BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Chicago Fire Soccer and local contributors and businesses teamed up for the third 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 brought together nearly 6,000 children who were treated to a night of soccer featuring the Fire against the Kansas City Wizards this evening at TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview.
The Chicago Fire called upon local businesses and individuals to participate in the "Kids Night Out" event by purchasing group tickets to the Fire-Wizards game, and the reaction was a major success as over 75 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 provide the FireWorks for Kids Foundation - its charitable organization - a total of 5,906 tickets. These tickets were donated to nearly 50 local youth-based organizations throughout the Chicagoland area, including Chicago Scores, Su Casa, Horizons for Youth, Family Focus Inc., 21st Century After School Sports Program, Heartland International Child Care and Mercy Home.
"The Fire and the FireWorks for Kids Foundation are proud to have many friends who support a cause such as 'Kids Night Out.' We're overwhelmed with the positive response by individuals and businesses that have supported both our 'Kicks for Kids' and 'Kids Night Out' programs," said Chicago Fire Community Relations Manager and FWFK Executive Director Jessica Yavitz. "These efforts are evidence that we have great supporters and partners that want to provide less privileged children with a wonderful experience."
About Chicago Fire Soccer
Chicago Fire Soccer was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer's national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000 and 2003. In June of 2006, the Fire moved into its permanent, world-class home of TOYOTA PARK in Bridgeview, IL, a multi-purpose soccer and entertainment venue that played host to the 2006 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game in early August.
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.
2006 Chicago Fire "Kids Night Out" Beneficiaries
21st Century After School Sports Program; Abraham Lincoln Lend a Hand Program; Asian Human Services; Azteca Soccer; Bethshan; Breaking Free, Inc.; Breakthrough Urban Ministries; Catholic Charities; Centro Romero; Chicago Area Project; Chicago Pride; Chicago SCORES; Chicago Uptown Ministry; Childserv; City of Elgin; Columbia Explorers Academy; Cornell Interventions; Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club; El Valor Corporation; Erie Neighborhood House; Family Focus, Inc.; Gold USA Youth Soccer League; Heartland International Child Care; Horizons for Youth; Immaculate Conception; Interamericana Soccer League; Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries; La Familia Unida Agency; Los Diablitos; Lydia Home; Mann Park Special Olympics; Mercy Home; Midwest Children's Brain Tumor Center of Lutheran General Hospital; Mujeres Latinas en Acion; NESDRA; Onarga Academy; Roseland Child Development Center; Sandoval School; Santo Domingo Sabio (La Villita); Su Casa; Summit Eagles; Union Avenue Community Outreach; Union League Boys and Girls Club; Windy City Soccer League; World Relief; Youth in Crisis; Youth Outreach Services, Inc.
2006 Chicago Fire "Kids Night Out" - Major Contributors
361 Sports + Event Marketing
Adam Shindler
Al Beaumenot
Ameriquest Mortgage Company
Anthony Mourek
Ardian Group, Inc.
ATP New Haven Travel
Banner Day Camp
Burbank Mall LLC
Bus Bank
CBS 2 - WBBM TV
Chet Young
Chuck Carlson
Dan Cotter
Darlene Halloran
Dave Munson
David Quinn
Debit Connections, Inc.
DeVries Roofing
Ed Bakal
El Nuevo Constructor
Emery Scale Company of Chicago
EPY Celtic Boys U-12 and U-13
Eustudy Tours
Fisher Nuts
Gold Standard Baking
Harris Bank
Heineke & Burke LLC
Houlihan Smith & Company, Inc.
International Paper Company
James Kelly
Jay Cooper
Jim Wissinger
Joe Duncan
Kare Distribution
Kick 10 Promotions
Kim McGuire
Law Offices of Christopher Koczwara
Law Offices of Christopher Koziol
LBS Ltd.
Leo Burnett
Levy Restaurants
Manu Sharma
Metalmaster Roofmaster Inc.
MH Associates LLC
Midway Hotel Center
Millennium III Medical Surgical
Monterrey Security
Neuco, Inc.
Nicoat
Offspring Productions
Patrick McCabe
Phyllis Quinn
Polski Radio
Randy Finazzo
Rick Hannon
Robert Barnett
Rusty Hernandez
Services Shipping Inc.
Siena Realty LLC-Keller Willin Team Realty
Soccer Plus
Sonic Boom Pyrotechnics
State Bank of Countryside
Strategic Employee Benefit Services
Superior Mailing Services
Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill
Tampico Beverages
Tech-Tronics Construction
TGI Systems
The Apartment People
The Hollingshead Team
The Patio Restaurant
Thomas Logan
Victory Sports Marketing
Webb Scarlett DeVlam, LLP
William Totsch
Worldwide Logistic Partners
