Chicago Fire Soccer and local contributors and businesses teamed up for the fourth straight year to celebrate "Kids Night Out," a soccer evening organized by the Fire and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, for underprivileged children in Chicagoland. The event will bring together nearly 10,000 children to a night of soccer, featuring the Fire against the Houston Dynamo tonight at TOYOTA PARK.
Due to the tremendous response for "Kids Night Out," tonight's contest is a virtual sell out, with only SRO tickets (priced at $15) left.
The Chicago Fire called upon local businesses and individuals to participate in the "Kids Night Out" event by purchasing group tickets to the Fire-Dynamo game, and the reaction was a major success as over 130 major contributors responded to show their financial support. Those that donated any amount towards the cause had their contributions doubled, as the Fire organization matched each gift given to the FireWorks for Kids Foundation, its charitable organization. These tickets were donated to nearly 120 local youth-based organizations throughout the Chicagoland area, including Chicago Scores, Su Casa, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the YMCA.
"The Fire and the FireWorks For Kids Foundation are very pleased to have such an overwhelming response to our Kids Night Out Program," said Fire Director of Community Relations and FWFK Executive Director Jessica Yavitz. "With the support of our fans and partners we will be able to provide 10,000 disadvantaged kids with a chance to attend a Fire game, many for the first time. This is a tremendous effort by everyone involved and we are excited to help provide a memorable experience for those less fortunate."
About FireWorks For Kids Foundation
Since 1998, the FireWorks For Kids Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire, has made significant contributions to enhance the lives of disadvantaged youth throughout Chicagoland. Each year, the FWFK Foundation renews its commitment to enhance the lives of others by remaining focused on the mission of supporting organizations whose programs provide educational and recreational opportunities for economically or otherwise challenged children in and around Chicago.
2007 "Kids Night Out" Beneficiaries
21st Century After School Sports Program @ Salazar Bilingual School, Abraham Lincoln Lend a Hand Program (25 sponsored), Ada S. McKinley Services, Adolescent Prevention Program, Alternative Schools Network, Asian Human Services, Aunt Martha's, Azteca Soccer, Batavia Apartments, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Better Boys Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, Boys & Girls Club of Chicago-Robert McCormick Unit, Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, Boys and Girls of Dundee Township, Breaking Free, Inc., Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Carson Elementary School, Catholic Charities, Center for Cultural Interchange, Central American Club - Lobos, Centro Romero, CEP Youth Leadership, Chicago Area Project, Chicago Cares, Chicago Commons, Chicago Park District Special Olympics, Chicago Pride, Chicago SCORES, Chicago Uptown Ministry, Childserv, City of Elgin, Columbia Explorers Academy, Cornell Interventions, Direct Effect Charities, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, El Valor Corporation, Erie Neighborhood House, Family Focus, Inc., Family Focus, Inc., Fellowship House, George Werden Buck Boys Club, Glenwood School for Boys & Girls, Greater Lawn After School Center, Hamdard Center, Heartland Alliances International Refugee Center, Heartland International Child Care, High Ridge YMCA, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox, Church, Hope and Friendship Ministries, Horizons for Youth, Interamericana Soccer League, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries, Irving Park YMCA, Jesus People USA, Kaleidoscope, Kickers Soccer Club, Kid Power, Kids World, La Familia Unida Agency, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, Little City Foundation, Little Village Club, Los Dibalitos, Louis L. Valentine Club, Lutheran Child & Family Services, Lydia Home, Madero Middle School, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Marquardt District 15, Marquette Elementary School, Mercy Home, Metropolitan Family Services, Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center of Lutheran General Hospital, Misericordia, Mujeres Latinas en Accion, NESDRA, Norridge Salvation Army, Northwestern University, Nuestra Familia, Onarga Academy, Onward Neighborhood House, Pav YMCA, Philip Armour Elementary School Boys & Girls Club, Rauner House YMCA, Roseland Child Development Center, Special Olympics, Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, Su Casa, Teen Living Program, The Mid-America Club, The Off the Street Club, The Simple Gifts Foundation, Union Avenue Community Outreach, Union League Boys and Girls Club, Urban Initiatives, Windy City Soccer League, World Relief, World Relief Chicago, Young Associates Board - Children's Memorial Hospital, Youth Conservation Corps., Youth Crossroads, Inc., Youth In Crisis, Youth Outreach Services, Inc., Youth Services.
