Darol Rodrock Foundation, Sporting KC hope to score big for foster care

The Darol Rodrock Foundation and Sporting KC are hoping to score big during the match on May 15 — not only in goals but also in donations to benefit children in area foster care.

For the second year, the Foundation, alongside Rodrock Development, will help host a Game Title Night. This year’s game is on May 15, when Sporting KC takes on Orlando City SC, and is the perfect opportunity for families to have a fantastic time while also giving back.

Soccer fans are encouraged to help area foster-care children by bringing donations and placing them in special donation bins strategically placed at all the entrances to the stadium. The bins will accept clothing, personal hygiene items, school supplies, canned goods/nonperishable food items, and gift cards—little items that can make a big difference to kids in need. (A complete list of greatly needed items can be found at DarolRodrockFoundation.org.)

Last year, thanks to the generosity of some of the 19,835 attendees at the match against the Colorado Rapids, five bins were filled with donations. Not only did Sporting KC win, so did local children in foster care. The Foundation received cash donations, gift cards to Target, suitcases, sheets, towels, pillows, toiletries, laundry baskets, school supplies, laundry supplies, and more. The hope is that this year’s donations will surpass last year’s fantastic gifts!

But the Darol Rodrock Foundation has plans to give back to soccer attendees, as well. This year, handy Sporting KC drawstring backpacks will be provided to the first 10,000 fans. While match attendees receive a little something extra, they also have the opportunity to give a little something, too. What could be better?

“We are so excited about this game and the distinctive opportunity to communicate the needs of children in the foster-care system,” says Darol Rodrock. “And it’s my sincere hope that the community will lend a hand to these amazing kids and make a donation. There are so many everyday items that we take for granted that can make such a huge difference in these kids’ lives.”

Darol himself will take the field at halftime in a presentation that highlights the needs of area foster-care children. A foster child himself, Darol understands all too well the challenges these youth face. It’s his greatest hope that the Kansas City community will rally around these kids in need and help ensure their lives are filled with hope and potential. And it’s a cause that Sporting KC has taken to heart, as well.

“Sporting Kansas City is excited to build on last year’s turnout and continue to serve as an outreach hub for the Darol Rodrock Foundation,” says Justin Compton, Sporting Kansas City’s vice president of Corporate Partnerships. “The opportunity to positively affect the lives of children and young adults is a core mission of our organization, which makes the partnership with Rodrock Development and the Foundation a natural fit. We are grateful for the chance to champion such an altruistic endeavor and look forward to seeing the Sporting Kansas City fan base show their support in abundance on May 15th!”

And it’s not the only way children in the foster-care system are benefitting this summer from the partnership. A soccer camp will be held for area kids within the foster-care system. The three-hour camp will be held at Children's Mercy Training Center, the official training ground of Sporting KC. There, children will work on their soccer skills, tour the facility, meet Sporting KC players and more in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Throughout the year, there will be many additional opportunities for Rodrock Development and this championship team to partner up: Player appearances and autograph sessions, an interactive skills/drills session, and a Club Scrimmage

These are just a few examples of the incredible, winning combination that’s resulted from the three-year collaboration that perfectly aligns these family-focused, award-winning enterprises. This partnership is a natural extension of what these organizations deeply value. Sporting KC events are a fun outing for families of all shapes and sizes—and now this championship team and Rodrock Development have the immense opportunity to help those in need of families themselves.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Darol Rodrock Foundation, Sporting KC hope to score big for foster care."