DICK'S Sporting Goods Saves Houston-Based Refugee Soccer Team With Surprise Donation

DICK'S and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation committed $2 million in donations to schools, leagues and teams impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma; Houston-based team receives surprise funding and equipment; $1 million from Sports Matter still available to impacted programs.

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DICK'S Sporting Goods

Dec 11, 2017, 09:30 ET

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation are giving the gift of sport this holiday season to ensure young athletes can continue to play. Following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, DICK'S and its Foundation committed $2 million to rebuild and refurbish youth sports programs and facilities across the Gulf Coast, Florida and other states impacted by the hurricanes.

In Houston, reVision FC soccer relies on outside funding to operate. The youth team is comprised of African refugees and provides players with a community and home, empowering them with skills and confidence for the future. Post-Harvey, funding for reVision FC was no longer available and the team was at risk of collapse.

Today, DICK'S announces the release of a short film, reVision FC: A Holiday Assist, which captures the story of reVision's struggles in the aftermath of the hurricane. In this film, DICK'S tells the story of what the team means to the players and how they reacted to a surprise $120,000 donation from its Foundation's Sports Matter program, which will keep the team on the field for the next three seasons.

"At DICK'S, we know the importance of giving gifts that matter during the holidays," said Lauren Hobart, President of DICK'S Sporting Goods and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation. "We believe giving the gift of sport brings people together, and can provide some sense of normalcy to kids whose lives have been turned upside-down."

Since Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, DICK'S has provided nearly 200 youth sports teams in Texas and Florida the necessary funding to continue to play. There is still more than $1 million available via the Sports Matter Hurricane Relief fund, and teams, leagues or school athletic programs impacted by the hurricanes are encouraged to visit www.sportsmatter.org to apply for assistance.

"We're so thankful for what DICK'S and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation did for our team," said Charles Rotramel, CEO of Houston reVision. "These young athletes found hope and brotherhood through this program, and with the support from DICK'S they can continue to play the sport they love."

Since 2014, DICK'S and the DICK'S Foundation have pledged over $50 million to support youth sports programs in need and raise awareness of the importance of youth sports across the country through its Sports Matter initiative. For more information on Sports Matter or to watch the Houston reVision FC video, visit SportsMatter.org.

About DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.
Founded in 1948, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. is a leading omni-channel sporting goods retailer offering an extensive assortment of authentic, high-quality sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories. As of October 28, 2017, the Company operated more than 715 DICK'S Sporting Goods locations across the United States, serving and inspiring athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to achieve their personal best through a blend of dedicated associates, in-store services and unique specialty shop-in-shops dedicated to Team Sports, Athletic Apparel, Golf, Lodge/Outdoor, Fitness and Footwear. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, DICK'S also owns and operates Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream specialty stores, as well as DICK'S Team Sports HQ, an all-in-one youth sports digital platform offering free league management services, mobile apps for scheduling, communications and live scorekeeping, custom uniforms and FanWear and access to donations and sponsorships. DICK'S offers its products through a content-rich eCommerce platform that is integrated with its store network and provides customers with the convenience and expertise of a 24-hour storefront. For more information, visit the Press Room or Investor Relations pages at dicks.com.

About The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation
The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with a mission to inspire and enable sports participation. It was created by DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. as a private corporate foundation to support DICK'S charitable and philanthropic activities.

Contact DICK'S Sporting Goods
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SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods