NWSL Washington Spirit

Tara McKeown Selected as Spirit Ambassador in 2023 NWSL Nationwide Community Impact Program

July 24, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Washington, D.C. - Spirit defender Tara McKeown will serve as the Washington Spirit ambassador in the 2023 Nationwide Community Impact Program. In the third season of this award, the NWSL and Nationwide will continue to recognize and promote the community partners and service projects that take place throughout the season. At the conclusion of the 2023 season, the program will culminate with the Nationwide Community Impact Award, where one club and its partner will be recognized for exemplary community service and $25,000 will be donated from Nationwide to further the community organization's cause. The winning club ambassador will also be awarded $5,000.

The ambassador from each NWSL team will select a partner that best aligns with their personal and team community values. McKeown has chosen longtime Spirit community ally, DC SCORES, as her community partner. Nationwide will provide a $5,000 grant to DC SCORES to support its programming.

Spending the Spring working with the DC SCORES girls' soccer team at Ida B. Wells Middle School, McKeown's goal is to help maintain and bolster the pipeline for girls' soccer in the District - even beyond what DC SCORES and the Spirit have been able to support. This school was selected when considering roughly just 15% of DC Public Schools high schools have Girls Soccer teams. Ida B. Wells Middle School is a feeder into one of those few high schools. McKeown has attended practice, invited players out to Spirit games and even presented the "Spirit Award" at the Ida B. Wells Sports Awards to one of the girls for their dedication.

Fans can get involved on Twitter beginning in October to support their team's community partners. A fan vote will take place and the winner will receive a $10,000 donation from Nationwide to support the community partner and a matching $10,000 to support the club itself. More information on the Nationwide Community Impact Program is available here.

DC SCORES is one of the Washington Spirit's closest community partners. Founded in 1994 in Washington, D.C., DC SCORES provides after school care with a focus on soccer, poetry, and service learning entirely free to every kid who participate. DC SCORES is creating a new generation of "Poet Athletes" who not only succeed and stay active on the field, but who are confident, expressive, and empathetic changemakers in their community.

The club announced this past offseason that all 14 home matches will be played for the first time at Audi Field in Buzzard Point, ensuring players and fans alike access to a facility befitting a professional club.

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