Community

This weekend, Republic FC will join the Sacramento LGBT Center at the 2022 Pride March and Festival, and invites fans to join the celebration.

Those interested in celebrating Pride with the Indomitable club and Tower Bridge Battalion at the city’s first Pride festival since 2019 can do so in a number of ways – Saturday, the club’s Community Investment team will have a booth on Capitol Mall from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. where fans and festival participants alike can enter to win Republic FC merchandise, themed prizes and take a shot on goal. Participants are encouraged to wear Republic FC gear to show off their support for the club while celebrating Pride. To buy tickets to the festival, visit SacramentoPride.org/tickets.

Sunday, the club will participate in the free 2022 Pride March through downtown alongside supporters and friends of the club, displaying a one-of-a-kind banner created by local artist, Shannan O’Rourke.  Last week, O’Rourke took to Heart Health Park during the club’s match against San Antonio FC, and using a design inspired by LGBT history and traditional Pride symbols, created a banner incorporating the club’s crest into the colors of the Pride flag. In the background, a brick wall pays tribute to the stonewall riots of the 1960’s, the starting point of modern day celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride. The banner is not O’Rourke’s first collaboration with Republic FC – she previously participated in the club’s “Paint the Park” event in 2019 and “Boards for Change” in 2020, which benefitted local Black youth organizations.

To join the club in this year’s March through downtown, fans are encouraged to convene at Southside Park (8^th and T St.) between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., in Republic FC gear.  The parade set to start at 11:00 a.m., and will proceed along 10^th street between Southside Park and the State Capitol. This year’s March will be marshaled by the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus and a grouping of local leaders and advocates of the Sacramento LGBTQ community.

Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC kicks off its annual Pride celebration this month, saluting local champions and advocates from the region’s LGBTQ community, as well as supporting the work of various organizations promoting equality and inclusivity. The celebration begins this Saturday, June 4, when Republic FC welcomes San Antonio FC for the club’s annual Pride Night match at Heart Health Park.

“As a club and a city, it is our responsibility to protect each other and maintain a community that is supportive of everyone,” said Republic FC VP of Community Investment Scott Moak. “Throughout June and the remainder of 2022, we are thrilled to resume giving back to Sacramento’s LGBT Community in more ways than one and help continue the ongoing strive for equality.”

On Saturday, the team will honor local community members before the match and at halftime, as well as share Pride symbols with rainbow corner flags and goal nets, as well as the captain’s armband. Defender Duke Lacroix will join Athlete Ally’s national Playing for Pride campaign for the second season in Sacramento – marking the club’s 5^thconsecutive year of participating in the program and Lacroix’s second consecutive season. Based on his statistics accumulated on the pitch, Lacroix and Republic FC will donate $1 for every minute he plays, $50 per goal, $25 per assist, and $10 per successful tackle in each of the club’s June matches, including the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal against LA Galaxy on June 21. Fans can support Duke’s donation goal by contributing online at AthleteAlly.org to help Athlete Ally build inclusive communities in sports across the country.

In 2021, Lacroix combined with teammates Cameron Iwasa and Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu to raise over $700. On June 11, Republic FC’s front office and fans will also join the LGBT Center’s annual Pride March and Festival through downtown Sacramento.

At Saturday’s game, the club will welcome local artist Shannan O’Rourke to create a one-of-a-kind banner that the organization will proudly display during the march. In partnership with the center, the club will also present a $1,000 scholarship – part of the annual Indomitable Scholars series – to a local student at this weekend’s match. LGBT Center leadership and Republic FC staff will review the finalists selected by the LGBT Center and announce a winner on Saturday. The club has presented a local student with scholarship awards as a part of its Pride celebration each season since 2019.

The club will also launch its annual Pride merchandise collection this week. Fifteen percent of sales from a new scarf, shirt and pride sticker will support the work of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. Proceeds from the 2022 collection will assist the Center’s ongoing efforts to provide individuals with often difficult to access health care items and counseling, provide cultural competency and diversity training, provide free support groups to both youth and adults, and much more. The collection will launch later this week at Shop.SacRepublicFC.com.

