September 4, 2025 • 24 mins
Charlotte FC wants to be more than a soccer club. In its annual Community Impact Report, the team highlights programs that serve kids, families, and neighborhoods across the Carolinas. In this episode, we hear from Trent Slagle, who helps shape the report; CC Schott, who leads community engagement; and Sarah Garrison from Atrium Health, a key partner. Together, they share how camps, clinics, mini-pitches, unified teams, and powerful personal stories are creating a legacy that goes beyond the pitch.
Here is the report: https://www.charlottefootballclub.com/community/community-impact-report
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
It's time for the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Welcome to the Charlotte FC Podcast.
I'm Nick Fanelli. Today on the show, Alice Soccer
Club is trying to do more than win matches.
Charlotte FC has built a presence in the Carolinas that
stretches far beyond the pitch. We'll hear today from Trent
(00:25):
Slagle, senior communications coordinator with the club, who
helped shape the team's community impact report, from CC
Schott, who manages the community engagement for the
club, and from Sarah Garrison atAtrium Health, director of brand
partnerships for the Southeast Division, who's a partner in
helping bring some of these programs to life.
Together. Their stories reveal the heart
(00:46):
behind the numbers. First Trent cycle.
What the Community Impact Reportis, it's a highlight take.
This is very much all the thingsthat we did back in 2024 that we
are incredibly proud of. This is just a glimpse into what
Charlotte FC does in the community.
We want to be a good neighbor and a beacon for community work
(01:08):
in the Carolinas. The reason we share these
reports year over year is not just to share what we've done,
but also to encourage people to join us in these efforts.
That's really the primary purpose of this report, is to
show people what we're doing andhow they can get involved with
it. And so, yeah, that's why I think
this why fans and people should see this as so much more than
(01:31):
just us talking about how good we are.
This Is Us calling out to fans, to partners, to community
members and saying we're here, we want to help and we want you
guys to be a part of it as well.The report mixes numbers and
stories. Numbers like thousands of kids
served through camps and clinics, and stories like the
(01:52):
one Trent says stuck with him. There's a quantitative and then
there's qualitative. For example, 3243 a youth were
served through camps and clinics.
In 2024, greater goals expanded into Winston Salem and into
different parts of the Carolinasto really make sure that we are
expanding that greater goals after school program that not
(02:13):
just promotes soccer, but also promotes teach reading and that
really focuses on the literatureand academic part of the after
school program. So there's obviously those
numbers that we're trying to hiteach year over year, but there's
also the qualitative as well as hearing the stories of how these
things impact kids from title one schools like through greater
(02:36):
goals or through pitches for progress with our mini pitches
and seeing how those see how those things can impact kids and
their stories. Or through impacting our
military through military cap orfor example, like one thing that
we did last year that isn't really measured on number of
minutes we had kids playing in greater goals or the amount of
(02:59):
school supplies we ended out. But one of the more qualitative,
like one more qualitative stories and goals that and the
impact that we saw was with Caroline Love last year and
really seeing how us have taken an emphasis on mental health and
really trying to help her. Just the story and seeing how
that helped her overcome her struggles was just something
(03:19):
that was great to see it. That balance of numbers and
stories is also what drives CC Sot.
She manages Charlotte F CS community engagement team, and
she says the real impact shows up in the lives of kids and
families. It's.
Clear that Charlotte is a SoccerCity and so it's been such a joy
to see how our little part of the world and in our lane of
(03:41):
soccer can make a huge impact and the lives of people.
Whether that's just giving them access to tickets to get into
what I think is the greatest atmosphere and all of MLS in our
stadium. To have an impact on a soccer
field at a elementary school, after school, giving kids access
to soccer that wouldn't have access otherwise through our
(04:02):
program called Greater Goals, and that's our soccer and
literacy program. And then to look at how we've
gotten to pull in a whole community of folks with
intellectual disabilities and give them a place within the
club. And that's our unified team.
We take athletes that have intellectual disabilities and
(04:24):
those that don't and combine them and unify them on the same
pitch and they play together as a team.
And we've just seen the stories that come from that of how these
kids who were just basically playing video games in their
rooms now are starting to get jobs and be a spokespeople for
(04:44):
Special Olympics and just blooming from the opportunities
that Charlotte FC has been able to just kind of lab up for them
and they've taken it and run with it.
And so it's been a huge joy to take our brand and make a
difference like that. It's not just schools, CC says
programs reach veterans and military families, too.
(05:06):
Two weeks ago we had our Military Cup where we bring in
different teams from different bases around the Carolinas and,
and one of the guys who was captain of one of the teams got
the share of what a difference it makes for for him to be able
to be on the pitch with his guyswho they're not on the base,
(05:28):
they're out. It just it matters to leave your
normal space and come be invitedinto a new space.
