Detroit, MI: Detroit City FC will take to the pitch on Saturday, October 2, in support of Give Merit’s Fate Program, an eight-year, cohort-based program that provides innovative programming blending project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience, emphasizing the value of education and its role in achieving long-term career and personal goals.
Give Merit’s Fate Program students, and Detroiter / graphic designer Mekale Jackson designed the 2021 Charity Kit. The collaboration team used black/grayscale to represent the black youth who contributed to the kit design. The smoke on each part of the kit suggests the home atmosphere of Detroit City FC matches at Keyworth Stadium, an interpretation of “Smoke Rising.” The smoke imagery rises through the shorts and jersey combo and builds through to the collar.
The black kit design with the gray smoke also represents “Black Excellence Rising to the Top,” a motto FATE students coined. Give Merit’s FATE logo is on the left sleeve patch and is purposefully the only full 4-color logo, spotlighting Detroit and its youth.
The handwritten “D” on the lower part of the jersey was illustrated by one of the 9th-grade FATE students, adding a personal touch and connecting Detroit City FC, youth, and Detroit.
During Saturday’s match, participating player’s autographed, game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in a silent auction held at Keyworth Stadium. DCFC supporters outside of Metro Detroit can participate in the fundraising by bidding on autographed & game-worn jerseys on eBay after the match. All proceeds raised will benefit Give Merit’s FATE Program.
The match kicks off Saturday at 7:30 PM at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck, MI, against the Maryland Bobcats. A limited number of tickets are still available at tickets.https://www.detcityfc.com.
“Detroit City FC is a community-based club, and youth initiatives are at the heart of our mission to create access to soccer for our entire community,” said T.J. Winfrey, Detroit City FC Chief of Partnerships. “Give Merit’s FATE Program has driven tangible results for our young people, exposing them to academic, social, cultural, career and mentorship resources and opportunities. We are honored to partner with FATE and to support their work.”
“We try to stay as much away from hypothetical projects as possible in our programming. Being able to partner on an initiative like this with Detroit City FC and to see professional soccer players wearing a jersey that our FATE students helped create is something they will never forget.” – Kuhu Saha, Executive Director, Give Merit
About Give Merit: Founded in 2011, Give Merit exists to enhance and extend educational opportunities to underserved youth through innovative enrichment, mentorship, and athletic activities.
Give Merit has worked intensively with Detroit high school students from the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA) through its FATE program. This cohort-based program, beginning in the 9th grade and continuing through college graduation, provides innovative programming blending project-based learning, character development, career exposure, and mentorship into a co-curricular experience, emphasizing the value of education and its role in providing access to achieving long-term career and personal goals.
One hundred percent of FATE students have graduated from high school and been accepted to colleges/universities!
About Detroit City FC: Founded in 2012, Detroit City FC has established itself as one of the most talked-about soccer teams in North America. The club’s motto, “Passion for Our City, Passion for the Game,” evokes the three ideas the grassroots organization built upon satisfying the demand for soccer in downtown Detroit, representing the city in a positive light, and building community through the beautiful game. Learn more at https://www.detcityfc.com.
