes, including chicken, beef and tofu options. Each dish is prepared with fresh ingredients and a blend of savory sauces. In addition to its famous teriyaki dishes, the restaurant also offers sushi rolls, gyoza and a variety of appetizers. Rainier Teriyaki is committed to providing high-quality food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere for all customers.
After experiencing the tragic loss of their founder, Hansoo Kim, the restaurant closed for two months to make repairs and renovations. Rainier Teriyaki has now reopened with one of Hansoo’s sons, Juyoung Kim, at the helm and the community is thrilled to have the family and restaurant back.
Rainer Teriyaki is open Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday) from 10:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. PT and is located at 3330 Rainier Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98144.
Additionally, to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, Seattle Sounders FC, Intentionalist and the Seattle professional sports community are collaborating to encourage fans to #SpendLikeItMatters in support of the small businesses at the heart of the local community.
In the **Receipt & Receive** program, Intentionalist and Sounders FC, along with fellow local professional sports teams in the Emerald City – Seattle Kraken, Seattle Mariners, OL Reign, Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Storm – are encouraging the community to buy from local AANHPI-owned small businesses this month, and all year long. As an incentive through the month of May, fans who upload receipts from qualifying AANHPI-owned businesses have the chance to win a variety of prizes from Seattle’s sports teams, including a pair of Sounders FC tickets and autographed gear.
Sounders FC and Intentionalist encourage fans to participate in this effort by visiting their favorite AANHPI-owned food trucks and kiosks – located at the North Plaza and PNW Marketplace at Lumen Field – at any of the club’s home matches and through the month of May. The club’s match on Sunday, May 7 features food trucks Bai Tong on Wheels and Tabassum. AANHPI-owned food trucks and kiosks can be found in forthcoming matchday communications.
SOUNDERS FC DAY AT WING LUKE MUSEUM OF THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Sounders FC continues its partnership with Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience during AANHPI Heritage Month with a pop-up museum exhibit at Sounders FC’s match against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, May 7 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field.
The Rave Green encourage fans to explore Wing Luke’s exhibit, which shares the history of the Chinatown-International District. Although subject to exclusionary policies and practices for over 100 years, the community demonstrates strength through its business and community life. Stories of individuals, families and organizations reflect the resilience and creativity within the Chinatown-International District. Wing Luke’s pop-up also features highlights of the American martial artist, actor, philosopher and filmmaker Bruce Lee in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. The pop-up pairs with its current onsite exhibition “Nobody Lives Here,” featuring the work of Tessa Hulls. Hulls – an artist, writer and historian – illuminates the connections between the present and the past by showcasing businesses, homes, and people who were displaced when the I-5 freeway was built through Seattle’s Chinatown-International District neighborhood in the 1960s. Using historic photos, oral histories and archival research, the exhibit connects these specific histories to broader themes of racist land use policy and the erasure of marginalized communities, nationally and locally, past and present.
In addition to the pop-up exhibit and to provide the opportunity for all to learn about AANHPI Heritage Month, the club and Wing Luke Museum are hosting Sounders FC Day on Sunday, May 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT by offering free admission to anyone wearing a Sounders FC gear. Fans who visit the museum that day will also be entered to win a Bruce Lee Kit.
The Wing Luke Museum is located at 719 S King St, Seattle, WA 98104. Although the museum does not offer on-site parking, visitors can utilize street parking for free on Sundays and holidays.
ONE SEATTLE DAY OF SERVICE
As part of Sounders FC’s efforts to give back to the community –\\ and in partnership with the City of Seattle and OL Reign – the club is taking part in the city's One Seattle Day of Service, a volunteering event taking place on Saturday, May 20**.
The One Seattle Day of Service campaign was launched by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to turn the values behind his vision for One Seattle – inclusion, cooperation and service – into shared action and meaningful improvement for the city and the quality of life of all residents. The campaign is an open invitation to every Seattle neighbor to roll up their sleeves, come together and give back, with volunteer opportunities in each neighborhood across the city.
This year, Sounders FC is focusing efforts around the club’s home place at Lumen Field and in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District as part of its commitment to the AANHPI community, with multiple volunteering opportunities available to Sounders FC fans who would like to participate. Fans who volunteer for one of the club’s two service project opportunities listed below will receive up to two tickets to the club’s home match against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 27 at Lumen Field.
- Street Beautification in Pioneer Square: This event, hosted by Sounders FC in partnership with Alliance for Pioneer Square and OL Reign, is a great opportunity to make a positive impact in the community and make Pioneer Square an even more beautiful and welcoming neighborhood. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. PT. Those in attendance will meet at Occidental Park (117 South Washington Street, Seattle, WA 98104). Light refreshments and snacks will be provided at the start of the day’s activities. In addition, a boxed lunch is provided to volunteers in the afternoon with a variety of meals to choose from including vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Those who would like to participate can register here&field:eventid=SEA-16P).
- Street Beautification in the Chinatown-International District: This event, hosted by Sounders FC in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT with registration starting at 8:00 a.m. PT. Those in attendance will meet at Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Ave South, Seattle, WA 98104). Sturdy closed-toe shoes are highly recommended. Those who would like to participate can register here&field:eventid=SEA-11P).
For additional information on any of the mentioned AANHPI Heritage Month events, please contact Gisselle Pichardo of Sounders FC Communications [GisselleP@SoundersFC.com].
