2024 Environmental Justice Mission Report

The 2024 Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission Report documents and gives context to the progress made by our organization during the calendar year. The vast majority of work is done during our season between mid-May to early August.

In our current state, the club has no full time employees, so we are immensely thankful for the dedication of our staff, interns, volunteers, players, partners, and fans, who contribute to this football club, and uphold its values. We are so grateful for the countless contributors to our broad, collaborative effort to advance the causes of environmental stewardship and social justice through soccer, with a focus on the communities and ecosystems—in which we live and play—here in Vermont.

The Mission

Vermont Green Football Club believes soccer can be a powerful catalyst for a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. We’re on a mission to build a football club that reflects these values and embeds environmental justice into its competitive strategy, operational processes, and culture. We’re building a club that prioritizes the environment in all business decisions impacting our local and global communities.

In our inaugural season in 2022, we set out to achieve ambitious goals for both community engagement and sustainability for our club. We outlined our progress in our 2022 Mission Report and 2023 Mission Report.

In 2024, our goal was to build on our foundation in collaboration with our partners and fans, and continue making a meaningful impact in our community while spreading awareness of the mission on a larger scale.

What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice is a social movement that fights for the equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens in our society. It is also a lens that allows us to understand how human rights, equality, and environmental stewardship are interconnected. Through this lens, it’s clear that efforts to address environmental crises—like climate change—will be most effective only if they are rooted in social justice.

2024 Mission Goals

In our pursuit to embed Environmental Justice into club operations, we set five distinct mission goals when we founded the club in 2021. These goals remain in place today:

  1. Net Zero
  2. Fighting Systemic Racism in Soccer
  3. Purpose Driven Merchandise
  4. Giving
  5. Education and Awareness

Net Zero

GOAL

Become a net zero club following the standards set forth in the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative.

PROGRESS

Building on the gradual but consistent work from the 2022 and 2023 seasons, we progressed foundational work in partnership with an external team of consultants. With their support, we continued to develop the club’s internal system of tracking emissions, while working with our venue, vendors, staff, players, and supporters to be conscious of our emissions and to work towards collective reduction.

We encouraged environmentally-conscious transportation options such as carpooling, biking, walking, and bus riding for players, staff, and fans with CATMA’s commuter solution tool, linked in every matchday email. 

Our partnership with Local Motion entered its second season, and the incredibly popular ‘Bike-to-the-Match’ initiative saw hundreds of fans use the free bike parking valet at every home match. The ‘Bike-to-the-Match’ initiative incentivizes fans in the Burlington area to travel to matches by bicycle, and use the no-cost parking option provided by Local Motion. These fans were automatically entered into a raffle to win prizes in the stadium. We worked with local partners like Bivo (cycling water bottles) and Plink! (hydration tablets), to provide great prizes for cycling fans. 

We entered our third season with technical apparel partner PlayerLayer, a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, who uses the HIGG Index tool to guide best practices in more sustainable product development. Their facilities are powered by solar energy, they’ve developed award-winning waste management systems at their facilities, are removing 12 million plastic water bottles from landfills in their product design, and are transitioning their factory vehicles to hybrid.

We use packaging from EcoEnclose to ship our merchandise. EcoEnclose provides eco-forward, optimal packaging solutions, while “envisioning a future in which packaging is endlessly recycled or reused, and virgin materials are made from regenerative resources whose production strengthens soils.”

In 2024, we continued our partnership with Wasted*, bringing innovative and sustainable portable toilet systems to all matches at Virtue Field. These toilets collected human waste which was then processed into natural fertilizers, recovering the rich nutrients that ordinarily go to waste. Wasted* are focused on upcycling human waste to create valuable byproducts. Their toilet innovation supports a circular economy.

In December, Wasted* announced WeeBloom, their first natural fertilizer product created from urine. The 14 toilets at Vermont Green FC home matches were one of the sources for the product, so fans of the Green contributed directly to the circular economy with Wasted*. Thank you for your pee!

The club continued to Talk Trash. Continuing the practice from all previous seasons, Vermont Green FC staff, volunteers, and fans sorted through trash, recycling, and compost bins at the stadium to ensure contents were recycled or disposed of properly. The club provides signage and information at the stadium so fans understand the importance of sorting their trash and not contaminating the recycling process.

