Greenville, SC – Backed by incredible fan and community support, the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club set a new attendance record, albeit virtually, by selling over 4,014 tickets to benefit local COVID-19 relief through United Way of Greenville County. The club’s “Match To Triumph” brought in donations from across the country and helped raise over $40,000 as the Upstate continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
On May 21, Greenville Triumph announced their “Match to Triumph”, a fundraising campaign to benefit United Way of Greenville County’s COVID-19 relief fund. The goal was simple: to sell out the club’s home stadium through 4,014 total donations. Every $10 ticket was counted, and with each 1,000 tickets sold, one “Match to Triumph” goal was scored.
The three-week campaign journey began quickly with a diving save thanks to an anonymous donation honoring the 2020 graduating class of Legacy Early College. A hard tackle by Gregory Ramshaw helped build steam toward the club’s first goal and donor Jeff Hargett recorded the team’s first shot from distance shortly after.
On June 2nd, GTSC hit 1,000 tickets sold and scored its’ first Match to Triumph goal thanks to Spartanburg United player, Millie America, who finished a service from donor Cruz Perez-Lopez. The Triumph’s attacking pressure continued with another quick shot after a donation honoring COVID-19 first responders was tallied. Only two days later, with the help of an anonymous donation, the club scored its’ second goal of the campaign.
After head coach John Harkes delivered a motivating halftime speech, the second half began with hope and with purpose. The Triumph attack did not let up, with a quick third goal scored from a donation honoring the 2020 seniors who weren’t able to finish their respective athletic seasons. With one week left on the clock, the club hit 3,000 tickets sold and $30,000 raised, netting its’ third goal thanks to donor Steve Parks.
The final day of the Match to Triumph campaign started off strong with a shot by Kristen Decker that was just shy of the frame. With the team in stoppage time and the game on the line, the Triumph attack pulled together for one more push and a last minute donation that put the club over the edge to seal its’ 4-0 shutout versus COVID-19.
“We are blown away by the generosity of the Triumph and their amazing community of fans across the Upstate and beyond,” said Meghan Barp, president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County. “Because of their incredible support, we will continue to be able to provide essential relief and recovery services to the people of Greenville County. We are especially thankful for the partnership of the entire team at the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club, which has shown a great commitment to our community.”
We want to thank each donor and participant who helped us sellout Legacy Early College and raise over $40,000 for the United Way of Greenville County’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. Because of your generosity, personal protective equipment for essential workers and volunteers will be provided, rent and mortgage assistance will be available to those most affected by the pandemic, shelves will be restocked at food pantries and domestic violence shelter services will be expanded.
Thank you, Upstate, for demonstrating our community’s fighting spirit and for showing the nation that Together, We Triumph.
