Retired professional soccer players Brian Ching, Stewart Holden and Landon Donovan, from left, will be in Chattanooga as the Football Club kicks off its season.The Chattanooga Football Club kicks off its season at Finley Stadium Saturday, May 21 with a match against Nashville Football Club beginning at 7:30 p.m. That weekend, the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation, a nonprofit created by CFC dedicated to growing the Chattanooga community through soccer, also has a full schedule of fundraising events planned.
"It's going to be a fun weekend for the whole family with things to do all weekend long," said Hannah Griggs, director of the foundation.
The CFC Foundation comprises two local nonprofits - Chattanooga Sports Ministries and Highland Park Commons - as well as the recently launched health initiative Operation Get Active, all of which use soccer as a means to strengthen the community by providing facilities, equipment or other resources for players of all ages, races and backgrounds.
The foundation is bringing soccer superstars Landon Donovan, Brian Ching and Stewart Holden to Chattanooga for the weekend, Griggs said.
"It's an awesome opportunity for Chattanooga to have three former professional players come to a CFC game," she said.
The three retired American professional soccer players will lead a youth clinic at Chattanooga Christian School Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21 from 4-7 p.m. each day.
The cost for the clinic, which is for players ages 9-17, is $175. Thursday, May 19 is the deadline to register, which can be done through the CFC website.
The CFC's second annual Family Fun Run is being held at Finley Stadium May 21 at 8 a.m. Participants can register for the 5k run that day or online at the CFC website for a cost of $35 for adults and $15 for children younger than 12.
From 5 p.m. before the May 21 match until halftime, memorabilia signed by Donovan, Ching and Holden will be raffled off. The three former players will also be available for photos before the match from 6-7 p.m. at a cost of $85 per family or $55 per person, said Griggs.
All proceeds from the photos and raffled items, as well as from the clinic and Family Fun Run, will benefit the Chattanooga Football Club Foundation.
Griggs said the funds will help cover the costs of Chattanooga Sports Ministries' 10-week summer soccer program serving 250 at-risk youth from throughout the city. Participants are charged $25 each. The funds raised the weekend of May 21 will help cover the remainder of the cost of the program, which also includes a field trip every Friday, said Griggs.
"I've been a part of CSM for a long time, and the program gives participants a healthy alternative to do over the summer," she said. "A lot of the kids have been affected by the violence going on here, and [the summer program] offers them leadership, mentorship and discipleship opportunities and gives them a safe place to be a kid."
For more information or to register for the clinic or run, visit chattanoogafc.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.