Finally, we continued our vital partnership with the University of Vermont, who sources electricity from 100% renewable sources. Virtue Field, on the University’s campus, remains a fantastic shared space to discuss environmental justice and a more sustainable future.

“Combatting the climate crisis goes beyond our vital transition to clean energy. We need to build stronger ties across our community, invite friends and neighbors into the climate conversation, and create more moments of collective joy to inspire hope. That’s exactly what we saw in the foundation of Vermont Green FC and why we hopped on the opportunity to be their founding title sponsor.
In the first three seasons alone we’ve witnessed a groundswell of communal excitement and inclusive fan culture. We know this is just the beginning of what’s possible here in our home state, and the club’s mission will continue to encourage more climate-conscious sports culture worldwide.” — Patrick McCormack, SunCommon.

Fighting Systemic Racism in Soccer

GOAL

Stand up to systemic racism in soccer and beyond, and work towards using our platform and resources to build an anti-racist soccer club.

PROGRESS

Our 10-Point Plan—built in collaboration with the Anti-Racist Soccer Club coalition in 2022—continues to be the framework from which we combat racism in soccer, with a focus on our community in Vermont. Our 10-Point Plan is referenced in ARSC’s case study from 2022.

We hosted a third annual friendly match with Juba Star Football Club to raise funds for their participation in the Louisville International Outdoor Cup, and their free youth soccer clinics. The match was presented by Ben & Jerry’s and raised funds and awareness for the joint effort to expand access to soccer in Burlington. The match gives Juba Star a platform for local talent and the opportunity for club representatives to speak to fans at half-time about their club’s goals. 

We secured and subsidized indoor training facility rentals during the winter months to provide access for Juba Star’s free youth soccer clinics, and adult men’s team training sessions. 

Juba Star FC, a football club associated with the Somali Bantu Community Association of Vermont, run a senior men’s team in Vermont’s local leagues, compete nationally at Somali Bantu community tournaments, and offer youth soccer training. 

Point 8 of our 10-Point Plan pledges to increase support for Black-owned and Black-led organizations. Building on this point in 2025, we prioritized Black-owned food vendors, including Thingz From Yaad and Jilib Jiblets, who both served wildly popular food at multiple matches.

Our match program and in-stadium announcer recite a Land Acknowledgment before every home match. 

We played “Lift Every Voice And Sing” at every match to commemorate what is often known as the “Black National Anthem”. In every matchday program, the club explained the historical context of the anthem, including its original author and some of its historical uses. The club also explained its use at Vermont Green games. The celebration of African American freedom, achievement, and respect for the culture was particularly powerful in a community that has struggled for diverse representation.

“By empowering our youth through the transformative power of football, we’ve turned every training session into a field of dreams. Thanks to the unwavering support from Vermont Green, who have not only equipped them with resources for tournaments and fields but also fostered a community where disadvantaged youths can grow and thrive. Together, we’re scoring goals on and off the field! Vermont Green’s dedication to the cause is truly invaluable.” — Noor Bulle, Juba Star Football Club

Purpose Driven Merchandise

GOAL

Source merchandise that satisfies the highest standards of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

PROGRESS

As mentioned in our Net Zero goals, we worked with PlayerLayer for a third season as our jersey and athleticwear partner. PlayerLayer works with manufacturers that are members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, operating in state-of-the-art factories designed with climate change and environmental stewardship in mind.

Our 2024 Home Jersey–the “Alpine Kit”–our training top, and our pre-match warmup top were created with 100% recycled materials in partnership with PlayerLayer.

The popular 2023 Home Jersey—’The Wildflower Kit’—became the club’s secondary (or “away”) jersey. The decision to carry over jerseys from year-to-year and expand their lifecycle in the club’s repertoire is intentional. The process allows us to produce fewer different jerseys for the sake of production and consumption for fans. It will not always be possible to carry jerseys over due to potential year-to-year changes, color coordination, or other factors, but we are committed to keeping jerseys in use longer than just one season, which has sadly become the industry norm.

We source all of our merchandise from environmentally and ethically responsible producers, including Recover Brands, PlayerLayer, Coal Headwear, and Econscious. Our merchandise and fanwear are made from fabrics such as 100% organic cotton, 100% recycled polyester from recycled plastic water bottles, upcycled cotton from manufacturing waste scraps, and hemp.

