Seattle Sounders FC has inked an agreement with not-for-profit health organisation Providence.
The deal – centred upon driving ‘meaningful impact’ in the area of youth mental health and wellness – will develop support for a variety of programmes and services focused on ways to improve mental health for students.
Sounders FC Majority Owner, Adrian Hanauer, said: “From our earliest conversations with Providence, this partnership was always about shared values, especially our combined organisational commitment to our region’s youth and making communities healthier places to live.
“In our club’s view, working with community-minded partners is critical to Sounders FC’s overall mission, and in Providence we have found a partner that is deeply vested in the Puget Sound region and whose values and goals align with our own.”
Additionally, the Providence mark is being displayed on the front of all Sounders FC kits beginning this season. Providence becomes the third jersey front partner in Sounders FC’s MLS history, replacing previous kit partner Zulily (2019-2022).
Hanauer added: “Today’s announcement is less about the mark that our players will wear across their chests on gameday and more about the deep community investment that Providence and Sounders FC are coming together to fulfil.
“Mental health – especially for young people – is a critical part of a healthy society, and we’re looking forward to employing the resources and reach of our two organisations to focus on these outcomes.”
The news was also highlighted via the introduction of a collaboration with Renton School District, grounded in research that identifies schools as one of the most effective forums for providing consistent and accessible behavioural health services to children and adolescents.
Additionally, the new relationship also sees Providence Swedish become the official medical services provider and official healthcare partner of Sounders FC, with physicians from Swedish Medical Group serving as Sounders FC’s team doctors.
“We are looking for innovative ways to bring more understanding to a serious issue,” added Arpan Waghray, M.D., Chief Executive, Institute for Mental Health and Wellness. “There is a mental health crisis in this country with millions of people suffering and young people being especially impacted since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“This partnership with Sounders FC helps Providence reach people in new ways and connect them to resources available in their communities and beyond.”
