By Fredrica Kramer, CBCC Vice Chair
As the summer and game season heat up, the Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council (CBCC) seeks to ensure that the many benefits enshrined in the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with DC United are realized by the community.
One of the benefits that CBCC negotiated with DC United is to staff a food concession stand during games as a fundraiser for local nonprofits. CBCC has finalized the arrangement with DC United and Levy Concessions, which operates all food services within Audi Field, and can now offer the opportunity to other nonprofits in the community.
Staffing a stand requires about 10 volunteers, 18 years of age or older, who must participate in a 3-hour training, and who can cover the stand for the 6-7 hours required before and during a game to accommodate set up and clean up. Nonprofits must show proof of their tax exempt status and insurance to cover their own liability. The participating nonprofit would receive a portion of the profits from food and beverage sales at the stand that day. Interested organizations can contact CBCC at 980-552-0024 for further information or to sign up a nonprofit.
CBCC’s first fundraiser at the stadium was June 15, which was joined by others who received the training and a taste of what is involved in the effort. They will continue through the soccer season, which ends in October.
The CBA also provides summer camp scholarship slots for students at Amidon-Bowen and Van Ness elementary schools, and Jefferson Middle School. The one-week camps are held at RFK stadium through the summer. Families should be aware of these camp slots through their school and its DC SCORES afterschool program, but if families need more information or need to work out transportation or other issues, they should contact CBCC.
For accomplished soccer players, the CBA provides for potential entry into the team’s Academy via DC United’s Youth Sports Clinics. CBCC and DC United have been working with Sports on the Hill to scout for talented youngsters, age 8-18, who might be able to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
CBCC is also helping to distribute complementary tickets to DC United games as they become available, so that residents who have not yet enjoyed a game at the stadium can do so gratis from the team.
As part of another benefit in the CBA, CBCC is in discussions with DC United to encourage a new primary health care facility for Southwest residents. Unity Health Care is slated to return to SW in a small clinic in the new transitional housing facility set to open on Unity’s former site on Delaware Ave. But as the SW population increases, and Buzzard Point is redeveloped, CBCC would like to get a more substantial facility in another local venue that could provide urgent or primary care, which will be needed by the growing population.
DC United now contributes a monthly one-page ad in “The Southwester,” another CBA benefit, which supports the growing importance of SW’s local newspaper.