COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced details on how the Club plans to collaborate with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in furthering the mission of On Our Sleeves, the movement to transform children’s mental health. During the month of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, On Our Sleeves aims to continue the important conversation surrounding youth mental health.
Throughout the month of May, On Our Sleeves will offer free, evidence-based and educational resources specially designed to help kids cope and build resilience, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of On Our Sleeves, Crew SC players and technical staff members are participating in the “Growing Our Gratitude” initiative, filling out gratitude cards that showcase the things they are grateful for. The “Growing Our Gratitude” project is meant to encourage children and families to practice healthy habits that can boost mental wellness and promote a positive mental outlook. More information can be found at onoursleeves.org/gratitude.
“We are excited to announce that Columbus Crew SC will be supporting Nationwide Children’s Hospital's On Our Sleeves annual mental health movement,” said Crew SC Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer Steve Lyons. “As important as it is to take care of our children’s physical health, we also understand the importance of taking care of their mental well-being, especially during the current pandemic. We applaud Nationwide Children’s Hospital for their ongoing efforts to bring to light the importance of pediatric mental health and are excited to support them in this endeavor.”
Crew SC is set to auction off game-worn jerseys from its 2020 MLS regular-season opening match against New York City FC on March 1. Notably, the jerseys were the first player jerseys to feature the Nationwide Children’s Hospital logo. All the proceeds from the auction will support behavioral health research and care at Nationwide Children’s and On Our Sleeves. More information on the jersey auction will be announced in the near future.
“We are absolutely thrilled the Crew SC is supporting the On Our Sleeves movement and helping to share the important message of practicing gratitude, especially during this time of uncertainty,” said Donna Teach, chief marketing and communications officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “When Nationwide Children’s launched On Our Sleeves in 2018, we knew it was an endeavor we could not tackle alone. That is why we are so grateful to Crew SC for joining the movement and of course Nationwide, who has been a tireless supporter of the hospital for decades and linked us to this storied MLS franchise.”
Along with Crew SC players and technical staff sharing their gratitude on the team’s official social media channels, Crew SC will offer exclusive content including a Q&A with a behavioral health expert from Nationwide Children’s and a mental-health fitness guide featuring assistant strength and conditioning coach Kelly Roderick, select Crew SC players and an expert from Nationwide Children’s. Additionally, during the week of May 18-22, the Crew’s Kids’ Corner – a section of ColumbusCrewSC.com which includes videos and activities for children – will feature an activity allowing supporters, children and patients to design a captain’s armband promoting the On Our Sleeves message.
Nationwide Children’s is home to America’s largest pediatric Behavioral Health Research Hospital, whose evidence-informed content is generated from experts exclusively focused on child mental health.
In February, Crew SC and Nationwide announced a future multi-year sponsorship agreement making Nationwide, the central Ohio-based insurance and financial services industry leader, the Official Columbus Crew SC Jersey Partner, beginning in 2021. In 2020, the Crew has partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and features a special Nationwide Children’s jersey for all competitions, including all Major League Soccer and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches. For one year, all authentic and replica jerseys, including those worn by the First Team and those sold at retail, will prominently incorporate the Nationwide Children’s Hospital logo. Beginning in 2021, Crew SC kits will feature the Nationwide logo and Nationwide Children’s will transition into a community partner role.