And the difference is made in relationships he has with his Co
workers to for the guys in his group, it just paid dividends
for them to be a part of this yearly tournament and that this
was their third year playing in it and they won it.
(05:50):
It was amazing. And so that was one small thing.
And like I said, the unified program where we really are
seeing some of our friends with disabilities, their labs really
be transformed through it. So yes, I have a front row seat
to some of these stories. Getting to make Build a Bears
(06:13):
for patients in the hospital last year at our joy drop and
seeing the smiles we brought build-a-bear to them because
they can't go there because of their whatever situation they're
in. And being able to really see the
smiles, the laughter, the comments at a greater goals play
day that says this is the greatest day of my life as
(06:33):
they're getting a signature froma player.
It's just there. It's unbeatable.
Nice. And when you get to go to, I
mean, I've seen you at just regular community events where
it's Charlotte FC. Just has a booth at it.
And I'm guessing part of it is just for presents and say, hey,
we support this, whether it's, you know, some some event to
(06:56):
raise money for like Jeremy's jump walk or something like that
to raise money for a particular cause or something like that.
Seems like Charlotte is involvedin all different parts and not
just like the named partnershipsthat people see.
Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Absolutely. Our grassroots marketing has
been top notch since the very beginning, an effort to really
(07:17):
want to be out in the community and the fabric of what's going
on. And so yeah, we'll we pop up
lots of places. That's not necessarily in my job
description, but the club itself, it's been a priority
since the beginning. And so you, you'll remember that
first year, they were every, I mean everywhere as the team
(07:38):
started. And now it just emphasis on
being out in the fabric of the community in anywhere from the
Charleston Bridge run to a volleyball tournament for the
USO and Wilmington to things going on in Asheville.
We want to have a presence and we want the Carolinas to know
that we're for the Carolinas, not just for Charlotte.
(07:59):
Partnerships are another piece of this, and for Charlotte FC,
one of the biggest partners is Atrium Health.
We really see the value in meeting people where they are
and so sports kind of hits a different angle than your
day-to-day billboards or, you know, other marketing.
And we're able to connect with the fan and really bring that
(08:20):
passion from the fan of their sport and hopefully transition
that passion to Atrium Health. So it's just a great to story
tell and share our brand. And then another great thing
that we do with most of our sports partners is the clinical
aspect. So we not only do it for a
branding storytelling that part of view, but we're the clinical
(08:43):
experts for the players, for thefans, for everybody at the
venue. So it's, I always like to say it
would be wrong if we were not providing the care, but we were
advertising you make sure that you're doing the work.
So I work really closely with our musculoskeletal institute
and our clinical teams to make sure that they're on site,
(09:06):
taking care of making sure that the athletes have the best care
and the best training, which then helps me on the brand side
as well. And so all of that stuff with
the actual player side, the players families, like that
closeness that's happening in a separate thing.
But since you're already doing that, then you're saying this is
(09:28):
what we're doing and this is howwe reach out to the community.
So sometimes we start partnerships where it starts out
as a clinical relationship and it grows to something more.
Other times, you know, teams come to us and they say we want
to have a a marketing partnership and we say well we
have to be doing the clinic in order to do that.
Yeah, OK. And so how does Charlotte FC fit
(09:51):
in there as a unique partner? Yeah.
Well, I love our partnership with Charlotte FC.
They're a little unique because we also are the naming rights to
the training facility. So you've got Atrium Health
Performance Park and it is one with the team and so the
players, the first team practiceis there, the Academy practice
(10:12):
is there, youth teams practice there.
And so it's really made Atrium Health sort of infiltrated into
the team like we are one. We actually have over 5 staff on
team from team position to athletic trainers to dietitians.
They're actual physical Charlotte FC teammates, but
(10:34):
they're Atrium Health teammates,but they sit at Atrium Health
Performance Park doing the work.For Sarah, one story in
particular showed what that partnership could mean.
We had a patient, so our care team at Levine Children's
Hospital came to me and said we have a patient who loves
Charlotte FC and is really interested in going to the Miami
(10:56):
match and getting to see that, you know, high elite level of
playing. Unfortunately, he had a terminal
illness and his care team didn'tthink he was going to make it to
the Miami match. And so Charlotte FC really just
jumped in and they said we have to figure out a way to honor
(11:18):
this patient now. And so we, Atrium Health is the
presenting sponsor of the honorary captain for every
match. So we choose a patient and a
teammate, you know, whoever to place the ball on the stand and
get recognized pre match. And so we got this patient out
there to be the honorary captain, but because of their
(11:40):
condition, they were on contact precautions.