Since Republic FC’s inception in 2014, the club has worked closely with LGBT organizations and allies in the Sacramento region – from marching in annual parades, providing scholarship resources, highlighting community champions, and supporting LGBT businesses impacted by the pandemic. Last year, the club and its partners were honored with the league’s first-ever USL Impact Award for LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, as well as praise from Football v. Homophobia America – saluting the work of professional clubs.

Saturday’s match against first place San Antonio FC, the first of two matchups between the clubs this season, is set to kickoff at 8:00 p.m. from Heart Health Park. Tickets are available at SacRepublicFC.com/single-match-tickets, and the match will be broadcast live on FOX40, FOX40.com and the FOX40 App, and streaming on ESPN+.

Earlier this week, Republic FC midfielder Matt LaGrassa visited students at Bannon School who participate in Girls Who Code, an after-school program aimed at increasing opportunities for women in computer science careers.

The program helps elementary and high school students nationwide join a group of supportive peers and role-models using computer science to change the world. Bannon is one of just a few schools in the area that sponsor the program, giving their students crucial experience to learn about and explore the often advanced subjects of coding and computer science. It serves an important role, given the ever-increasing importance of roles in technology that are in demand now, and will be in the future.

“Our children are one day going to hold jobs that haven’t been created yet,” said Coletha Browning, the teacher that leads the group. “Coding is no longer a thing of the future – it’s here in the present, and getting our children interested in coding impacts everything in life from medicine to technology to travel. Having Matt here made us feel special.”

The program’s future impact potential is sky high – for LaGrassa, access to this kind of program for young students is something he wishes that he had. It’s a skill that provides a clear path to successful careers in many industries, including soccer and professional sports.

“I think the opportunities these students have to learn the basics of coding at a young age are something I never knew about or had the opportunity to do,” said LaGrassa. “I think it’s so cool they’re spending their after school time practicing something that’s going to be really useful in the future.”

This past week, Republic FC honored nine local students at the club’s matches on April 30 and May 4 for their efforts raising awareness and funding through the Kids’ Heart Challenge, a program that encourages elementary school students and their families to donate to extraordinary causes. The group of “cardiac kids” raised over $10,000 through Kids Heart Challenge fundraisers at their respective elementary schools; monetary aid that will go directly to the American Heart Association’s cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease research efforts for kids facing heart health issues.

“It’s encouraging to see young people from all reaches of our community learning about and contributing to causes near to our hearts,” said Republic FC Director of Community Investment Kevin Burdick. “It’s genuinely inspiring, and reminds all of us that no matter how old you are or where you come from you can make an impact on someone’s life.”

At select home matches, Republic FC honors a different individual at halftime for their efforts raising funds and awareness for Heart Health – a big part of the club’s commitment and encouragement to the community to maintain heart healthy lifestyles and give to organizations and individuals that represent the club’s core values.

On Monday, April 25, a group of Republic FC players will help the club support local childhood cancer research at Mulvaney’s B&L on 19^th Street in Midtown. From 5 – 8P.M., five of Sacramento’s first-teamers – Carlos Saldana, Danny Vitiello, Dan Casey, Duke Lacroix, and Douglas Martinez – will all join St. Baldrick’s Head Shave Party to shave their heads and bring awareness to childhood cancer.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation hosts hundreds of events a year in all 50 states and 28 countries globally, each with the theme of shaving heads to raise money for the nearly 300,000 children affected by childhood cancer worldwide. Since 2005, the foundation has made possible more than $300 million in research grant funding, and has raised as much as $27 million in a single year. Tuesday’s will contribute to the $60,000 and counting raised by its participants, and to the proceeds from over 40 other events already held this year around the country. Republic FC last participated in the event in 2020.

Alongside St. Baldricks, Mulvaney’s is hosting this year’s event in partnership with Keaton’s Childhood Cancer Alliance, a Roseville-based organization whose efforts support children with cancer and their families by providing emotional, educational and financial assistance. Republic FC supporters, led by Tower Bridge Battalion, have already organized a group that’s donated over $1,000 to the event.

Last month, the Republic FC’s Community Investment team gathered with local nonprofit organizations at Jackrabbit Brewing in West Sacramento to highlight the club’s community work and partnership opportunities for the 2022 season. Over 100 organizations from around the region attended, leaving with new opportunities, contacts, and getting an understanding of the Club’s social responsibility priorities.

