A Look Back at OL Reign’s Partnership with the Black Future Co-op Fund
2021 was a big year for OL Reign in many ways. Through the ups and downs, one thing that remained constant was the partnership between OL Reign and the Black Future Co-op Fund. A partnership born in 2020, the two organizations worked together throughout the year to address the systemic racism and wealth inequality that has disproportionately affected the Black community for generations.
OL Reign and the Black Future Co-op Fund first started their work together during the 2020 NWSL Fall Series, when the club played on behalf of the organization, which raised more than $15,000 for the organization. The decision to work with the organization was made by the players of OL Reign, who asserted that the mission of the Black Future Co-op Fund resonated and aligned with that of the team. That vision of a philanthropy for Black people to ignite Black wealth, health, and well-being over generations has been at the forefront of OL Reign’s mission to highlight the Black Future Co-ops Fund’s work.
From there, the partnership blossomed. Ahead of the 2021 season, OL Reign announced that the Black Future Co-op Fund would be featured front and center on their primary and secondary jerseys. Featuring the Black Future Co-op Fund logo front and center was an opportunity for OL Reign to do more.
The center logo on the jerseys was a valuable media asset and a conversation starter at OL Reign matches. Through this conversation, many people learned more about the Black Future Co-op Fund and their mission, as well as the importance of investing in areas that are underserved and unappreciated in the community.
Once the season kicked off, the architects of the Black Future Co-op Fund – Andrea Caupain Sanderson – CEO of Byrd Barr Place and Co-founder of the BIPOC Executive Directors Coalition, Angela Jones, J.D. – CEO of Washington STEM, Michelle Merriweather – President of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and T’wina Nobles – Senator for the 28th Legislative District of Washington and President and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League, were honored as the first OL Reign Legends of the season.
The group, that did not set out with the intentional of being recognized for their work, inspired many OL Reign fans and other partners of the club to get involved and support the Black Future Co-op Fund’s powerful mission.
During the doubleheader event at Lumen Field, Boeing presented the Black Future Co-op Fund with a $50,000 donation to continue their work supporting and ensuring equity and inclusion in Washington state. Boeing, who already launched the Boeing Scholarship Program in 2020, saw the opportunity to display their ongoing commitment to underrepresented communities and strengthening economic opportunity across Washington state.
Most recently, OL Reign and the Black Future Co-op Fund came together for the Nationwide Community Impact Award campaign. Through this campaign, the Black Future Co-op Fund was named OL Reign’s community partner and received an initial $2,500 donation form Nationwide.
Throughout the competition, OL Reign fans showed up on social media, outperforming all of the other NWSL teams to win the fan vote. Due to the sheer amount of fan engagement online, Nationwide decided to add an addition $2,500 to their donation to the Black Future Co-op Fund.
At the end of the NWSL season, it was announced that OL Reign and the Black Future Co-op Fund had won the first ever Nationwide Community Impact award and secured the $20,000 grand prize for the Black Future Co-op Fund, bringing Nationwide’s total donation to $25,000.
The difference that the Black Future Co-op Fund makes in our community should not be understated. They are Washington’s first Black-led philanthropy and have united people with a shared mission. The Fund has been able to grant $1 million to 40 organizations that traditional philanthropy has discounted and left unsupported. These funds directly provide more resources, collective power and support to Black Washingtonians.
OL Reign is proud to partner with the Black Future Co-op Fund and looks forward to a lasting and impactful partnership for years to come. To learn more about the Black Future Co-op Fund and what you can do to get involved, visit their website and social media pages @blackfuturewa.