They were, you know, had specialaccommodations and things like
that. And Charlotte FC just jumped in
and said, we'll put them in a suite, we'll take care of it,
we'll make it right. And so they did that.
Fast forward a couple months, the Miami game is coming up and
(12:00):
the care team reached out and they said we have great news.
Like the patient is still doing well.
Is there any way we can get, youknow, tickets to this match to
take the patient and his dad? So I was like, no problem, we'll
make it work. Shawn FC jumped in, got him out
to the match. Well, those to me sounded like
(12:21):
easy things to do, right? That's my job.
Those are ways that we collaborate.
But about a month later, dad called me and his son had passed
away. And he said, you won't believe
what an impact you made on our family in our last, you know,
days with our son. And here all I can think of is
(12:42):
you just lost a son. You are grieving.
You have so much going on, but you took the time to call me and
thank me. And he said, make sure you thank
Natalie, make sure you thank Denny, make sure you thank
everybody at the team for being for all that they did for our
family. And that's when you just take a
step back and say, this is so much more, right.
(13:02):
And that's where that passion, it is between the fans and then
the passion for Atrium Health and how those really came
together. Yeah, that's amazing stories
like that. And like the Caroline love story
Trent mentioned, highlight how personal this work can be.
One, to use our platform to do good in the community and
(13:26):
especially in the Carolinas. The Caroline love story that we
highlighted so much last year with our internal content team,
that was just a story that was just really beautiful and really
trying to talk about really being open about mental health
and overcoming that. I thought that was amazing and
something that is I hold dear tomy heart and something that I
(13:47):
try to put an emphasis on not only in my life, but with
everything I do. And then also on top of that, I
think the pick one of our pitches for progress last year
with Creative Player Foundation.Creative Player Foundation was
actually one of Charlotte F CS first ever community partners.
You know back in 21 before the team even what even existed, we
(14:09):
started doing some community programming with them.
So in doing the after school programming and the non and all
the stuff that Daniel and his team does over there, being able
to bring a mini pitch and implement it for it was the
first one we ever did indoors. And then we also provided an
outdoor pitch as well. And kind of going back to our
roots, helping the program, eventhough it's a different after
(14:31):
school program, it's not our greater goals program.
But really noticing how much of how impactful Daniel and
Creative Player Foundation is inthe community and really just
trying to help them out and kindof go back to our roots was
something I really enjoyed and something that really stuck out
to me. Right.
I mean, because it's kind of like the whole Field of Dreams,
Like if you build it, they will come, but then you have to have
(14:52):
programming. You have to have things that
can't just always just come to the empty thing.
So like Daniel and other partners, making things happen
at those mini pitches makes it more useful than just here's an
open park that you can come. And play.
Exactly. And I mean, Daniel's been doing
it. I think he mentioned last year
he's coming up. I know at least a decade he
might be coming up, close to twodecades on it.
(15:13):
And so just seeing how a new pitch was so helpful and
meaningful to them was just really cool to see.
Yeah, we interviewed him back inour first season.
He was great talking about what they did.
So when you look at this year's report, which of course is from
2024, do you see stuff? Are there things that are
glaring that you're like, hey, maybe this is something we need
(15:36):
to do much better next year or we missed the mark and we might
have to not scratch at all, but come with maybe rethink how
we're going to do this? Is there any part of out of that
report that we'll see like, oh, you're going to see a difference
in 2025 because we did this because of it?
Good question. I don't know if there's anything
(15:58):
particularly that like at the top of my head, I'm like, oh,
we're planning on changing that hot.
So yeah, that's probably when itcomes to the way we do the
report, there's definitely some things I want to change in.
But when it comes to the programming itself, that's
probably more of ACC question. But but when it comes to the
report itself, there's definitely things that I've
(16:19):
thought about moving into next year, especially with how how
our programming has changed withdifferent things.
Just how do we best tell these stories?
And throughout the report, that's always something I'm
constantly looking at. You know, that's something that
we different 23 to 24 from the 1st edition of this edition was
(16:39):
like, one thing we emphasize wasthe last year, what the last
year was the first one. We were really trying to, we
were really putting down the foundation and really telling
these stories from the beginning.
Now 2024, there was this balanceof people have either people
have read this before and this is their second time or they're
reading it for the first time. So really balancing that while
(17:00):
also condensing it and making itmore of an easy read was
something that like we really focused on this year and
probably throwing in a few more pictures because I feel like
imagery can be just as, if not more impactful than copy can be
so. Right now you also work with the
players and their visibility in the community for these things.
(17:24):
Often times we see players showing up for photo OPS, but
also for causes and things like that.
So what what's being done on their side to make sure it's
bigger than just a handshake or something?
They feel like they're obligated.
