Mystics, Capitals, Commanders, Nationals, Spirit, Wizards, D.C., United, and Shadow unite and make a call to action
Washington, D.C. (June 3, 2022) – The Washington Mystics, Capitals, Wizards, Nationals, Commanders, Spirit, D.C. United and D.C. Shadow today announced an initial donation of more than $85,000 to Everytown for Gun Safety to support Everytown for Gun Safety’s Community Safety Fund, providing direct investment, peer convenings and capacity building to community-based violence intervention programs. The Mystics have been a proud supporter of Everytown for Gun Safety since 2019 and are founding members of the Everytown Athletic Council. All teams will use their social media networks and outreach to fans to encourage them to learn more and donate to the fund, which can be found at https://monumentalsports.com/safedcnow/.
Beginning on June 3, 2022, the teams currently in season will utilize their individual platforms to raise awareness across their fan bases. Collectively, this includes combinations of the following:
- Making the call to action to fans to donate to the Everytown for Gun Safety’s Community Safety Fund
- Social media avatars changed to orange
- Broadcasting statistics and data on the affect gun violence has in the community
- Specially designed warm-up clothing with orange accents and gun violence prevention messaging
- Donating proceeds from select sales and events to Everytown for Gun Safety’s Community Safety Fund
Gun Violence Awareness Day is also known as Wear Orange Day. Wear Orange began on June 2, 2015—what would have been Hadiya Pendleton’s 18th birthday. On January 21, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. One week later, Hadiya was shot and killed on a playground in Chicago. Soon after this tragedy, Hadiya’s childhood friends decided to commemorate her life by wearing orange, the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others.
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