Release the Donations

The Seattle Kraken announced Monday it has donated all net proceeds from its inaugural "Release the Kraken" apparel and gear line to three local nonprofit organizations that support homeless youth and young people of color. To mark the event, the team hosted a "listening lunch" with leaders from its community partner, YouthCare, which has a 10-year formalized relationship with the Kraken in which the team will donate cash and in-kind services totaling $10 million to eradicate youth homelessness.
"We were mindful that we were launching our brand in the middle of multiple pandemics, and wanted to find a way to leverage our launch and engage our fans to provide some relief to those most impacted," said Mari Horita, Kraken vice president for community development and social impact.

As a result of the exclusive line of "Release the Kraken" merchandise sold at a dedicated releasethekraken.com website between July 23 and Aug. 21, the Kraken has donated $285,000 to YouthCare and $60,000 each to Community Passageways and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

"To raise that kind of money in these times is inspirational and a tribute to our fans," said Tod Leiweke, Kraken CEO, at the lunch session. "The deeper benefit is, yes, we raised the money and will raise more for the community, but it also raises awareness and expectations for these organizations. They are doing amazing things."
YouthCare works to end youth homelessness by addressing root causes and providing holistic and 24/7 support to youth in the greater Seattle region. For nearly 50 years, it has provided essential needs such as meals, shelter, housing, education and employment opportunities along with the simple yet powerful action of valuing the potential of every young person in our community.
"We are the prevention strategy for youth homelessness [in the Seattle area), said Melinda Giovengo, YouthCare CEO, during the Monday discussion. "A young person who is couch-surfing from garage to garage is youth homelessness. We lay framework to that every child deserves a good meal and a place to sleep. But these young people all deserve a future. We can't do that without partnerships [to provide jobs and career opportunities]."

Community Passageways, founded by Dominique Davis in 2017, is a felony diversion and prevention program committed to zero youth incarceration. It creates alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults by rebuilding communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion and consistency. Davis and his organization works from the premise that when given hope, a voice, healing, opportunity and the support of their community, every young person can become a powerful leader.
For 90 years, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is a community focused social justice organization that has been a crucial leader, convener, advocate, activist and collaborator advancing equity for all. It empowers Blacks, Indigenous and People of Color by providing economic, educational and employment support services in Seattle and King County.
"YouthCare, Community Passageways, and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle are working tirelessly to provide critical support to deserving young people, and we at Seattle Kraken are humbled to partner with them," said Horita. "Whatever challenges and inconveniences we all face as a result of COVID -19 are experienced a hundred-fold by our community's more vulnerable populations."

Joining Giovengo at the luncheon were YouthCare colleagues Degale Cooper, chief program officer; Kathryn Peterson, associate director of employment and education integration; and Randi Eseltine, director of community engagement. Kraken marketing vice president Heidi Dettmer (also a YouthCare board member), local Kraken owner Jay Deustch and Premera social impact lead Paul Hollie were also part of the lively discussion that covered a number of topics from behavioral and mental health support to "trauma load" among homeless youth to job training options for 16- to 24-year-olds and much more.
Hollie, representing the Kraken's health insurance partner, surprised the YouthCare officials with an additional $25,000 donation, plus 500 reusable masks and 1000 bottles of hand sanitizer. Giovengo was openly grateful and moved expressing her thanks for "what has become a great day."
"It's been a really hard six months for us," said Giovengo. "It makes such a difference that we are supported by people who care about youth homelessness and want to end it. Resources are essential but what keeps me at YouthCare is what Tod [Leiweke] said about raising awareness in the community. We want our community to see these kids and understand they want in life what our own children want."