Each year, Republic FC partners with numerous non-profit and community first organizations with the goal of making Sacramento a better place to live, work, and play through the beautiful game. Whether it’s donating to incredible causes, offering scholarships to the region’s hard-working students, or giving under-privileged youth an amazing experience at a match or in their own backyard, the club takes every opportunity to serve Sacramentans from all reaches through mutually beneficial programming.

“At the end of the day, it was amazing being with others who want to make Sacramento a better place,” said Republic FC Director of Community Investment Kevin Burdick. “It feels good to help each organization gain a better understanding of our social responsibility priorities, and ways we can partner together moving forward.”

“It was a great opportunity to meet some of the other major players working in the non-profit sector and to hear about some of the great work being done in the city.” said Senior Direct Services Manager of International Rescue Committee, Tristan Hudak.

Each season, Republic FC hosts a mixer with nonprofit leaders to share their work, accomplishments, and ways to partner.  In the last three years, the Indomitable Club has provided more than $1.1M of in-kind investment back in to the Sacramento Region – and hosts this event to share opportunities to get involved.

To learn more about ways you can connect your nonprofit organization to the Club, visit SacRepublicFC.com/community.

On Tuesday, March 29, the club’s Community Investment team invites organizations from across the region to come together for an upcoming mixer, where you can learn about our community work, and ways that we can partner with your organization this season. 

Each year, Republic FC partners with numerous non-profit and community first organizations with the goal of making Sacramento a better place to live, work, and play through the beautiful game. Whether it’s donating to incredible causes, offering scholarships to the region’s hard-working students, or giving under-privileged youth an amazing experience at a match or in their own backyard, the club takes every opportunity to serve Sacramentans from all reaches through mutually beneficial programming.  

Tuesday’s mixer will give local organizations an opportunity to learn more about the club’s goals and plans, the opportunity to plug in to accessible programs such as donations and club appearances, and hear directly from club staff.

“The Sacramento area’s non-profit organizations are what give us the ability to support the region, and make the impact we want to make,” said Republic FC VP of Community Investment Scott Moak. “Without them, we couldn’t connect with individuals from all backgrounds and neighborhoods and create new opportunities for fans to connect with the club.”

In just the last month, Republic FC has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a local student in partnership with the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, assisted veterans at American Legion Post 521 in Rio Linda with facility restoration, and given elementary school students the chance to learn from professional players. Throughout the 2022 season, more projects designed to give back are planned, including programs for local youth, students, and organizations that serve important social and economic causes.

Ahead of the 2022 season opener, Republic FC embarked on a week-long effort to give back to the community. On March 10, a group of players and front office staff, including Director of Community Investment Kevin Burdick and goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, made a trip to Rio Linda to offer a helping hand to veterans at American Legion Post 521.

The mission was simple- in early 2020; the community staple saw its facility suffer major structural damage, leaving its main event hall unusable. Since, it’s been a long road to get it restored, and Republic FC was more than happy to assist by moving furniture, refrigerators, and equipment in the way of the next step of the project. The space had been a centerpiece of the community in Rio Linda since 1934 as a gathering place for events, celebrations and more.

The Post is headed by Commander Calvin Coley, who has overseen the space’s restoration from the beginning. When their insurance claim to initiate the repairs was denied, Coley led efforts to solicit their members and neighbors for help, donations, and labor to get their beloved event hall back in business. However, it hasn’t been easy.

The experience clearly left a mark on those who participated, as well. Serving the area’s veterans is a constant focus for Republic FC, and last Thursday’s effort, while small step in an otherwise big project, hit their intent on the head.

In the coming months, Coley and the team at Post 521 will continue restoring the space, with the goal of completing the project in the next few months. When they get it back, it will again be the primary gathering space for those in Rio Linda, ready for regular use by the posts members, their families, and many more.

As a part of the club’s celebration of Black History Month in February, Republic FC partnered with the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce to present a $1,000 scholarship to a local student as a part of the Indomitable Scholars series. Following a thorough review process by a group of Republic FC and SBCC staff, as well as a few Republic FC players, the club awarded Marleah Berry the first Indomitable Scholars award of 2022 on the pitch during Sacramento’s friendly match against Monterey Bay FC.

