CAPITAL REGION CARES
CAPITAL REGION CARES
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Pictured ( L-R ): Todd Dunivant , President & General Manager , Sacramento Republic FC ; Garry Maisel , President & CEO , Western Health Advantage ; Kevin Nagle , Chairman & CEO , Sacramento Republic FC ; Darrell Steinberg , Mayor , City of Sacramento ; Jessica Gordon-Lannom , Executive Director at American Heart Association | American Stroke Association
Sacramento Republic FC
Scoring Goals for the Community
Sacramento is fortunate to have the professional soccer team Sacramento Republic FC on several fronts . Often in the playoffs and already with a championship to its name in just nine years since inception , this successful USL team gives area sports fans a team to root for and exciting matchday entertainment . Beyond that , Sacramento Republic FC is actively bettering our regional communities .
“ A word we use in our club is ‘ indomitable ’ — it ’ s that never-giveup attitude ,” says Vice President Scott Moak . “ We use it with our players and in our community work . Helping people is very powerful — it lifts spirits , changes attitudes and helps create indomitable communities .” health for everyone . Our intention is that fans attending our home matches will be more health conscious and pursue a more active lifestyle , and so will anyone attending a concert or any other event here .”
The club is also steadfastly committed to a program they initiated in 2018 that isn ’ t as visible to most of the community . Sacramento Republic FC team members play monthly outreach matches against inmates at Folsom State Prison . “ Todd Dunivant , our general manager and a former Major League Soccer player , had a chance years ago to do some rehabilitation work with people who had made bad life choices , and has inspired this program .”
Moak and Kevin Burdick guide the club ’ s philanthropy efforts and community work . One of their most visible actions has been naming the team ’ s home stadium at Cal Expo . Partnered with Western Health Advantage and the American Heart Association , Sacramento Republic FC officially named the venue Heart Health Park in 2021 .
“ We ’ re among the first to name a stadium for a social cause , hoping to raise awareness of heart healthiness ,” Moak explains . “ We are a team of athletes and recognize the value of good heart
Edwin McMillan , who spent 21 years in Folsom Prison , immediately contacted the club upon his release to express the gratitude inmates feel . “ We never thought that Sac Republic , or anybody , would come in and share the love of soccer , and that love of soccer blossomed , and it blossomed with friendship and showed us what humanity is and what compassion is . They ’ re changing lives . When they came in , they changed my life ,” says McMillan , who ’ s now working to earn his bachelor ’ s degree . With building community a high priority , Sacramento Republic FC is helping to revitalize neighborhoods with futsal courts . Moak
SACREPUBLICFC . COM
68 comstocksmag . com | December 2021