Pro athlete drives effort to deliver life-saving aid for more than 76,000 children worldwide struggling in the wake of COVID-19
February 14, 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 recently registered children in the Compassion program have received food, supplies, and other necessary items.
Even as the impressive goal is reached, the Compassion team is continuing the campaign. There are many more children around the world in need of critical food, medical care, and other support.
This monumental achievement was headed by Compassion CEO and President Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado and Steve Stenstrom, president of Pro Athletes Outreach,along with many notable professional athletes including New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder.
“My family and I are so thankful for the opportunity to team up with Compassion International to give help during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Solder. “Many of our friends from the NFL, MLB, PGA TOUR and US Soccer National Team were involved in the Fill the Stadium project, and we are so excited to help support so many children in need.”
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.”
Joining Solder in co-leadership roles for Fill the Stadium efforts are such standout professional athletes as Carson Palmer, former NFL quarterback; 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; Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes; Brock Huard, FOX sports broadcaster and former professional quarterback; and many others.
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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