Berry is a senior at Christian Brothers High School. From a young age, she devoted much of her time to working with children, initially helping her mother – a preschool teacher in Sacramento – with a myriad of tasks to better the experience and care of her young students. Eventually, she moved on to volunteering, tutoring, and even served as a children’s camp counselor, supporting kids of all ages in the classroom and out in the world. At each stop, she’s taken every opportunity to go above and beyond and offer more than she signed up to provide, ensuring every child she worked with got the attention they needed.

“Whenever I work with children, I am pulled into the world in which they live—a world of innocence, adventure, and joy,” says Berry. “Children inspire me to approach every problem with optimism, and to absorb every new piece of information I can, as I did when I was their age. Whether I’m admiring their finger paintings or reviewing their multiplication tables, the brutal honesty and contagious giggles of the children I work with never fail to make me smile.”

Following her graduation this spring, Berry plans to pursue a four-year degree in psychology, and eventually a career as a child psychologist. Long-term, she wants to give children the tools to grow, and work towards creating a future where every child has a healthy environment to live in from the very beginning.

Each year, the Indomitable Scholars series has recognized students in the Sacramento region who show exceptional scholastic leadership and community involvement. Since 2019, the program has helped six local students pursue their educational goals and move on to two or four-year colleges and universities in partnership with local organizations. Republic FC plans to honor additional students for their service to the Sacramento community later this year.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — To celebrate the beginning of its 9^th USL Championship season, Sacramento Republic FC will host a series of events and activations that invest in the region, as well as announce new partnerships rooted in supporting the club’s community priorities and fan experience. The week will lead into the club’s match on Saturday, March 12 at Heart Health Park when the Boys in Old Glory Red will host El Paso Locomotive FC.

“We have an exciting year ahead of us and none of it would be possible without the support from the best fans in the league and our incredible community,” said Republic FC Owner and CEO Kevin Nagle. “Before we take to the field on Saturday and hear the roar of the crowd, we want to stand with those that support us, and help make our community a better place.”

On Tuesday, March 8, Midfielder Nick Ross and Republic FC’s Youth Camps and Clinics coaches are taking over physical education classes at Robla Elementary School. In addition to getting the opportunity to workout with a professional soccer player, each student will receive a soccer ball as well as tickets to a Republic FC game.

On Wednesday March 9, it’s all about heart health – when Republic FC players, coaches and Front Office staff will take part in a CPR class provided by Medic Ambulance. Last May, the Indomitable Club announced that the team’s home stadium would be renamed Heart Health Park, calling attention to the importance of community health. Since then, Heart Health Park has hosted several community wellness events and COVID-19 vaccination clinics, and introduced more “heart-healthy” food options – with much more to come this season.

On Thursday, March 10, a squad of volunteers will travel to Rio Vista to help the veterans at American Legion Post 178 recondition their facility. The volunteers at Post 178 provide local youth with mentoring opportunities and assist veterans and service members, and with the help of Republic FC’s volunteer corps, the facility will be in a better condition to help the American Legion meet its mission.

As part of the club’s celebration of International Women’s Day, the team will close out the week on Friday, March 11 with a special All-Girls Soccer Camp in partnership with Land Park Soccer Club. This free clinic is open to girls ages 6-16 and all skill levels. Participants will learn more about soccer, gain important social and collaborative skills, and have an opportunity to learn about careers in sports from women in Republic FC’s front office. Proud girl-dad and Head Coach Mark Briggs will be in attendance and help with clinic coaching and instruction. Registration is open at SacRepublicFC.com/camps-clinics/. 

All of these events and more lead up to the club’s 2022 Season Opener on Saturday, March 12 at Heart Health Park. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and All of these events and more lead up to the club’s 2022 Season Opener on Saturday, March 12 at Heart Health Park. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and fans can claim tickets at SacRepublicFC.com/single-match-tickets. Fans in attendance will receive special opening night giveaways, including a cheer card and a blanket presented by UC Davis Health. The match will also be broadcast live on 40.2 Antenna TV in English and Spanish, as well as streaming live on the Fox40 mobile app, on smart televisions and through FOX40.com. The match will also be available on ESPN+.