WASHINGTON - D.C. United announced today the team has created an employee-based volunteer program entitled United Builds. United Builds will work to unify the D.C. United family - players, coaches, front office staff and fans - by providing opportunities to volunteer within local communities, with the goal of enriching and improving the lives of the District's under-served. United Builds continues tomorrow when United staff and players team up with DC Habitat for Humanity to build houses at the Clay Street Northeast Habitat location.
"United Builds seeks to bring together its employees, players and coaches in a unified force that will impact the community," said Catherine Marquette, United's Director of Community Relations and the Executive Director of United for D.C. "There is certainly power in numbers and our employees are ready to join our players and support our programs in an effort to make a significant impact in the District."
Tomorrow, United staff will kick-off the day at the Clay Street Habitat location at 8 a.m. to begin work. United players Nick Van Sicklen, Tim Merritt, Kenny Arena, Jason Thompson, Matt Nickell and Andrew Weber will join staff at 1 p.m. and lend a helping hand throughout the afternoon. DC Habitat for Humanity works to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the nation's capitol by building affordable, energy and resource-efficient homes.
Though the team officially announced the program today, United Builds kicked-off in early July when 10 United employees went to the Dinner Program for Homeless Women to assist with serving meals to women and their children. In addition the team representatives delivered over 400 toiletry items for donation to the organization. Staff and fans at home D.C. United games donated all items during the month of June, as part of the team's United Drives initiative.
In 2005, United Builds is in a pilot phase and will focus its efforts on unifying front office employees behind the community outreach activities already going on within the District of Columbia.