I know some players actually come in and ask like, what can I
do to help in the community? Can you share any bits of kind
(17:46):
of behind the scenes of what that happens with the players
and how that works so people understand that they're just not
being, you know, it's not superficial, like it's
meaningful and. 100% right and like that comes with the balance
too is like like for example, you met players asking how they
can get into the community like Harry the new left back signing
Harry one. That was one of the first
(18:06):
questions he asked when he got here.
He said in his introductory press conference.
It really every single player that you see out in the
community. It really comes from a genuine
place and really want to get involved in different ways.
For example, Nick Holiday, I think it's the best example of
this Nick Holiday keeper who primarily plays for Crown
Legacy, but is a first team keeper, you know, young upcoming
(18:28):
guy, up and coming guy. And I mean, he is, he's not just
like, oh, he doesn't just show up for greater goals playing
today. He's legitimately a greater
goals coach at Ramah Elementary.So he's here and he does his
training for the day and then hegoes out and he coaches and he
has his own team that he coachesand that he works with.
(18:49):
So he's definitely the first person that comes to mind when
it comes to those things. But every single player, every
single time we talk to them about different community
events, we let them know what itis we before the season starts.
We always talk to them about what community events are you
interested in and what do you feel most connected to.
(19:10):
And so we have that information compiled and ready to go ahead
of time so that when there are community events that fit into
those molds, we can better we know which players to reach out
to because they're the ones thatare passionate about it.
Like, for example, I know Tim Reem, and this will come up in
the report. Tim Reem was a part of our
Captain's Academy this last year, and he spoke to high
(19:33):
schoolers about leadership beingreally be, you know, really
trying to be their best selves as they prepare for college.
So we really try to make sure that whatever community event
that the players are at, it's something that they're
passionate about it as well. Charlotte F CS community work is
guided by three pillars. Here's CC again.
Three main pillars that we're wereally care about and that is
(19:57):
growing the game and so that's anything from our camps and
clinics for the the community toour unified program to greater
goals and that is high priority for us just to grow the game in
the Carolinas. And then we have our second one
is mint condition and that's. Addressing everything from
(20:17):
leadership to mental health to our food, wanting food security
for every Carolinian. And so however we can be a part
of that, whether that's with thefood banker donating back from
the stadium and from our headquarters, just wanted to be
a part of that. And then our third one is
serving those who serve. And that is for teachers, that's
(20:40):
for first responders, that's forour military.
And I'm just wanting to have eyes for those folks in our
communities that are giving so much and how can we give back to
them. And that, that's been a really
fun one too, having being able to serve some teachers, getting
some supplies in their hands, getting kids backpacks at school
(21:01):
time and getting, getting, beingable to do stuff at the
hospital. And then obviously I've already
spoken to what we get, just a small part of what we get to do
with the military. It's been great.
And we those three are all wrapped up and we really do want
to be for the Carolinas. And those are the three main
ways that that we're tackling itor or trying to tackle it
(21:21):
through the club. Great.
Last question, you talked about the beginning about thinking and
creating dreams. What's the dream that you
haven't been able to do? But that's on your.
List that Charlotte's. Looking forward or you would
like to see the club and this this brand that's being out
there do? Yeah, You know, there's a huge
(21:44):
mental health initiative by the league itself.
And so we're wading into those waters of how we can be a part
of that, how that's fits within our lane of soccer here in the
Carolinas. So that's something that we're
thinking and dreaming about. We're always wanting to add many
pitches and think through like how we can get out into the
community more and grow that coach athlete relationship.
(22:08):
And so that we're we're dreamingabout a growing the game day
where we're training coaches andrefs and kids and helping them
be better leaders on the field. And Trent says that's the heart
of the report. The.
Community Impact Report is a compilation of Charlotte F CS
(22:29):
efforts within the community to not just efforts within the
community to make not just Charlotte, but the Carolinas a
better and happier place and whatever, and through and
specifically through the avenue of soccer, right.
And I think for readers, I wouldreally want them to read this
(22:51):
report and see see that Charlotte FC is doing more than
just trying to make an impact onthe pitch.
They're trying to make an impactoff the pitch as well.
And more than anything, we want them to join us.
We want them to see this report and be inspired and figure out,
see how they can get involved, can they volunteer with our
(23:12):
camps and clinic seamans or whatever different community
events we may have. And so those are probably the
two things that I would hope that people read this report and
get out of it. Awesome.
Thanks. Well, that's.
It for today's episode of the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Thanks to Trent Slagle, CC Schott, and Sarah Garrison for
(23:33):
sharing their stories. You can find a link to the
Charlotte F CS Community Impact Report in our show notes.
