Forward Madison FC announced Friday that it would wear a special Ukrainian Relief Kit for its opening home match in the USL League One season on Saturday, April 9, against Union Omaha.
The shirt will be for sale for $90 at the Flamboyance team store and the team’s website, and signed game-worn jerseys will be available via online auction from noon on April 9 until noon April 10. All proceeds from both shirt sales and online auction will be donated to UNICEF’s Ukrainian relief effort, the club said. The club has not set an end date for the sale of these jerseys.
For individuals outside of the United States looking to support this effort, Classic Football Shirts in England have the Ukrainian Relief Kit available for purchase with all proceeds going to the Ukrainian Red Cross, the cub said.
“The war and destruction in Ukraine has been heartbreaking to watch. Since this war started, we have wanted to do something to show our support and try to help the people of Ukraine,” club officials said in a statement released Friday. “Our Club speaks through our kits and it was clear that our best way to raise money for Ukrainian relief was through a unique kit. We were able to work with our designers and suppliers to quickly develop a kit that will have a small impact on the relief efforts.”
The Ukrainian Relief Kit takes Ukrainian flag colors and symbolism and integrates them into the 2021/22 Forward Madison home kit design, with “UNITED FOR UKRAINE” displayed on the front of the kit. A sunflower, a symbol of resistance in Ukraine, adorns the sleeve of the jersey.
The club expressed gratitude to kit sponsors Dairyland Insurance and Just Coffee Cooperative, who have foregone their sponsor logo placements on the kit to allow the club to add meaningful Ukrainian elements to the jersey. The club also secured special permission from USL to wear the jerseys in a sanctioned match.
Additionally, club officials said they would like to recognize the efforts made by our kit supplier, Hummel North America, and manufacturer, Tru Digital, who have not only been able to produce this kit in an incredibly short timeline, but also who have agreed to align their proceeds of the kit with the club’s UNICEF donation effort.
