MLS Chicago Fire FC

Chicago Fire FC Named Finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation 2023 Citizens Awards

Published on October 10, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO - Chicago Fire FC announced today that the Club was named a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's 2023 Citizens Awards, a long-standing program that honors purpose-driven businesses for their leadership in solving the world's biggest challenges. The Fire are nominated for the organization's "Best Commitment to Education Program" award for the Chicago Fire Foundation's work through the P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program.

For more than two decades, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Citizens Awards have recognized the best in corporate citizenship and highlighted how businesses of all sizes are serving as a force for good. The annual awards program has recognized the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship initiatives that leverage a company's talent, resources, and expertise to improve communities.

The Fire embraced the opportunity to impact the lives of underserved youth through enriching programming across Chicago Public Schools. Studies show there is a correlation between academics and physical education students receive. In 2013, the Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire, established the proprietary P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer) Program, which is designed to enhance academic performance and development of social and emotional learning (SEL) traits of students through a sports-based curriculum. P.L.A.Y.S. currently serves more than 1,000 boys and girls, of which nearly 95% are classified as low-income and live at or below the U.S. poverty level. Research has shown that engaging youth within these demographics has positively impacted those most at-risk for academic success, as 94% of participants believe P.L.A.Y.S. has helped them do their best in school.

The winners of the 2023 Citizens Awards will be announced during the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Business Solves Conference on November 1-2, 2023.

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