Pro athlete effort delivers life-saving aid to more than 76,000 children worldwide struggling in the wake of COVID-19

January 31, 2022

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Compassion International’s Fill the Stadium recently celebrated a landmark victory—the goal to raise $35 million and provide lifesaving aid to 70,000 children who have been affected by the pandemic has been surpassed! Over 76,000 of the 2.2 million children in the Compassion program have received food, supplies, and other necessary items.

With the impressive goal reached, the Compassion team is ready to carry on with the campaign into the new year. There are even more children around the world in need of critical food, medical care, and other support.

The Fill the Stadium initiative was joined by professional athletes and their families. One proponent of the Fill the Stadium mission is Carolina Hurricanes all-star defenseman Jaccob Slavin.

“It makes you step back and realize there’s a lot more to life than hockey,” Slavin stated about the Fill the Stadium initiative. “That’s something I’ve always known just with faith being the most important part of my life. That’s why this initiative is so important: it’s fulfilling the Gospel and fulfilling what Jesus would have done and so we want to use the things He’s given us for His glory. We are so excited that we helped support so many children!”

Joining Slavin in co-leadership roles for Fill the Stadium efforts are such standout professional athletes as Nate Solder, New York Giants offensive tackle; Chris Davis, former Baltimore Oriole first baseman, Alyssa Naeher, a member of the U.S. Olympic and World Cup Women’s Soccer Team; Case Keenum, Cleveland Browns quarterback; Nick Foles, professional football MVP quarterback; Adam Engel of the Chicago White Sox; Sam Burns, PGA TOUR golfer; Nick Ahmed of the Arizona Diamondbacks; Jordy Nelson, former professional wide receiver; Devin and Jason McCourty, NFL defensive backs; former pro-quarterback Carson Palmer; Brock Huard, FOX sports broadcaster and former professional quarterback; and many others.

Compassion CEO and President Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado commented, “Now that the goal for this initiative has been met, my prayer is that the resourced world won’t move on too quickly and forget about the rest of their under-resourced brothers and sisters who desperately need their assistance. They continue to need our support both financially and spiritually.

“There are still so many children that desperately need our support.”

To learn more about Fill the Stadium, visit their website, as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Compassion Internationalis a Christian child development organization working to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Founded in 1952, Compassion partners with more than 8,000 local churches in 25 program countries to deliver spiritual, economic, social, and physical care to over two million babies, children, and young adults in poverty. Ranked No. 8 in Forbes’ America’s Top Charities List in 2020, Compassion is a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. For more information, visit compassion.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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