And if today's conversation inspired you, think about how
you might get involved as a volunteer, a supporter, or
simply a fan cheering a little louder, knowing the impact goes
a long way beyond the pitch. I'm Nick Fanelli, host of the
Charlotte FC podcast. Thank you for listening.
(23:56):
Enjoy your day.
It's time for the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Welcome to the Charlotte FC Podcast.
I'm Nick Fanelli. Today on the show, Alice Soccer
Club is trying to do more than win matches.
Charlotte FC has built a presence in the Carolinas that
stretches far beyond the pitch. We'll hear today from Trent
(00:25):
Slagle, senior communications coordinator with the club, who
helped shape the team's community impact report, from CC
Schott, who manages the community engagement for the
club, and from Sarah Garrison atAtrium Health, director of brand
partnerships for the Southeast Division, who's a partner in
helping bring some of these programs to life.
Together. Their stories reveal the heart
(00:46):
behind the numbers. First Trent cycle.
What the Community Impact Reportis, it's a highlight take.
This is very much all the thingsthat we did back in 2024 that we
are incredibly proud of. This is just a glimpse into what
Charlotte FC does in the community.
We want to be a good neighbor and a beacon for community work
(01:08):
in the Carolinas. The reason we share these
reports year over year is not just to share what we've done,
but also to encourage people to join us in these efforts.
That's really the primary purpose of this report, is to
show people what we're doing andhow they can get involved with
it. And so, yeah, that's why I think
this why fans and people should see this as so much more than
(01:31):
just us talking about how good we are.
This Is Us calling out to fans, to partners, to community
members and saying we're here, we want to help and we want you
guys to be a part of it as well.The report mixes numbers and
stories. Numbers like thousands of kids
served through camps and clinics, and stories like the
(01:52):
one Trent says stuck with him. There's a quantitative and then
there's qualitative. For example, 3243 a youth were
served through camps and clinics.
In 2024, greater goals expanded into Winston Salem and into
different parts of the Carolinasto really make sure that we are
expanding that greater goals after school program that not
(02:13):
just promotes soccer, but also promotes teach reading and that
really focuses on the literatureand academic part of the after
school program. So there's obviously those
numbers that we're trying to hiteach year over year, but there's
also the qualitative as well as hearing the stories of how these
things impact kids from title one schools like through greater
(02:36):
goals or through pitches for progress with our mini pitches
and seeing how those see how those things can impact kids and
their stories. Or through impacting our
military through military cap orfor example, like one thing that
we did last year that isn't really measured on number of
minutes we had kids playing in greater goals or the amount of
(02:59):
school supplies we ended out. But one of the more qualitative,
like one more qualitative stories and goals that and the
impact that we saw was with Caroline Love last year and
really seeing how us have taken an emphasis on mental health and
really trying to help her. Just the story and seeing how
that helped her overcome her struggles was just something
(03:19):
that was great to see it. That balance of numbers and
stories is also what drives CC Sot.
She manages Charlotte F CS community engagement team, and
she says the real impact shows up in the lives of kids and
families. It's.
Clear that Charlotte is a SoccerCity and so it's been such a joy
to see how our little part of the world and in our lane of
(03:41):
soccer can make a huge impact and the lives of people.
Whether that's just giving them access to tickets to get into
what I think is the greatest atmosphere and all of MLS in our
stadium. To have an impact on a soccer
field at a elementary school, after school, giving kids access
to soccer that wouldn't have access otherwise through our
(04:02):
program called Greater Goals, and that's our soccer and
literacy program. And then to look at how we've
gotten to pull in a whole community of folks with
intellectual disabilities and give them a place within the
club. And that's our unified team.
We take athletes that have intellectual disabilities and
(04:24):
those that don't and combine them and unify them on the same
pitch and they play together as a team.
And we've just seen the stories that come from that of how these
kids who were just basically playing video games in their
rooms now are starting to get jobs and be a spokespeople for
(04:44):
Special Olympics and just blooming from the opportunities
that Charlotte FC has been able to just kind of lab up for them
and they've taken it and run with it.
And so it's been a huge joy to take our brand and make a
difference like that. It's not just schools, CC says
programs reach veterans and military families, too.
(05:06):
Two weeks ago we had our Military Cup where we bring in
different teams from different bases around the Carolinas and,
and one of the guys who was captain of one of the teams got
the share of what a difference it makes for for him to be able
to be on the pitch with his guyswho they're not on the base,
(05:28):
they're out. It just it matters to leave your
normal space and come be invitedinto a new space.
And the difference is made in relationships he has with his Co
workers to for the guys in his group, it just paid dividends
for them to be a part of this yearly tournament and that this
was their third year playing in it and they won it.
(05:50):
It was amazing. And so that was one small thing.
