FC Olympia is an established path to pro soccer. Through youth outreach clinics and camps, they introduce soccer to kids as well as providing free youth ticketing to USL Stadium Matches through the Oly Soccer Foundation. FC Oly hopes to reach their fundraising goals one donation at a time during their fourth annual fundraiser.
Meeting Financial Needs Keeps Local Soccer Vibrant
If you thought the Pacific Northwest was soccer-crazy already, just wait until 2026. That’s when Seattle will host six of the FIFA World Cup matches for their 48-team international tournament. And it’s not just in our corner of the country. Nationwide, the number of first-time soccer fans has increased 400% year over year according to recent studies, and the excitement isn’t slowing down. Get in the action now by supporting our very own local home team, FC Olympia!
As with many hometown organizations, FC Olympia has embraced both successes and challenges over the past few years. “In 2024 we had record year handing out money and spending it on fantastic causes, groups and schools, but we also lost key departments like indoor soccer and local downtown sponsors like Dancing Goats,” shares President Ryan Perkins.
Perkins hopes that for 2025’s annual fundraiser, all 10,000 of their social media and online followers will donate $2 or more to reach the group’s goal of $20,000. This year’s event is online and will support youth outreach, free tickets for kids to watch professional matches, game-day expenses and travel for their USL teams to compete around the region.
“FC Olympia via the Oly Soccer Foundation nonprofit cannot operate without generous annual donations,” says Perkins. “We do not charge our players to play and provide this experience by covering coaching costs, field rentals, insurance, jerseys, warmups, a fun game-day experience, photos, broadcasts and more.”
The FC Olympia Community Cares Both On and Off the Field
Real estate broker Alley Savin feels passionately about supporting the club. A lifelong player herself, she got involved with sponsorship when FC Olympia opened up youth programming. “The sport teaches so much more than just physical fitness and soccer IQ. Soccer teaches kids how to work together, how to be coachable, respect authority, think independently, communicate, collaborate and so much more.”
“Team sports, and soccer specifically, produce healthy, respectful, productive adults as decent members of society and to the communities in which they live,” Savin says. “To me, a fringe benefit of the youth programs the Club offers is a path to pro route for locals. FC Olympia provides the most experienced coaches, programs and facilities, all of which benefit kids both during sport and after.”
A Big Thanks to Local Sponsors and Team Supporters
Nicole Andres of Nicole’s Bar in downtown Olympia is a longtime supporter of FC Olympia. They were a venue provider for last year’s in-person fundraiser and have supported the club through youth soccer camp scholarships, free USL match day ticketing, general match day sponsorships, and USL Youth Soccer outreach events like Pro Combines or Q&A Breakfast Panels where parents and players eat breakfast with pros and coaches to ask questions about how to make it to next level.
Kasey Keller, a hometown soccer hero, and United States Women’s Soccer superstar and Olympic gold medalist Stephanie Cox both attended at Nicole’s last year. Perkins says fundraising from this event paved the way for Cox to return several months later to an exhibition game against the Seattle Reign FC last summer. There Stephanie signed autographs and took pictures with local kids and players. “It was amazing for the youth soccer community to have that match,” he says.
“FC Olympia Artesian soccer plays an invaluable role here in Thurston County,” Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder shared at last year’s fundraiser. “While engaging and entertaining, FC Olympia also supports our local economy. From FC Olympia’s USL team tryouts to youth clinics, the RAC buzzes with activity, embodying Lacey’s reputation as a premier sports destination.”
This year’s fundraiser runs from May 1 through July 15 and you can donate online to keep soccer thriving across western Washington. While on their website, check out links for tickets, schedules, news and ways to become a community partner. You can follow the club on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube as well.
Then get warmed up and be prepared to root for the home team, thanks to FC Olympia.
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