Spirit will celebrate Heilferty and the club’s partnership with Friends of Anacostia Park on October 13
Washington, D.C. (09/03/2024) – The Washington Spirit’s Anna Heilferty has been named as the club’s nominee for the 2024 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, recognizing an NWSL player for outstanding service and character off the pitch. All 14 nominees were announced by the league today.
Newly reformatted to shine a greater light on players who are making a difference in their communities, the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, honors the ongoing example of excellence and commitment set by the two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award.
In keeping with the spirit of the award, the Spirit and Heilferty partnered with Friends of Anacostia Park, an organization working to reconnect the communities of Wards 7 and 8 in southeast DC with the Anacostia River and surrounding green space. By hosting respite programs for the community’s underserved citizens, Heilferty and Friends of Anacostia Park continue to work toward promoting sustainable practices in the area.
“Community impact is a key pillar in my professional career, so I’m honored to be part of this league-wide initiative that highlights the fantastic organizations making a difference in our communities,” said Heilferty. “Friends of Anacostia Park, a close partner during my years in DC, is truly dedicated to co-creating a public park that benefits both the community and the environment.”
Heilferty has been a leading community advocate in DC throughout her time with the Spirit. In 2022, she became the first-ever Ambassador for the Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) Sustainable DC. Her community work goes well beyond her environmentally focused efforts: she has also helped distribute sports gear with Leveling the Playing Field, worked closely with kids across the city in DC SCORES’ programs and is an active advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in media and through her work with SMYAL.
Anna has helped lay the foundation for all the work the Spirit does around the environment. Organizing multiple community cleanups, boat tours, community ‘learn to fish’ days and tree plantings for Spirit staff, players and fans to participate in, she has facilitated the Spirit’s relationship with non-profits like Casey Trees, Living Classrooms, Anacostia Riverkeeper and Anacostia Watershed Society. Through her role as Sustainability Ambassador, she has brought together players from DC’s women’s professional teams to do river cleanups.
Heilferty and Friends of Anacostia Park will be recognized during the Spirit’s October 13 match against Racing Louisville FC where Friends of Anacostia Park will receive a $5,000 donation from the league and Nationwide.
Club supporters will have the chance to vote for a player nominee as part of the fan vote in October. The nominee with the most fan votes at the end of the month will receive additional funds to donate to their community partner and an organization of their choice.
At the end of the season, one nominee will be named the winner of the 2024 Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide, and receive $30,000 to designate to a charitable organization of their choice. The winner of the award will be announced the week of the 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel. Additionally, all 14 player nominees will be honored as part of Championship Week celebrations.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. In 2024, the Spirit drafted an epic class of rookies who are already breaking records and wowing fans. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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