And like I said, the unified program where we really are
seeing some of our friends with disabilities, their labs really
be transformed through it. So yes, I have a front row seat
to some of these stories. Getting to make Build a Bears
(06:13):
for patients in the hospital last year at our joy drop and
seeing the smiles we brought build-a-bear to them because
they can't go there because of their whatever situation they're
in. And being able to really see the
smiles, the laughter, the comments at a greater goals play
day that says this is the greatest day of my life as
(06:33):
they're getting a signature froma player.
It's just there. It's unbeatable.
Nice. And when you get to go to, I
mean, I've seen you at just regular community events where
it's Charlotte FC. Just has a booth at it.
And I'm guessing part of it is just for presents and say, hey,
we support this, whether it's, you know, some some event to
(06:56):
raise money for like Jeremy's jump walk or something like that
to raise money for a particular cause or something like that.
Seems like Charlotte is involvedin all different parts and not
just like the named partnershipsthat people see.
Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Absolutely. Our grassroots marketing has
been top notch since the very beginning, an effort to really
(07:17):
want to be out in the community and the fabric of what's going
on. And so yeah, we'll we pop up
lots of places. That's not necessarily in my job
description, but the club itself, it's been a priority
since the beginning. And so you, you'll remember that
first year, they were every, I mean everywhere as the team
(07:38):
started. And now it just emphasis on
being out in the fabric of the community in anywhere from the
Charleston Bridge run to a volleyball tournament for the
USO and Wilmington to things going on in Asheville.
We want to have a presence and we want the Carolinas to know
that we're for the Carolinas, not just for Charlotte.
(07:59):
Partnerships are another piece of this, and for Charlotte FC,
one of the biggest partners is Atrium Health.
We really see the value in meeting people where they are
and so sports kind of hits a different angle than your
day-to-day billboards or, you know, other marketing.
And we're able to connect with the fan and really bring that
(08:20):
passion from the fan of their sport and hopefully transition
that passion to Atrium Health. So it's just a great to story
tell and share our brand. And then another great thing
that we do with most of our sports partners is the clinical
aspect. So we not only do it for a
branding storytelling that part of view, but we're the clinical
(08:43):
experts for the players, for thefans, for everybody at the
venue. So it's, I always like to say it
would be wrong if we were not providing the care, but we were
advertising you make sure that you're doing the work.
So I work really closely with our musculoskeletal institute
and our clinical teams to make sure that they're on site,
(09:06):
taking care of making sure that the athletes have the best care
and the best training, which then helps me on the brand side
as well. And so all of that stuff with
the actual player side, the players families, like that
closeness that's happening in a separate thing.
But since you're already doing that, then you're saying this is
(09:28):
what we're doing and this is howwe reach out to the community.
So sometimes we start partnerships where it starts out
as a clinical relationship and it grows to something more.
Other times, you know, teams come to us and they say we want
to have a a marketing partnership and we say well we
have to be doing the clinic in order to do that.
Yeah, OK. And so how does Charlotte FC fit
(09:51):
in there as a unique partner? Yeah.
Well, I love our partnership with Charlotte FC.
They're a little unique because we also are the naming rights to
the training facility. So you've got Atrium Health
Performance Park and it is one with the team and so the
players, the first team practiceis there, the Academy practice
(10:12):
is there, youth teams practice there.
And so it's really made Atrium Health sort of infiltrated into
the team like we are one. We actually have over 5 staff on
team from team position to athletic trainers to dietitians.
They're actual physical Charlotte FC teammates, but
(10:34):
they're Atrium Health teammates,but they sit at Atrium Health
Performance Park doing the work.For Sarah, one story in
particular showed what that partnership could mean.
We had a patient, so our care team at Levine Children's
Hospital came to me and said we have a patient who loves
Charlotte FC and is really interested in going to the Miami
(10:56):
match and getting to see that, you know, high elite level of
playing. Unfortunately, he had a terminal
illness and his care team didn'tthink he was going to make it to
the Miami match. And so Charlotte FC really just
jumped in and they said we have to figure out a way to honor
(11:18):
this patient now. And so we, Atrium Health is the
presenting sponsor of the honorary captain for every
match. So we choose a patient and a
teammate, you know, whoever to place the ball on the stand and
get recognized pre match. And so we got this patient out
there to be the honorary captain, but because of their
(11:40):
condition, they were on contact precautions.
They were, you know, had specialaccommodations and things like
that. And Charlotte FC just jumped in
and said, we'll put them in a suite, we'll take care of it,
we'll make it right. And so they did that.
Fast forward a couple months, the Miami game is coming up and
(12:00):
the care team reached out and they said we have great news.
Like the patient is still doing well.
