FOXBOROUGH — The North Shore Juneteenth Association received a $20,000 grant from the New England Revolution Players Collaborative Fund at the team’s match Sunday, which the organization says will help them continue to fund events commemorating Juneteenth across the region.
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Nicole McClain, founder and president of the association, said receiving the grant “means so much.”
“Having this team seek us out to acknowledge our work, it really helps the organization so much,” McClain said.
The Revolution invited the organization to come to their match Sunday, where they observed Juneteenth, complete with special commemorative jerseys to recognize the work they had been doing, including raising the Juneteenth flag in 11 communities across the region. But, McClain said, “no one knew” that the players would give the organization a $20,000 check.
“We were shocked,” McClain said.
The funding will be used primarily for future events held by the organization, including paying for artists, venues, supplies, and decorations to ensure events are a success, McClain said.
“There are so many things we have to continue to pay for,” she said. “This grant is going to help keep all of our work going.”
McClain said the organization was incredibly thankful for the grant, which she said will help them further their mission of spreading awareness about Black culture and helping to dispel negative stereotypes about Black people.
The New England Revolution Players Collaborative Fund, which is composed of a coalition of players on the team, has donated $120,000 to grassroots organizations working to address social injustice and racial inequality.
Several members of the fund are members of Black Players for Change, an independent organization consisting of over 170 Black players, coaches, and staff of Major League Soccer that works to bridge the racial equality gap that exists in society, the Revolution said in a statement. The fund is financed by the Kraft family, who owns the team.
McClain said events were key to the organization’s mission as they are used as a “tool for change.”
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
