Set for Monday, March 14 at the Hyatt
Regency Chicago, the annual Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon has become a
fixture date for fans through the club’s history. Set for its 13th
edition in 2011, the event will again hold the popular charity silent auction,
featuring soccer and other local Chicago sports memorabilia as well as some
other interesting things.
I caught up with 2009 MLS W.O.R.K.S.
Humanitarian of the Year, nine-year Chicago Fire veteran and new club captain
Logan Pause to find why the thinks the luncheon is such an important part of
the start of every season.
Jeff Crandall: What do you like about
the annual Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon?
Logan Pause: It’s a really good event because it’s done for a great cause, supporting
our charitable arm. Since the club’s inception, theFire have always wanted to
be part of the Chicagoland community. The organization and the people, [Chicago
Fire Foundation Executive Director] Jessica Yavitz and her crew, put a lot of
time and effort into that. It’s also a great way for us as an organization and
team to kick off a new year. It’s just a great gathering for a good cause and
the perfect time of year to get things going.
JC: Does attending the event make you
realize the season is finally here?
LP: I don’t know that it’s
the event makes you as a player think, ‘Wow the season is really here,’ but preseason
takes its toll on the guys. We’re on the road for a long time away from family
and friends, so at least to me it’s kind of this celebratory start. Tehis year
we’re arriving back from Charleston the day before and so it will be nice to be
welcomed home, so-to-speak, with the event which is a nice release from the
soccer aspect for a day. I like that it makes us understand as athletes and an
organization that it is important to give back and serve the community we’re
in.
JC: What makes the event so special
for Fire fans?
LP: The luncheon gives an opportunity for fans, corporate sponsors, to give
back through the Fire Foundation and also have pretty good access to the
players right before the start of the season. Fans get to catch up with the
guys they’ve followed in the Fire jersey for years and also get to know the new
guys that have come in over the offseason. We understand where our league is
and how we need to continue to grow the sport in Chicago and the United States
-- our players need to be accessible in order to further build connections
among long-time fans and newer ones and the luncheon is a great event for that.
JC: You’ve spoken about the great
work the Chicago Fire Foundation does, you were honored in 2009 as the MLS
W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year for your work with the U.S. Soccer
Foundation’s Passback Program. Could you speak about why philanthropy is
important in the game?
LP: I was fortunate to get
that award, it was a great award. Those kind of things could go to a lot of
people – when it comes to giving back, there are a lot of guys throughout the
league and on our team that have done some great things. There are guys around
the league that have their own charities as well. I’m one person that believes
as athletes we have a responsibility to give back and be a part of something
good. It’s great to be a part of an organization that cares for the less
fortunate in Chicago. It’s great that we do this and similar events throughout
the year to further the Fire Foundation’s mission to affect lives in our
community.
Individual tickets
for the 2011 Chicago Fire Season Kickoff Luncheon are $75 or $700 for a table
(10 people). The first 20 tables are guaranteed to sit with a Chicago Fire
player. All proceeds go to benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation, which has
raised over 1.4 million dollars since 1998. Call (708) 496-6740 to purchase
today! For more information on the 2011 Season Kickoff Luncheon, click here.