Is there any way we can get, youknow, tickets to this match to
take the patient and his dad? So I was like, no problem, we'll
make it work. Shawn FC jumped in, got him out
to the match. Well, those to me sounded like
(12:21):
easy things to do, right? That's my job.
Those are ways that we collaborate.
But about a month later, dad called me and his son had passed
away. And he said, you won't believe
what an impact you made on our family in our last, you know,
days with our son. And here all I can think of is
(12:42):
you just lost a son. You are grieving.
You have so much going on, but you took the time to call me and
thank me. And he said, make sure you thank
Natalie, make sure you thank Denny, make sure you thank
everybody at the team for being for all that they did for our
family. And that's when you just take a
step back and say, this is so much more, right.
(13:02):
And that's where that passion, it is between the fans and then
the passion for Atrium Health and how those really came
together. Yeah, that's amazing stories
like that. And like the Caroline love story
Trent mentioned, highlight how personal this work can be.
One, to use our platform to do good in the community and
(13:26):
especially in the Carolinas. The Caroline love story that we
highlighted so much last year with our internal content team,
that was just a story that was just really beautiful and really
trying to talk about really being open about mental health
and overcoming that. I thought that was amazing and
something that is I hold dear tomy heart and something that I
(13:47):
try to put an emphasis on not only in my life, but with
everything I do. And then also on top of that, I
think the pick one of our pitches for progress last year
with Creative Player Foundation.Creative Player Foundation was
actually one of Charlotte F CS first ever community partners.
You know back in 21 before the team even what even existed, we
(14:09):
started doing some community programming with them.
So in doing the after school programming and the non and all
the stuff that Daniel and his team does over there, being able
to bring a mini pitch and implement it for it was the
first one we ever did indoors. And then we also provided an
outdoor pitch as well. And kind of going back to our
roots, helping the program, eventhough it's a different after
(14:31):
school program, it's not our greater goals program.
But really noticing how much of how impactful Daniel and
Creative Player Foundation is inthe community and really just
trying to help them out and kindof go back to our roots was
something I really enjoyed and something that really stuck out
to me. Right.
I mean, because it's kind of like the whole Field of Dreams,
Like if you build it, they will come, but then you have to have
(14:52):
programming. You have to have things that
can't just always just come to the empty thing.
So like Daniel and other partners, making things happen
at those mini pitches makes it more useful than just here's an
open park that you can come. And play.
Exactly. And I mean, Daniel's been doing
it. I think he mentioned last year
he's coming up. I know at least a decade he
might be coming up, close to twodecades on it.
(15:13):
And so just seeing how a new pitch was so helpful and
meaningful to them was just really cool to see.
Yeah, we interviewed him back inour first season.
He was great talking about what they did.
So when you look at this year's report, which of course is from
2024, do you see stuff? Are there things that are
glaring that you're like, hey, maybe this is something we need
(15:36):
to do much better next year or we missed the mark and we might
have to not scratch at all, but come with maybe rethink how
we're going to do this? Is there any part of out of that
report that we'll see like, oh, you're going to see a difference
in 2025 because we did this because of it?
Good question. I don't know if there's anything
(15:58):
particularly that like at the top of my head, I'm like, oh,
we're planning on changing that hot.
So yeah, that's probably when itcomes to the way we do the
report, there's definitely some things I want to change in.
But when it comes to the programming itself, that's
probably more of ACC question. But but when it comes to the
report itself, there's definitely things that I've
(16:19):
thought about moving into next year, especially with how how
our programming has changed withdifferent things.
Just how do we best tell these stories?
And throughout the report, that's always something I'm
constantly looking at. You know, that's something that
we different 23 to 24 from the 1st edition of this edition was
(16:39):
like, one thing we emphasize wasthe last year, what the last
year was the first one. We were really trying to, we
were really putting down the foundation and really telling
these stories from the beginning.
Now 2024, there was this balanceof people have either people
have read this before and this is their second time or they're
reading it for the first time. So really balancing that while
(17:00):
also condensing it and making itmore of an easy read was
something that like we really focused on this year and
probably throwing in a few more pictures because I feel like
imagery can be just as, if not more impactful than copy can be
so. Right now you also work with the
players and their visibility in the community for these things.
(17:24):
Often times we see players showing up for photo OPS, but
also for causes and things like that.
So what what's being done on their side to make sure it's
bigger than just a handshake or something?
They feel like they're obligated.
I know some players actually come in and ask like, what can I
do to help in the community? Can you share any bits of kind
(17:46):
of behind the scenes of what that happens with the players
and how that works so people understand that they're just not
being, you know, it's not superficial, like it's
meaningful and. 100% right and like that comes with the balance
too is like like for example, you met players asking how they
can get into the community like Harry the new left back signing
Harry one. That was one of the first
(18:06):
questions he asked when he got here.
