Local professional sports teams the Washington Capitals, Commanders, Nationals, Mystics, Spirit Wizards, D.C. United, DC Shadow, and Capital City Go-Go today announce their renewed commitment to community safety as they prepare to wear orange on Gun Violence Awareness Weekend. As part of the 2023 campaign, the teams have pledged an initial donation of $100,000 to local non-profit Peace For DC with additional ways for members of the public to contribute.
“The professional sports teams of Washington D.C. are proud to come together and say ENOUGH,” the teams said in a joint statement. “We ask our fans and community partners to stand with us as we work with Peace For DC to create a better, safer city for everyone.”
Peace For DC serves as a connector between those leading violence prevention work across the city and those willing and able to offer assistance, such as government agencies and philanthropies. The organization operates the DC Peace Academy, providing world-class training to the district’s Community Violence Intervention workforce. Led by D.C.-area natives with deep, personal experiences connected to violence and a background in collaborating with stakeholders at every level, Peace For DC aims to reduce gun-related homicides in the District by 60% in five years.
On Wear Orange Weekend from Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 4, local teams will show their support in a variety of ways, including wearing orange warm-up shirts and sharing information on local gun violence statistics via their social platforms.
This marks the second consecutive year that D.C. sports teams have come together to combat violence in the area, following last year’s unprecedented collaboration that raised more than $100,000 for community-based violence intervention programs.
Read the full story for additional information on how teams are supporting gun violence awareness on Wear Orange Weekend
