MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Published on May 6, 2022 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC today announced special club programming surrounding the celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As part of the team's ongoing commitment to fighting racism and social justice, the Rave Green are using the month of May to feature programming and projects designed to promote and support local AANHPI-owned small businesses, amplify the voices of historical and cultural experts, and invest and give back to the community.

This month, Sounders FC continues its partnership 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.

To celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, Seattle Sounders FC, Intentionalist and the Seattle pro sports community are collaborating to encourage fans to #SpendLikeItMatters in support of the small businesses at the heart of the local community.

"We're proud to continue our partnership with Seattle Sounders FC to make it easier for fans to celebrate the diversity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cultures by supporting AANHPI-owned small businesses in our local communities," said Intentionalist Founder and CEO Laura Clise.

In the Receipt & Receive program, Intentionalist and Sounders FC, along with fellow local professional sports teams in the Emerald City - the 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 tickets to a Sounders FC matches and a wide variety of other prizes from Seattle's sports teams.

Sounders FC encourages fans to participate in this effort both by visiting their favorite AANHPI-owned establishments and by utilizing Intentionalist to research new options to explore.

In addition to Receipt & Receive, Sounders FC and Intentionalist have also teamed together to share the story behind one BIPOC or minority-owned business each month, as a continuation of the collaboration on the team's 2022 schedule release. In May, honoring AANHPI Heritage Month, the club highlights Phnom Penh Noodle House, a local and newly reborn restaurant serving the Seattle community since 1987.

Owned by three sisters - Dawn Ung, Diane Le and Darlene Ung - this woman-owned restaurant has a strong community and a robust following for its flavorful Cambodian food. Fans can learn more about this International District treasure here, and can also support the restaurant by ordering takeout or dining in from 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. PT (closed Wednesdays). Gift certificates are also available through Intentionalist.

Sounders FC is also proud to continue its partnership with Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience this month, as the club works to elevate the voices of local AANHPI experts.

The Rave Green encourage fans to explore the effects of environmental justice and the intersection of sustainability and the AANHPI experience through Wing Luke's exhibit, "We are Changing the Tide: Community Power for Environmental Justice." The exhibit features a wide range of stories including the Quinault Nation fighting climate change; water protectors resisting fossil fuel development; Duwamish River stewardship; rising seas threatening Pacific Islands and other coastal communities; Native Hawaiians opposing military installations via traditional ceremony; and local community groups fighting disproportionate airplane noise and pollution on Seattle's Beacon Hill.

Visitors to the museum can explore these stories and other content through photographs, artwork, artifacts and first-person voices, learning how BIPOC communities are addressing environmental justice and how everyone can play a role in supporting collaborative systemic change. The exhibit is currently on display at Wing Luke and tickets can be purchased here.

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 first One Seattle Day of Service on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Hing Hay Park in C-ID and Pioneer Square in Seattle.

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.

"I love Seattle - and I know so many neighbors share that same passion for our city and want to be part of making it a better place," said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. "The One Seattle Day of Service is how we put our shared values - inclusion, cooperation, and service - into shared action toward tangible improvements for our city and the residents who make it special. I am thrilled to be partnering with great organizations like Sounders FC who are committed to our community, and I invite every Seattleite to join us for our One Seattle Day of Service on May 21."

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.

"Sounders FC is thrilled to collaborate with our friends at OL Reign to support One Seattle Day of Service. Set in the heart of AANHPI Heritage Month, this day of volunteerism aligns with Sounders FC's long-term commitment to make our community stronger and more equitable," said Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Maya Mendoza. "Our players, staff and fans value the diverse ground-floor businesses that make our community strong, especially on matchday. Working with soccer fans to give back to the neighborhoods surrounding our home at Lumen Field - with projects at Hing Hay Park in C-ID and Pioneer Square - we are humbled to do our part and to live our values through our social justice framework. Clearing trash and cleaning our neighborhoods also supports the club's long-term goals to Protect our Planet by ensuring we divert waste from our waterways, and to Fight Racism by using our platform to support BIPOC neighborhoods and small businesses."

The club invites all fans to join the team in giving back to Seattle. Projects are located throughout the city, and anyone interested is encouraged to sign up, as space is limited.

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