He said in his introductory press conference.
It really every single player that you see out in the
community. It really comes from a genuine
place and really want to get involved in different ways.
For example, Nick Holiday, I think it's the best example of
this Nick Holiday keeper who primarily plays for Crown
Legacy, but is a first team keeper, you know, young upcoming
(18:28):
guy, up and coming guy. And I mean, he is, he's not just
like, oh, he doesn't just show up for greater goals playing
today. He's legitimately a greater
goals coach at Ramah Elementary.So he's here and he does his
training for the day and then hegoes out and he coaches and he
has his own team that he coachesand that he works with.
(18:49):
So he's definitely the first person that comes to mind when
it comes to those things. But every single player, every
single time we talk to them about different community
events, we let them know what itis we before the season starts.
We always talk to them about what community events are you
interested in and what do you feel most connected to.
(19:10):
And so we have that information compiled and ready to go ahead
of time so that when there are community events that fit into
those molds, we can better we know which players to reach out
to because they're the ones thatare passionate about it.
Like, for example, I know Tim Reem, and this will come up in
the report. Tim Reem was a part of our
Captain's Academy this last year, and he spoke to high
(19:33):
schoolers about leadership beingreally be, you know, really
trying to be their best selves as they prepare for college.
So we really try to make sure that whatever community event
that the players are at, it's something that they're
passionate about it as well. Charlotte F CS community work is
guided by three pillars. Here's CC again.
Three main pillars that we're wereally care about and that is
(19:57):
growing the game and so that's anything from our camps and
clinics for the the community toour unified program to greater
goals and that is high priority for us just to grow the game in
the Carolinas. And then we have our second one
is mint condition and that's. Addressing everything from
(20:17):
leadership to mental health to our food, wanting food security
for every Carolinian. And so however we can be a part
of that, whether that's with thefood banker donating back from
the stadium and from our headquarters, just wanted to be
a part of that. And then our third one is
serving those who serve. And that is for teachers, that's
(20:40):
for first responders, that's forour military.
And I'm just wanting to have eyes for those folks in our
communities that are giving so much and how can we give back to
them. And that, that's been a really
fun one too, having being able to serve some teachers, getting
some supplies in their hands, getting kids backpacks at school
(21:01):
time and getting, getting, beingable to do stuff at the
hospital. And then obviously I've already
spoken to what we get, just a small part of what we get to do
with the military. It's been great.
And we those three are all wrapped up and we really do want
to be for the Carolinas. And those are the three main
ways that that we're tackling itor or trying to tackle it
(21:21):
through the club. Great.
Last question, you talked about the beginning about thinking and
creating dreams. What's the dream that you
haven't been able to do? But that's on your.
List that Charlotte's. Looking forward or you would
like to see the club and this this brand that's being out
there do? Yeah, You know, there's a huge
(21:44):
mental health initiative by the league itself.
And so we're wading into those waters of how we can be a part
of that, how that's fits within our lane of soccer here in the
Carolinas. So that's something that we're
thinking and dreaming about. We're always wanting to add many
pitches and think through like how we can get out into the
community more and grow that coach athlete relationship.
(22:08):
And so that we're we're dreamingabout a growing the game day
where we're training coaches andrefs and kids and helping them
be better leaders on the field. And Trent says that's the heart
of the report. The.
Community Impact Report is a compilation of Charlotte F CS
(22:29):
efforts within the community to not just efforts within the
community to make not just Charlotte, but the Carolinas a
better and happier place and whatever, and through and
specifically through the avenue of soccer, right.
And I think for readers, I wouldreally want them to read this
(22:51):
report and see see that Charlotte FC is doing more than
just trying to make an impact onthe pitch.
They're trying to make an impactoff the pitch as well.
And more than anything, we want them to join us.
We want them to see this report and be inspired and figure out,
see how they can get involved, can they volunteer with our
(23:12):
camps and clinic seamans or whatever different community
events we may have. And so those are probably the
two things that I would hope that people read this report and
get out of it. Awesome.
Thanks. Well, that's.
It for today's episode of the Charlotte FC Podcast.
Thanks to Trent Slagle, CC Schott, and Sarah Garrison for
(23:33):
sharing their stories. You can find a link to the
Charlotte F CS Community Impact Report in our show notes.
And if today's conversation inspired you, think about how
you might get involved as a volunteer, a supporter, or
simply a fan cheering a little louder, knowing the impact goes
a long way beyond the pitch. I'm Nick Fanelli, host of the
Charlotte FC podcast. Thank you for listening.
(23:56):
Enjoy your day.
Popular Podcasts
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com