Seventh Annual United Celebrity Golf Tournament raises more than $55,000

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United for D.C., the charitable arm of D.C. United, announced today that the Seventh Annual United Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by United Bank and GEICO raised more than $55,000. Proceeds from the event will be used to benefit the charity’s three signature programs - United Reads, Kicks for Kids and the United Soccer Club - all of which place an emphasis on literacy, healthy lifestyles and life skills for youth in the Washington, D.C. area through the sport of soccer.

"Thanks to the support of sponsors, local businesses and fan supporters groups, the event was able to raise much needed funds to impact local youth," said United for D.C. Executive Director Sara Peterson. "Each year we are able to grow this event to make a larger impact and we look forward to making next year’s even better."

More than 150 golfers gathered at Old Hickory Golf Club in Woodbridge, Virginia for a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start on Monday, June 23. Participants in this year’s event played alongside D.C. United players and coaches as well as United co-managing partner Will Chang, United President and CEO Kevin Payne, former United coaches Bruce Arena and Tom Rongen, former United player A.J. Wood, TV personalities Russ Thaler, Dan Hellie and Steve Buckhantz, professional athletes Michael Weiss and Nicole Barber, and Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.

First place in the event went to Team Ovations, consisting of Roberto Garcia, Kevin Young, Mike Reinhart, Mariano Estevez and D.C. United forward Franco Niell. The Merrifield Garden Center team of former United coach Bruce Arena, profesional softball player Nicole Barber, Tom McVean, Andy McVean and Jason Bishop finished in second place. D.C. United co-managing partner Will Chang’s Greater Washington Sports Alliance team consisting Bob Sweeney, Steve Buckhantz, David Nearpass and Ron Sappacota earned third place honors.

In addition to the presenting sponsors, United for D.C. benefited from the generous assistance of hole sponsors Arent Fox, Clark Construction, Clubspaces, The Presidential Golf Club and Valcourt Building Services.

For more information on the Seventh Annual United Celebrity Golf Tournament or any of United for D.C.’s fundraisers or programs, please contact Kate Larned at 202-587-5463 or at klarned@dcunited.com or visit www.unitedfordc.org.

United for D.C.
United for D.C., Inc. was founded on January 8, 2002 as the charitable arm of Major League Soccer's D.C. United. United for D.C. is a 501(c) 3 organization chartered to serve the Washington, D.C. community through the creation or support of programs, events and organizations that advance educational and social welfare opportunities (primarily health and recreational) for the area's youth, particularly those who may be economically, physically or mentally disadvantaged.