PORTLAND
, Ore.
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From school appearances to hospital visits, fundraisers and donations, the Portland Timbers have been just as busy off the pitch this summer as they have been competing against their USL First Division opponents.
Each season, the Timbers make a concentrated effort to be an active participant in the greater Portland area and beyond in both the soccer and non-soccer communities. The 2008 season has been no different.
Players and coaches have played an active role in the team’s community outreach efforts this season, participating in dozens of events over the past few months, including motivational speaking, skills clinics and taking part in special fundraisers, such as the local St. Baldrick’s even to raise money for children’s cancer research.
Among the dozens of community activities the club has been a part of this season, here are a few of the events the Timbers have been involved with:
* Midfielder Troy Ready attended the Nautilus Fit Jam in Vancouver, Wash., to help promote the importance of physical activity.
* Early in the season, the midfielders Miguel Guante and Tom Poltl and defender Cameron Knowles woke up early in the morning to support families and volunteers with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. They were among the hundreds of people who had their heads shaved to help raise money for St. Baldrick’s, which is the world's largest volunteer-driven program that helps the fight against childhood cancers.
* Defender Scot Thompson gave a young fan diagnosed with cancer of the neck the VIP treatment at a home match at PGE Park. The young man served as the team’s honorary captain, met the squad and received his very own autographed jersey and other Timbers paraphernalia.
* Each season, the Timbers make a special trip to a local children’s hospital to visit with patients and families and distribute comforting gifts. In August, several players, including Ready, midfielder Kiki Lara, forward Byron Alvarez, defender Justin Thompson and new mascot Joey Webber visited Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital. The group spent time with kids, gave inspiring words, signed autographs, took photos and handed out scarves and other Timbers items.
* Recently, Lara, midfielder Arsene Oka, goalkeeper Chase Harrison and defender Vardan Adzemian conducted a free, two-hour clinic, sponsored by Cricket Wireless, at the Inukai Family Boys and Girls Club in Hillsboro, Ore. The players lead over 25 under privileged kids in stretching as well as taught and demonstrated soccer-related drills. The session ended with a scrimmage and the players handed out Timbers T-shirts and other prizes.
Also, with the international flavor of the Timbers roster this season, the club has had the opportunity to reach out to various international communities in the greater-Portland area. In the spring, Lara and others visited local schools with a large Latino population to talk about soccer, the importance of education and healthy living. Forward Takayuki Suzuki attended the International School for a day of activities and spoke to groups of kids in Japanese – which aided in their development and understanding of the Japanese language.
Since the creation of the Portland Beavers & Portland Timbers Community Fund (PBPTCF) in January, the club has had an opportunity to get involved in the community in a whole new way. Through the PBPTCF, the club has donated thousands of dollars to help support and develop community organizations focused on youth education, youth baseball, softball and soccer-related projects, childhood obesity and environmental awareness. A wide variety of organizations have already received financial support from the PBPTCF, including Chess for Success, Northeast United Soccer Club, YMCA of Columbia-Willamette, Salvation Army Cascade Division and SMART. In partnership with Nike and Ross Electric, the PBPTCF has set an aggressive goal of donating more than $100,000 in its first year.
The Timbers work in the community doesn’t stop once the season comes to an end, but continues on into the winter months. The Timbers stay active in the community through coaching soccer at local schools and club teams, participating in holiday drives, conducting soccer clinics and much more. Click here to learn more about the Timbers community out reach efforts, community partners or the PBPTCF.
