By Mauricio Segura June 17, 2025
Photo: GBT Graphics
Bay FC is making its mark far beyond the pitch by launching Bay It Forward, a bold community initiative designed to bring sport, leadership, and opportunity to every corner of the Bay Area. This program reflects the club’s deeper mission to leave a lasting impact not just through soccer, but through service and connection.
On June 16, the full Bay FC roster and staff visited Garfield Community School in Menlo Park for a volunteer day in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. More than 250 children between the ages of five and twelve participated in a day of soccer drills, games, player Q&A sessions, and high-energy activities. The players weren’t just guests. They were coaches, mentors, and role models for the day. The event was more than just a feel-good photo op. It was a clear reminder of the club’s values, showing that Bay FC views soccer as a tool for growth, confidence, and community.
Bay It Forward is now Bay FC’s signature community initiative. It was created to expand access to sport, elevate young leaders, and build strong partnerships with local nonprofits. According to Executive Vice President Lisa Goodwin Scharff, the program is focused especially on supporting underserved and marginalized communities. And this isn’t something the club dusts off for PR. It is built into the organization’s culture, led by players, staff, and a front office that sees community work as part of their mission.
Even before Bay It Forward officially launched, Bay FC had already made community engagement a top priority. In its first year alone, the club welcomed more than 5,000 community members from over 75 local organizations to its matches and events. In the first half of 2025, another 2,500 participants across 70 organizations have already taken part in Bay FC programming. Bay It Forward now adds structure to those efforts, making it easier for the club to plan long-term and measure impact.
The initiative will support several pillars of outreach, including offering free matchday experiences, leading youth development sessions, organizing player appearances, and volunteering across the region. Players and staff will donate time, resources, and presence to build relationships that extend far beyond the final whistle.
Some efforts are already well underway. Star forward Racheal Kundananji has partnered with the local nonprofit Soccer Without Borders, adding her voice and platform to efforts that serve refugee and immigrant youth through sport. Bay FC employees have also spent time volunteering at the Treasure Island Food Pantry, located near the future site of the club’s Sports Performance Center. These examples are just the start of what Bay It Forward is positioned to become.
As Bay FC chases success in the NWSL, it is also proving that wins off the field can be just as powerful. The launch of Bay It Forward shows the club’s commitment to something greater than standings or stats. It is about making sure the communities that cheer from the sidelines are seen, heard, and included.
That commitment resonates across the Bay Area, a region known for its diversity and drive for social progress. Bay FC is leaning into those values with action. Whether it’s helping a child see their first live soccer match, mentoring a future leader, or stocking shelves at a food pantry, the club is using its platform with purpose.
There is something uniquely powerful about a professional sports team showing up in the places where it matters most. For some kids, meeting a Bay FC player or attending a match might be a moment they never forget. For others, it could be the first step on a path to confidence, teamwork, or even a career in the sport. The relationships being built today may shape the next generation of fans, leaders, and changemakers.
Bay It Forward is not just a campaign. It is a long-term investment in people. It redefines what it means to be a club that represents a region. And as it continues to grow, it may well become one of the most meaningful aspects of Bay FC’s legacy.
In a league full of rising talent and passionate fanbases, Bay FC is distinguishing itself not just with play on the pitch, but with heart off of it. Through Bay It Forward, they are doing more than playing for the Bay. They are showing up for it.
