The Timbers “Stood Together” with many organizations in April. Players, ambassadors, front office staff and fans have participated through events like blood drives, visiting schools and dancing at talent shows.
Sebastian Rincon at Cornelius Elementary
Sebastian Rincon visits Cornelius Elementary
Sebastián Rincón visited students at Cornelius Elementary School on April 5 to help promote the importance of responsibility. He presented awards, demonstrated his soccer skills and played with students.
The Timbers Army gives blood at JELD-WEN Field
The Timbers teamed up with the Timbers Army and the American Red Cross for a blood drive on April 6 at JELD-WEN Field. The Red Cross brought two blood drive buses to the stadium to accommodate the Army, front office staff and fans who lined up to donate blood throughout the afternoon. Timber Joey lent a hand greeting the donors in attendance. The Timbers Army exceeded their goal of 100 units of blood for the American Red Cross.
Lovel Palmer attends Family Fitness Night
On April 12, Portland Timbers defender Lovel Palmer (above) visited Butternut Creek Elementary in Aloha for Family Fitness Night. Children participated with their parents in eight different stations including flexibility, plyometrics, upper body, soccer skills, paddles, abdominal, jump rope, balance beam, Zumba, and Wii Fit. Throughout the circuit, participants were encouraged to check their blood pressure, drink water and eat a healthy snack. During the event, Palmer helped students with their goal scoring technique, showed off his dance moves in Zumba and signed autographs for fans.
Active Bodies Active Minds program is underway for the 2012 season
Stand Together launched the first Active Bodies Active Minds assembly for 2012 on April 20 at Fir Grove Elementary School in Beaverton. Over 90 second graders and kindergarten students learned about the importance of healthy food choices, getting enough sleep, reading and exercising from Timber Joey and Timbers Ambassador Scot Thompson. Active Bodies Active Minds is presented locally by Burgerville.
The Timbers are going green…and silver
The Timbers highlighted their sustainability efforts during Earth Week and launched GO Box in the stadium. GO Box is a company that reduces waste by replacing disposable containers with reusable containers at food carts. Each GO Box user pays a subscription fee and receives his or her concessions in a reusable box. Upon return of the box, the user receives a token to present at another participating food cart, where the meal will be served in a clean GO Box.
The Timbers also announced that JELD-WEN Field is Certified LEED Silver. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, verifies that sites are built and maintained to promote general health and sustainability. Certification is based on factors such as: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The Timbers are also working with TriMet to encourage fans to use public transit to matches, as well as installing new recycling bins.
The Timbers have partnered with Green Sports Alliance, an organization that works to maximize sustainability efforts and reduce the environmental footprints of leagues, teams and stadiums in North America. The Green Sports Alliance represents 13 sports leagues worldwide, and over 90 teams and athletic venues.
Major League Soccer and Continental Tire launched their “How Green Are Your Goals?” campaign. Fans enter by submitting their sustainability goals and choose their favorite MLS team. The MLS city with the most entries will receive a $50,000 solar panel installation at a local school for Earth Day 2013. One lucky winner will win a trip to PPL Park in Philadelphia for the MLS All-Star Game and a set of Continental Tires. Voting ends on June 29, 2012. Click here to enter:
Stand Together Line
Stand Together released its new line of apparel this month. Sal Zizzo and Darlington Nagbe promoted the new gear on April 23 and signed autographs at the adidas Timbers Team Store. The new hoodie, t-shirt, beanie and decal are now available at the adidas Timbers Team Store and online at shop.portlandtimbers.com. Thirty percent of the Stand Together merchandise sales will benefit the Portland Timbers Community Fund.
Play Ball!
The Timbers held a ball drive before the April 21 match with National Charity League. Over 400 new and gently used sports balls were collected to benefit local nonprofits, including Streetlight Shelter and Special Olympics.
Photo: Timber Joey, Jake Geelson, Scot Thompson & David Horst
Timber Joey, David Horst and Jake Gleeson show off their dance moves
Timber Joey, Timbers ambassador Scot Thompson, David Horst and Jake Gleeson showed off more than their chainsaw and soccer skills at Camp Fire Columbia’s celebrity and youth talent show at the Crystal Ballroom on April 26. Timber Joey and Thompson performed a hip-hop medley while Horst and Gleeson danced to compete against local elementary and middle school students and other celebrities. Camp Fire Columbia raised over $135,000 for their organization at the event.
Camp Fire Columbia is a community-based nonprofit that serves over 2,100 children, ages 5-18 over eight counties in the area. It offers programs that teach children life and social skills, encourage academic achievement, career readiness and college preparation.
Special thanks to the adidas Timbers Team Store and Game Day Merchandising for collecting donations for Friends of Trees this month!
