WASHINGTON - D.C. United announced today that its United Drives initiative will continue during the month of August with the collection of new and unused school supplies. D.C. United plays at home on Wednesday, August 10 against the MetroStars, on Saturday, August 13 against Chivas USA, on Saturday, August 20 versus the Los Angles Galaxy and on Wednesday, August 31 versus Real Salt Lake. At each of these MLS regular season games, donations of back-to-school items such as notebooks, pens and pencils, backpacks, rulers, calculators, folders, highlighters and binders will be accepted. All collected items will go to the students and teachers at four schools affiliated with United Reads, a reading and literacy program run by the team's non-profit arm, United for D.C.
D.C. United has also teamed-up with long-time partner United Bank, which will accept donations at all area branches during the months of August and September. (For branch locations and hours, please visit www.unitedbank-va.com
.) This marks the second year in a row that United Bank has supported D.C. United and United Drives through the collection of children's books and school supplies at its area locations.
"D.C. United has found a wonderful corporate partner in United Bank with similar beliefs on giving back to the community," said Catherine Marquette, United's Director of Community Relations and United for D.C.'s Executive Director. "With United Bank's help, we will collect school supplies to benefit some of the city's neediest youth."
"United Bank is, once again, pleased to be a part of this important and beneficial program," said Paulette Cross, Executive Vice President of Marketing at United Bank. "As a community bank, we are enthusiastic about collecting school supplies to support our schools, our teachers and most importantly, our children. All members of the community are encouraged to make donations at any United Bank office."
At all D.C. United regular season home games, the United Drives booth is located outside of RFK Stadium's Gate A and opens an hour and a half prior to kickoff, closing 15 minutes into the first half. Any fan that donates an item will receive a "Buy One, Get One Free" ticket voucher good for any D.C. United regular season home game as well as a United promotional item as a thank you from the club.
Through United Drives, D.C. United chooses a different item to collect during each month of the season. The items collected by United Drives include children's toys (April) to benefit Children's National Medical Center, children's books (May) and school supplies (August) to benefit United for D.C., toiletry items (June) to benefit the Dinner Program for Homeless Women, canned food (July) to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank, soccer equipment (September) to benefit DC SCORES and coats and clothes (October) to benefit The Children's Center located in Ward 8.
For more information on the United Drives program or to receive more information about any of D.C. United's Community Relations' initiatives, please contact Catherine Marquette at 202-587-5443 or cmarquette@dcunited.com
.
Remaining 2005 United Drives Schedule
Dates, Drive, Beneficiary
August (10th, 13th, 20th and 31st), School Supplies Drive, United for D.C.
September (17th), Soccer Equipment Drive, DC SCORES
October (8th & 15th), Coat & Clothes Drive, The Children's Center