We employed the Closed Loop Program with Recover Brands for a second straight season, embracing a circular apparel model by encouraging fans to bring their used clothing to matches to be collected and recycled into new garments. This initiative effectively keeps hundreds of pounds of textile out of the landfills every year. Recover Brands have developed the technology that allows them to take back everything they produce, including blended fabrics, and recycle used fabric into new products. This process is known as a closed loop, and our supporters can rest easy knowing their purchase never has to go to the landfill. Throughout the 2024 season we collected approximately 200+ lbs of clothing across 12 home matches.

We ensured all cotton we sourced for tees and hoodies was certified organic. This means we avoided pesticide chemicals that can harm worker health and contaminate soil and watersheds. This also reduces carbon emissions associated with pesticide production and use, and longer distance transportation.

“Another year of beautiful designs from Vermont Green. We love working with an organisation with such an authentic approach to change. The positivity displayed on and off the pitch by players, fans and staff is a delight.

This year we hope to innovate further with fabrics and processes to bring emissions to a minimum whilst delivering the all-important basic human need of belonging that sports kit can bring so simply. This year PlayerLayer has partnered with Greenly to support our carbon management strategy. Here’s to another year of Purpose Driven Merchandise.” — Roderick Bradley, PlayerLayer

Giving

GOAL

Donate money, time, and resources to like-minded organizations to advance our Environmental Justice mission.

PROGRESS

Vermont Green Football Club believes in forward-looking, philanthropic practices, with a focus on our local community. Allocating our time and resources to maintaining a healthy environment is an investment in the future of our club. Giving for the purpose of environmental conservation and enrichment of our community are values that were core to the founding of our club, and will remain core to our business practices going forward. 

We are a 1% for the Planet member. 1% for the Planet is a Burlington-based non-profit whose global members commit to donating 1% of their annual sales to non-profits working on behalf of the environment. We’re proud to incorporate philanthropy into our mission, and display the 1% for the Planet logo on our jerseys and training tops.

Our annual 1% for the Planet donations were split between the following environmental nonprofits:

  • Vermont Parks Forever: Vermont Parks Forever, the nonprofit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks, enhances and protects the parks by inspiring stewardship of natural places, providing educational experiences, and improving access for those who would otherwise be unable to experience all the parks have to offer.
  • Run on Climate: Run On Climate’s mission is to accelerate cutting-edge climate policy at the local level in communities across the country by supporting candidates, collaborating with elected leaders, and expanding the influence of climate justice advocates.
  • Rural Vermont: Rural Vermont’s mission is to lead the resurgence of community-scale agriculture through education, advocacy, and organizing in support of Vermonters living in deep connection to one another and to the land that nourishes us all. 
  • Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund: The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund is a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the sustainable development of Vermont’s economy.
  • Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC): Vermont Youth Conservation Corps takes action and builds community by working and learning together with the land.
  • Vermont River Conservancy: Vermont River Conservancy protects and restores rivers for people and wildlife in Vermont.
  • The Trust for Public Land – Vermont: The Trust for Public Land’s mission is to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. 

We qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, an unprecedented sporting achievement for our young club that put a national spotlight on our mission. At the two matches—hosted in frigid March/April conditions—against professional clubs (Lexington SC and Carolina Core FC), we leveraged the enthusiasm of our fans into action. We hosted a coat drive, collecting much-needed outerwear for the Open Door Clinic. Open Door Clinic provides access in Spanish and English to free, quality healthcare services to Addison County adults who are uninsured or underinsured in a compassionate, respectful and culturally sensitive manner. Half the 1,233 patients ODC served in 2023 are Latin American migrant agricultural workers and Caribbean seasonal workers who face profound barriers to accessing care. 

At our third annual Pride Night on June 1st, all proceeds from Pride-themed items sold by the club in-stadium were donated to Outright Vermont, a Burlington-based organization working to build a Vermont where all LGBTQ+ youth have hope, equity, and power. We also encouraged all fans to make direct donations to the organization, and any who did so would be given a free Vermont Green FC Pride sticker at the merch tent. 

Vermont Green players visited the local community center, King Street Center, to spend time with Burlington’s youth, playing soccer, basketball, and more. Our players have shown a strong willingness and desire to be a part of our local community, especially in regard to working with youth. We believe that the impact of this work is mutually beneficial for the King Street Center kids and our young adult athletes. We’re grateful to the directors, staff, and youth of King Street Center for the opportunity to share this time and space.

Vermont Green players visited local youth soccer clubs Far Post SC, Nordic SC, Burlington FC, Queen City FC, Addison United, and more. The players spent time speaking with young athletes about their goals and joined in for small games and training exercises. We believe that one of the primary benefits we can provide to our local soccer community is quality players and people for our youth to look up to. The value goes both ways, as our players are equally enriched by working with local players and coaches.

We announced a partnership with The Busyhead Project, a mental health initiative founded by Noah Kahan aimed at raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing resources, specifically in rural communities. Noah Kahan and The Busyhead Project sold limited edition co-branded Vermont Green FC hemp caps and a limited edition 2024 Alpine Kit with the name “Kahan” and the number 13 on the back at his sold out September 19th concert in Essex Junction, VT. 100% of proceeds from the co-branded items were donated to The Busyhead Project. Noah Kahan wore a Vermont Green FC jersey during his encore.

“Getting a chance to see Vermont Green play and getting a chance to be involved with what they’re doing has been really really cool. For them to support Busyhead and what I’m trying to do has increased my love for them, and made watching their team and being a fan of them feel so much better.”

— Noah Kahan, during an interview on the Men in Blazers podcast

Partnering with organizations like Busyhead is important as we recognize a link between the climate crisis and the mental health crisis—a link that has been all too clear in our home state. Mental healthcare is healthcare, and we are committed to amplifying advocacy for access in Vermont and beyond. 

The Spread-the-Love Ticket Donation remained a core part of our giving strategy, allowing our supporters from around the globe to contribute to the effort. When fans purchase a Spread-the-Love Ticket Donation, they are donating one season ticket to local organizations serving youth and families. The donation includes two flex tickets to a home game of their choosing.

We were proud to make sizable ticket donations to the following local organizations:

  • King Street Center
  • Mentor VT
  • Foster and Kinship Parents
  • River Valley Therapeutic Residence
  • UVM Pediatric Oncology
  • American Cancer Organization

We donated tickets to the following local organizations to be used for their fundraising or awareness efforts:

  • Brewster Pierce Memorial School PIE
  • CATMA
  • Central Vermont Humane Society
  • Catamount Film & Arts
  • Colby Pattee Foundation Inc
  • CRAG VT
  • Fayston Elementary School
  • Far Post Soccer Club
  • Girls on the Run Vermont
  • Hinesburg Nursery School
  • Junior League of Champlain Valley
  • King Street Center Summer Raffle
  • NFI Vermont
  • Nordic Soccer Club 2007 Premier Girls
  • Saint Michael’s College
  • Starksboro Cooperative Preschool
  • The Sustainability Academy PTO
  • United Way of Northwest Vermont
  • Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation
  • Vermont Lions
  • Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
  • Vermont YCC
  • Vermont Youth Orchestra Association
  • Walden School
  • Winooski High School

Education and Awareness

GOAL

Educate ourselves and our supporters on how we can influence change through the lens of environmental justice.

PROGRESS

The 2024 season saw sold out crowds of 2,500+ fans at 10 out of 12 home matches, with a season total of over 28,000 fans. Home matches also saw 40,227 live streams viewers, and 21,770 cable TV viewers. All home matches can be rewatched in full on our YouTube channel or our Streaming Page after the match.

One of the highlights of the 2024 season was the club’s expansion into women’s soccer. On May 7th, we announced the inaugural Women’s Exhibition Match was to be held on June 22nd, 2024. The match made waves in Vermont, and beyond. While the match was just a one-off in 2024, it also signaled the club’s intent and commitment to expand to a permanent women’s team in the future.

World Cup-winner Sam Mewis, initially announced as a club advisor, was named coach of the inaugural women’s team. The Instagram post announcing her hire remains the most engaged-with in club history, as Coach Mewis’ involvement inevitably brought the club’s mission to tens of thousands more eyes. We are extremely grateful for Coach Mewis’ work with the team, and her continued work advising the club as we explore our expansion into women’s soccer.

On June 10th, it was announced that the Inaugural Women’s Exhibition Match had sold out nearly two weeks before the match. It was the first Vermont Green FC match to sell out before the day of the match. The highly anticipated fixture was also included in the live TV coverage package with WCAX.

Vermont Green FC defeated FC Laval 5-4 on penalties in front of nearly 3,000 fans, capping off an historic night for the club and the Vermont soccer community. The match was a moving event that undoubtedly sparked a new era for the game in the Green Mountain State.

Vermont Green FC is committed to growing soccer in Vermont, and we knew from our inception that to be a truly equitable club, expansion into the women’s game was an inevitability. While we continue to work closely with USL, as well as explore all options for a permanent women’s team, we look forward to growing our women’s soccer offering in 2025 with additional exhibition matches until a league membership is established.

“I am so excited and honored to be a part of Vermont Green this summer. When I moved to Vermont, I really wanted to connect with the people here, enjoy the outdoors, and make an impact somehow. I can’t believe that an opportunity like this presented itself so quickly—to help grow women’s soccer with an environmentally conscious and social justice centered club.” — Coach Sam Mewis

In January, we held our 2024 Winter Tryouts, hosting 33 athletes from around the region looking to show their quality in front of Vermont Green FC coaches. Each athlete was given a tryout tee displaying the message ‘Climate Action Now’ and the number ‘1.5°’ on the back. This number is important because scientists agree that if global warming isn’t halted to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the damage will be irreparable. All squad members also received the tee, to be worn at club functions.

In February we joined over 60 local businesses at the State House in Montpelier for Climate Action Day to advocate for legislation that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Alongside colleagues from across the VBSR network including SunCommon, Ben & Jerry’s, Seventh Generation and more. Vermont Green FC co-founder Sam Glickman represented the club by urging legislators to be vigilant and deliberate on climate action.

Multiple Vermont Green FC players, interns, staff, and founders attended the 2024 Climate Action Film Festival hosted by SunCommon in Burlington. The mission of the festival is to bring together activists, filmmakers, and communities to witness powerful stories of climate action, and to inspire further action, locally and beyond.

We displayed an 80-foot field stadium sign stating: CLIMATE JUSTICE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE. This sign took the place of potential sponsor signage, and was displayed behind the south goal. In 2023, we displayed an identical banner behind the north goal as well, but we opted to remove it in 2024 so more fans could watch the matches for free from the grassy hill without visual obstruction.

We partnered with local television station WCAX to expand access to soccer in the region. The partnership brought Vermont Green FC home matches to live cable television for the first time on WCAX-affiliated station WYCI. Initially, six games were announced in the partnership, but a seventh was added when the station broadcast the Inaugural Women’s Exhibition Match.

Congresswoman Becca Balint attended her first Vermont Green FC match, and our club was honored to host her as an esteemed guest. The Congresswoman participated in the pre-match coin-flip, and joined the captains of both teams for a photo before enjoying the match with the fans. She showed her enthusiastic support for our Labor Night speakers. 

Senator Bernie Sanders also made his debut at a Vermont Green FC match, to the delight of the Virtue Field faithful. The Senator was given the opportunity to speak to the fans at half-time, delivering a short-yet-iconic speech, referencing the “virtues of soccer.”

“I want to thank Vermont Green, not only for having a great season and for being a great club; not only for educating many of us about the virtues of soccer, but also for being a team with a social conscience. Vermont Green is representing Vermont values as we fight for economic justice, for social justice, for racial justice.” — Senator Bernie Sanders

Having the Vermont Congresswoman and Senator at our matches is an honor. The advancement of our club’s mission through their platforms was a massive opportunity, and we’re grateful for their interest and care for a community being built around soccer in Vermont. To our elected officials: thank you, and we hope to see you again in 2025!

In July we hosted the first ever Maple Cup. The Maple Cup is a match designed to celebrate the meaningful cultural and football connection between Vermont and Quebec, and the start of an annual tradition in which the Green face the current champions of Ligue1 Quebec. In the inaugural edition, the Green lifted the cup with a 5-0 victory over CS Saint-Laurent. The celebratory nature of the match also represents a rare, cross-border competition, expanding the club’s mission into international and francophone audiences. The Maple Cup trophy is made from locally sourced maple wood and created by Vermont-based woodworker Nate D’Aversa of D’Aversa Furniture.

We announced a partnership with Burlington-based cannabis dispensary Ceres Collaborative. The partnership aimed to raise funds and awareness for criminal justice reform—through donations to the Last Prisoner Project—and begin a relationship between the club and the local cannabis industry.

We continued our paid internship program, hiring six interns for the summer season. Alongside sporting staff, volunteers, supporters, and founders, the number of folks contributing to the business operation grew significantly in 2024.

At several home games, kids from local youth clubs accompanied Vermont Green FC and visiting players onto the field for pre-match player announcements. Giving access to larger-than-life moments for aspiring youth players allows them to visualize a future in the game for themselves, as well as receive well-deserved recognition for their dedication and hard work. 

Club founders mentored students from U32 High School in East Montpelier, VT about the sports industry, climate awareness in sports, professional development, and more. 

We utilized the fifteen-minute halftime of each of our home matches to provide a platform for local mission-aligned organizations to communicate their work to our crowds of up to 2,500. In 2024, the following individuals and organizations had the opportunity to speak:

2024 Halftime Speakers

  • Run on Climate
  • Andy Blanchet, AFSCME Local 1674 – Howard Center Union
  • Representatives from UVM Staff United
  • Representative Taylor Small
  • Abdi Bulle, Juba Star FC Head Coach
  • Mohamed Jafar, King Street Center
  • Vermont Works for Women
  • Attorney General Charity Clark
  • Senator Bernie Sanders
  • Intervale
  • Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association 

Our home matches also featured tabling partners in the concourse at Virtue Field. Local organizations working on a diverse range of local causes were given the ability to engage with 2,500 eager fans who came through the gates each match. 

2024 Tabling Partners

  • Run on Climate
  • Spectrum Youth Mentoring Program
  • Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative (VTVLC)
  • Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG)
  • King Street Center
  • Friends of the Winooski River
  • Vermont Women’s Fund
  • VT Works for Women
  • Intervale
  • Good Citizen Challenge
  • MENTOR Vermont

WITH OUR SUPPORTERS

An integral part of our club’s mission is not only to take action on climate and social justice in our community, but also to inspire our fans, near and far, to do the same. Part of this is ensuring that Vermont Green FC home games are a medium for discussion, understanding, engagement, and activism. We are proud of the work we do as a club, no matter how big or small, but we take equal pride in the work being done by our friends, supporters, and partners as part of the Vermont Green community. 

In 2024, the independent organized supporters group–the Green Mountain Bhoys–utilized the medium of Vermont Green FC matches and a worldwide digital community to raise funds and awareness for multiple organizations. The organizations were the Vermont-based Outright Vermont and Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), as well as two international organizations, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and World Central Kitchen’s Operation Safeena, in conjunction with Vivid Coffee Roasters. GMB have published their 2024 fundraising efforts.

In the spirit of celebrating the work done by our supporters, we’d like to further amplify these organizations, each advancing causes that address environmental justice in their own way:

  • Outright Vermont was the organization we highlighted (see: Pride Night section) and donated to during our 2024 Pride Match, and we were thrilled to see our supporters utilize the Prideraiser platform to raise additional funds for the LGBTQ+ organization. Prideraiser was founded in 2017 as a coalition of independent soccer supporters raising money for LGBTQ+ causes in their local communities every June. It uses an engaging model that incorporates on-field metrics and the competitive nature of supporters groups to rally funds for good causes. Vermont Green Football Club has dedicated one match in June every season for raising funds and awareness for local LGBTQ+ organizations like Outright Vermont, as well as celebrating the joy and pride in our communities. We look forward to continuing this tradition. 
  • The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness and provides emergency shelter, services, and long-term housing for people who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed. COTS believes in the value and dignity of every human life, that housing is a fundamental human right, and that emergency shelter is not the solution to homelessness. While Vermont Green Football Club has not worked directly with COTS, we believe wholeheartedly in their work, especially as our state faces an unprecedented housing crisis, surging to 4th in the nation in homelessness. Housing is a human right, and through difficult times in Vermont, organizations like COTS are addressing short term needs while working on long term solutions. We look forward to connecting with them in the future.
  • Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) was founded in 1991 by concerned humanitarians in the USA to provide free medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack local access to care. World Central Kitchen’s Operation Safeena delivered almost 200 tons of desperately needed food in northern Gaza on their first maritime aid shipment to the region. They have provided more than 40 million meals to families in war-torn Gaza by land, sea, and air since first responding to the conflict.

Vermont Green Football Club applauds our supporters for identifying these organizations and amplifying their call for peace. We acknowledge that the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine is a dire environmental justice concern. The occupation and most recent war in Gaza have cost tens of thousands of lives, have affected millions more (including Palestine’s athletes, national team, and sports infrastructure), and devastated the ecosystems and natural resources of the land that they live on.

“Football is the world’s game and as such, it can also be the perfect way to unite people, to remind us of how similar and connected we really are. The GMB love supporting local causes (like COTS, Outright Vermont, and Migrant Justice) because these are issues that affect our friends & neighbors. We also fully believe in backing organizations doing global good. This year we focused on Palestine where there were unprecedented levels of devastation and tragedy. Humanity and decency should be (like the beautiful game) universal. The children of Gaza deserve the same good life afforded to our own children, a life free of fear and violence, a life with a ball at their feet and a bright future ahead of them. Football for all, football for good.” — Tyler Littwin, Green Mountain Bhoys.

WITH OUR PARTNERS

SunCommon served as the club’s title sponsor for a third straight season, bringing solar energy solutions and education to our fans. A certified B-Corp, SunCommon uses their business platform to address the climate crisis, improve our communities, and care for their employees. 

Ben & Jerry’s also returned for a third season with the Green. The iconic, Vermont-based, socially-conscious ice cream brand featured on the front of the 2024 Training Top. Ben & Jerry’s provided free ice cream for fans at every home match and were the official sponsors of the Juba Star FC community friendly match.

We announced Zero Gravity as the club’s Official Craft Brewery, with their logo featured on the 2024 Pre-Match Top. Zero Gravity prioritizes partnering with proactive environmental organizations, as well as setting sustainable goals for their own business. The craft brewery works to bring the environment to the forefront of their decisions and to protect the landscapes here in Vermont that we collectively call home. A fellow 1% for the Planet member, Zero Gravity are committed to donating 1% of sales from 12 packs of Green State Lager, as well as 1% of sales from bottled beers to environmental causes. 

We announced a partnership with Seventh Generation for the 2024 season, joining forces with the Burlington-based, eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products company, working together to transform the world into a healthy, sustainable, and equitable place. Their logo featured on the sleeve of the 2024 Home Kit.

Community-driven online shopping platform Myti became a club partner. Myti allows Vermonters to purchase products from independent retail businesses with a community-driven fulfillment system. The Myti logo was displayed on the 2024 Training Top sleeve. 

We worked with a multitude of enthusiastic and dedicated partners to continue advancing the club’s environmental justice mission through soccer. We are so grateful for their support for the entire 2024 season.

LOOKING FORWARD

The 2024 Vermont Green FC season was one of tremendous growth for our young club and the in-bloom Vermont soccer community. We will never miss an opportunity to express our gratitude to our supporters, staff, players, and partners for what we achieved together. From the club’s debut in the U.S. Open Cup, the record crowds at Virtue Field, the modest-but-hopeful step into women’s soccer, and a thrilling playoff run, Vermont continued to prove that its enthusiasm for the beautiful game is as strong as anywhere in the country. Beyond just the traditional metrics of success, the community signaled not just a love for the game, but a love for what the game can represent, actively engaging with environmental justice initiatives and organizations as an inseparable part of their soccer experience.

As 2024 turns to 2025, we have witnessed the world continue to change. Political, economic, and environmental concerns and anxieties can feel overwhelming. In the face of these very real concerns, we see an obligation that runs in tandem with our growth trajectory. We are committed to fostering a space, through the game of soccer, where a compassionate community can learn about, advocate for, and organize towards a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. In the face of the challenges that will present themselves, especially for our most marginalized neighbors, community is the most effective antidote. 

With the growth of this community and the expectations of those who call this club their own, we see a tremendous opportunity. We believe that with the support of our fans, we can set goals that further expand our infrastructure, our vision, and our impact in 2025. We are eager to get back to work, and to push the limits of what this soccer community can achieve. 

Once more, we feel immense gratitude for the many hearts, minds, and hands that have contributed to such an unforgettable year. We can’t wait to see you all at Virtue Field in 2025!

 

With love,

Vermont Green Football Club