Sporting Kansas City announced today a partnership between The Victory Project and Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas to grant five Sporting Wishes this year for local children impacted by cancer and critical illnesses. Kansas City landmarks, including Children’s Mercy Park, will be lit in blue tonight in recognition of World Wish Day to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Make-A-Wish on April 29, 1980.
Sporting KC established The Victory Project, and first partnered with the local Make-A-Wish chapter, in 2013 and the foundation has continued to celebrate children’s victories for more than a decade through philanthropic initiatives supporting childhood cancer and access to soccer. The Victory Project launched the Sporting Wishes initiative in 2017 and will now enhance the effort through a new partnership with Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas to fulfill five wishes for medically eligible children in the region who have been diagnosed with a condition that has placed the child’s life in jeopardy.
“One of the amazing things about our community at Sporting Kansas City is that at the beginning of every match we celebrate The Victory Project. It’s part of our culture,” said Lexie Clark, Executive Director of The Victory Project. “As we have this partnership with Make-A-Wish to further develop the Sporting Wishes program, this is something that our fans get excited about. This is going to be an opportunity for our players, Sporting Kansas City associates and fans to be part of the Make-A-Wish community.”
“The beauty of The Victory Project is you talk to the families and you talk to the kids. The impact that it has, it’s a lot bigger than just those two hours of a matchday,” said Jake Reid, President and CEO of Sporting Kansas City. “For us, that experience is what we are here for. That’s why we do it. Making sure that we have not just financial support for them, but also the emotional support. The club is behind you. The players are in it, the coaches are in it, the owners are in it. All of that is really what makes it special.”
Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas has granted the wishes of more than 10,000 children with critical illnesses since the chapter’s inception in 1983. Research shows children who have wishes granted build the physical and emotional strength needed to fight a critical illness, and that wishes may improve their quality of life and produce better health outcomes.
“The Victory Project and Sporting Wishes is a program that is centered around celebrating children,” said Christina Tetuan, Regional Director of Business Development for Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. “The partnership between Sporting Wishes and the local Make-A-Wish chapter is just that. It’s supporting, it’s celebrating, it’s honoring children who are battling a critical illness and who are wishing to have something to bring them strength, hope and joy.”
“Soccer is so important to this region,” said Jeff Eden, Board Chair of Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas. “In this region, there are so many children that are involved in the sport. Sporting Kansas City is so important to those kids. They idolize the players. They want to be them when they get older. I think the power of the Make-A-Wish brand coupled with the power of the Sporting brand is something that is so exceptionally strong and it’s relatable because so many children play the sport.”
Individuals or organizations interested in supporting Sporting Wishes and The Victory Project can make a donation online or via Tiptap donation devices at Sporting Kansas City home matches during the Major League Soccer season. In addition, The Victory Project will host the foundation’s two flagship fundraising events with the Kicks N Fits Victory Gala at Children’s Mercy Park on August 9 and the Sporting Invitational charity golf tournament at Loch Lloyd Country Club on October 14.
