Goals for Gaza: Olympia Ramadan Soccer Tournament Fundraiser & Community Iftar Meal

Join RCF for GOALS FOR GAZA: Olympia Ramadan Soccer Tournament Fundraiser & Community Iftar Meal!

For 11 years the Rachel Corrie Foundation has proudly supported the Rachel Corrie Ramadan Football (Soccer) Tournament in Gaza. This program has grown from a small tournament to the all-encompassing Rachel Corrie Gaza Sport Initiative, which includes a Young Men’s and Juniors tournament during Ramadan, and a Tournament for Athletes with Disabilities in the winter.

To celebrate the success and growth of this initiative, ensure its financial sustainability, and connect the Olympia and South Sound community with our friends in Gaza and our local Muslim community, we are excited to host GOALS FOR GAZA: Olympia Ramadan Soccer Tournament Fundraiser and Community Iftar Meal!

Our objectives are simple!

Fundraise! The Gaza Sport Initiative has an approximate budget of $26,000 for 2018. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 through team and player registrations, generous donations, food and t-shirt sales, and community support.

Educate! The situation in Gaza is more dire than ever before, and Gazans have called on the international community to do their part in ending the occupation. We feel that it is our responsibility in the United States to educate our communities about how U.S. foreign policy and support for the Israeli government directly contributes to continuing the occupation. We’ll share more information about the current situation on the ground in Gaza, and how efforts like the Gaza Sport Initiative positively engage Palestinians.

Relationship Building! Like the Gaza Sport Initiative, which focuses heavily on community building and strengthening bonds, we want to extend the opportunity for community members to meet and build relationships with their Muslim neighbors through a community Iftar meal at our local mosque. An Iftar meal is the evening meal that breaks the fast for the day during the holy month of Ramadan.

RSVP VIA OUR TICKETING PAGE!
We encourage individuals to take part in the tournament and the meal, but participation is up to you! RCF kindly requests attendees to RSVP to the best of their abilities. These community events require planning, staff time, and funding to organize, so the more accurate attendance numbers we have, the better the events will be!

Olympia Tournament Overview
This is a round-robin style tournament, with four rounds and a championship finale game (teams determined by points scored). Games will be 30 minutes (15 minute halves) with a 15-minute break between games. Awards will be given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd place teams. The tournament will be played at Chinook Middle School in Lacey on Fields #9 & #10. We strongly encourage spectators to bring blankets or folding chairs to view the tournament in comfort!

Tournament admission is FREE to the public, with a suggested donation of $5. Please RSVP so we have an idea of the crowd size to expect!

Want to Play?

Registration: Players may register as a team or individually. Teams may be 7-10 individuals, with at least two women on the roster. Individual players will be assigned to teams with space available. All players must be 18+.

Fees: Team registration is $250, individual registration is $40, which may be paid via the ticketing page or through the RCF office (cash, check, and credit card accepted). All registration fees must be paid in full prior to the beginning of the tournament in order to participate.The registration and fee deadline is Thursday, June 7th, 2018.

Forms: In addition to payment, we require registration forms and signed medical waivers for players. All forms must be completed and turned in for players to participate.

A volunteer first-aid responder will be on site with a first-aid kit and the ability to assist in the event of an injury. Water will be available for all players.

Community Iftar Meal

The Community Iftar Meal will take place at sunset at the Masjid al-Nur – Islamic Center of Olympia (4324 20th Way NE, Olympia, WA 98516). This gathering will provide an opportunity for non-Muslims and Muslims to break fast together and build meaningful relationships.

Iftar is the meal that is served at the end of the day during Ramadan to break the day’s fast. At sunset, attendees will break fast with a date and something to drink. Members of the Mosque will then attend the Maghrib prayer before we all enjoy the full meal together.

As guests of the mosque, we ask that people dress modestly and appropriately, meaning no shorts, tank tops, athletic gear, or other revealing attire. The meal location is still to be determined (inside or outside), but if the meal is held inside, guests will be asked to remove their shoes, and women will need to cover their heads. We are happy to answer any questions about attire and will update this page and contact guests with more information as the date draws nearer.

The Community Iftar Meal is FREE to the public, with a suggested donation of $10. Please RSVP so we have an idea of the number of guests to expect!

ALL FUNDS RAISED FROM THESE EVENTS WILL COVER THE COSTS OF THE EVENTS AND SUPPORT THE GAZA SPORT INITIATIVE