Coaches, players and community members launch virtual competition in hopes to raise $30,000 for pediatric hospital
San Diego, CA (April 14, 2020) – Today, San Diego Loyal SC (SD Loyal) announced a partnership with Rady Children’s and The Conrad Prebys Foundation to raise funds for the hospital’s fight against COVID-19, which was announced last week. Registration is open for the multi-week virtual fundraising effort. SD Loyal asks fans, as well as the community, to help reach the team’s fundraising goal of $30,000 and help Rady Children’s get one step closer to completing The Conrad Prebys Foundation COVID-19 Response Challenge.
“Like most of the world right now, we’re challenged to come up with creative ways to support our community during this unprecedented time,” said Warren Smith, president of SD Loyal. “We want to show support for our partners like Rady Children’s Hospital who have been at the forefront of childhood health care for more than 65 years.”
Beginning today, soccer fans are able to register to join one of three teams: Team Landon Donovan, Team Carrie Taylor or Team Nate Miller. Each team will embark on a social media-fueled challenges—while staying safe at home—to raise money until Saturday, May 2, the original date of the Dream Big Walk which was put on hold by the COVID-19 outbreak. Challenge winners—and donors—will be eligible to win prizes and unique experiences with the SD Loyal.
“The Dream Big Walk is a new tradition at Rady Children’s, and one we are especially proud to offer our community. I am humbled by the outpouring of support for Rady Children’s when we aren’t able to come together in person,” said Patrick Frias, MD, president and CEO of Rady Children’s. “Warren, Andrew, Landon and the entire team are wonderful advocates for childhood health; and this is a safe, fun way to get to know San Diego’s newest professional soccer team while supporting our health care heroes.”
The Conrad Prebys Foundation extended a $350,000 challenge to Rady Children’s community that, when coupled with community donations, will help fund the health system’s ability to create critically needed 3D-printed nasal swabs, protective face shields and other in-demand materials, and bolster its investment in protecting frontline care providers, patients and families while fighting the effects of COVID-19.
“The urgency to fund lifesaving technology for our community is needed now more than ever,” said Alexandra Loker, senior director of philanthropy. “We have a unique opportunity to come together differently during the pandemic and support finding solutions to test, diagnose and treat community members who need us most. Although we won’t gather and walk together this year, we will bring our community together—safely, remotely, virtually—with partners like SD Loyal to show each kid, and the medical teams caring for them, that we never stop.”
SD Loyal players will be taking to their social media channels to announce new weekly challenges, sweepstakes and team updates.
“Rady Children’s is an invaluable community resource—caring for more than 9 out of 10 children in our neighborhoods,” said Landon Donovan, EVP of soccer operations and first team manager of SD Loyal. “Connecting our soccer family to the great work the doctors, nurses and Hospital staff are doing right now—for all San Diegans—is a meaningful way for us to spend our time while we’re practicing safe social distancing.”
Join one of SD Loyal’s teams now. Fans are encouraged to stay connected in the safety of their own homes by downloading the official team app or signing up for updates and news via SDLoyal.com and #SDLoyal.
For more information on Rady Children’s Dream Big, visit: radyfoundation.org/walk. To learn more about The Conrad Prebys Foundation COVID-19 Response Challenge, visit Rady Children’s: www.radyfoundation.org/heroes.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO LOYAL SOCCER CLUB
Launched on June 19, 2019, San Diego Loyal is the newest member of USL Championship, a USSF-sanctioned Division II league and one of the most competitive pro soccer leagues in the world. The Club will play at Torero Stadium at the University of San Diego. San Diego Loyal is built on four core pillars – independent, authentic, inclusive and optimistic. San Diego Loyal plays for America’s Finest City and is led by some of the best in sport. The Club is led by Chairman Andrew Vassiliadis, who is the youngest principal owner in USL Championship. It was founded and led on the business-side by experienced soccer executive Warren Smith, a co-founder and former president of Sacramento Republic FC. Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Landon Donovan, one of the most decorated soccer players in the U.S., leads the technical side as both EVP and First Team Manager. To learn more, visit sdloyal.com
RADY’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is a 524-bed pediatric care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Rady Children’s is the only health system in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. In June 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rady Children’s among the best children’s hospitals in the nation in all ten pediatric specialties the magazine surveyed. Rady Children’s is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations to support its mission. For more information, visit www.rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo.