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Prideraiser! Atlético Ottawa supporters to raise funds for ‘Kind Space’ 🌈
June 1, 2023
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Atlético Ottawa’s official supporters’ group Capital City Supporters Group has revealed that throughout the month of June, they will be raising money for Kind Space in Ottawa through Prideraiser annual fundraiser.

Prideraiser is a “coalition of over 70 supporters groups” based in the US and Canada that come together annually to raise funds throughout the month of June for LGBTQ+ causes in their local communities, and the Canadian Premier League has been ever present since the league was formed in 2019 with six of the eight teams represented in the 2023 edition.

Bytown Boys Supporters Club (BBSC) is no stranger to the initiative, having taken part multiple times since the project’s inception in 2017 and is expected to announce its 2023 fundraiser soon. For Capital City Supporters Group (CCSG) this marks a new endeavour as the group, founded in 2020, continues to grow its impact in the stands and throughout the community. According to CCSG’s Inclusion Officer, Meagan Wiper, Prideraiser offers an opportunity to champion the safe space the group is nurturing in the stands at Atlético Ottawa as well as supporting an important local organization.

“CCSG is supporting Kind Space, a queer community centre in Ottawa and on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin territory that offers services like a trans ID clinic that helps trans and non-binary people change their name, gender or sex designation on identity documents, as well as a food bank and support funds,” Meagan explained.

“They also have peer support groups for 2SLGBTQIA people in their 20s, and 30s, a group for asexual, aromantic people, another for trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and two-spirit adults, as well as for bisexual and pansexual people. Community centres like this are usually terribly underfunded and understaffed. So, helping to raise funds for organizations like this is crucial.”

The fundraiser works by members pledging to donate a fixed amount per goal scored during the calendar month of June, with members of CCSG already pledging amounts varying between $3 and $10 per goal. However, you don’t have to be a member of the group to donate – anyone can participate, to find out more or to take part in CCSG’s Prideraiser campaign for Kind Space please click here.

Atlético Ottawa has a track record of participation through the players. Last year former midfielder Chris Mannella championed a cause close to his heart and this season, club captain Carl Haworth has announced he will be “Play for Pride” in support of Athlete Ally with $10 per team point and $20 per goal he scores.

As Meagan pointed out when we spoke: “It’s not up to us to decide if we’re allies, but with initiatives like this, we hope we’re on our way there.”