Please Donate to the Gemmell Fund

Our friends from the Screaming Eagles, the supporters group for DC United, have suffered a terrible loss. One of their longtime members was killed yesterday, along with two of her children, when a corporate jet struck their home in the DC suburbs. The Screaming Eagles are raising funds for the surviving members of her family.

From the Screaming Eagles' blog:

Our Hearts are Heavy with the Loss of Eagles from our Fold

Screaming Eagles members Marie Wagner Gemmell and her two young sons Cole and Devin, were tragically killed when a plane struck their house in Gaithersburg, MD, on December 8.

Marie and her husband Ken joined the SE family 11 years ago and have many friends among the DC United soccer community.

A memorial fund has been set up on the Screaming Eagles Online Store with all proceeds going directly to Ken and his daughter Arabelle.

We are urging all Third Rail members to consider making a donation to the Gemmell Fund. You can make a donation in the amount of $10, $25 or $50 here.

The Gift of Soccer

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the holiday season, our thoughts turn to giving back to the community. We would like to invite you to support "The Gift of Soccer", a great cause sponsored by the Third Rail!

We are looking for members to sponsor/donate a soccer ball to be donated to 5 schools from different inner city locations. The soccer ball can be new or used, preferably size 5. We are also looking for volunteers to help distribute the soccer balls during the Week of December 8th, exact dates & times to be announced.

If interested in donating a ball, please bring it to Nevada Smiths on December 7th during our Holiday Party. If you cannot make the Holiday party on the 7th but would still like to donate or volunteer please contact Andres Loaiza, Director of Community Outreach, by email or via twitter.

We look forward to your help in bringing the Gift of Soccer to the communities of New York City!

South Bronx United Benefit Next Tuesday

Our friends at South Bronx United are holding their 4th Annual Benefit next Tuesday at the Midtown Loft in Manhattan.

From the organization's website:

Tickets and donations for the evening help raise crucial funds for the organization's youth programs and features a buffet, dessert, and an open bar sponsored by Dos Toros Taqueria, the Bronx Brewery, and Artuso Pastry Shop. Guests can also support through live and silent auctions.

Midtown Loft is located at:
     267 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor
     New York, NY 10016

South Bronx United is one of New York City FC's eight Youth Affiliates. They "use soccer as a tool to enrich the lives of South Bronx and immigrant youth," in the words of Executive Director Andrew So.

For more information, visit sbusupporters.org/benefit. You can purchase advance tickets for the benefit here; tickets at the door will be subject to an extra charge.

South Bronx United does so much in the community; let's get out and support them on Tuesday!

"Kicking Ebola Out" in the Bronx

Last weekend, the Third Rail joined the Organization of New York Mandingo (ONYMA) in the Bronx for their "Kicking out EBOLA Thru Soccer" tournament. Ebola is obviously much in the news today, with the first cases in the United States, bringing added focus to ONYMA's work raising both awareness and money to fight the disease in West Africa.

Here, Third Rail board member Andres Loaiza poses with members of the tournament champions, New York Syli National De Guinée:

We are proud to have been a sponsor of the "Kicking out EBOLA thru Soccer" tournament, and to donate the trophy for this year's event.

Community service is central to the Third Rail's mission of nurturing and growing the soccer community here in New York City, and salute ONYMA for all their work.

We echo ONYMA's motto "Uniting Our Community Through Sports" and look forward to continuing to work with charitable soccer organizations all over our great city.

(photo credit: ONYMA)