Washington D.C. Sports Teams Unite for Community Safety on 2024 Wear Orange Weekend

Local professional sports teams the Washington Capitals, Commanders, Nationals, Mystics, Spirit, Wizards, DC Shadow, D.C. United and Capital City Go-Go today announced their renewed commitment to community safety as they prepare to wear orange on Gun Violence Awareness Weekend. This marks the third consecutive year that D.C. sports teams have come together to combat violence in the area, while encouraging fans to do the same.

“Our teams are honored to call D.C. home, and we are proud to come together to make our community a better, safer place for us all,” the teams said in a joint statement. “This weekend, we ask our fans to stand with us as we say ENOUGH, and work to end gun violence.”

On Wear Orange Weekend from Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 9, local teams playing at home will show their support in a variety of ways, outlined below. Efforts will kick off Friday with the Mystics in-game activations on as they host the Indiana Fever at Capital One Arena. The Spirit will highlight the initiative during their home game on Saturday, June 8, as will the Nationals on Sunday, June 9.

Through the campaign’s first two years, D.C. team’s combined efforts have raised more than $200,000 for community-based violence intervention programs through donations from the teams and D.C. area sports fans.

Additional information on how individual teams are supporting gun violence awareness on Wear Orange Weekend, and how fans can get involved, can be found below.

Washington Nationals

• The Washington Nationals will raise funds and awareness at the ballpark on June 9 for the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund.

• All proceeds from the 5050 Raffle at the game will benefit the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund. Proceeds will benefit local DMV organizations implementing community-based violence interruption programs as a core component of a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence.

• Fans can purchase 5050 raffle tickets in person or at nats4good.org/5050

• Game day staff will don orange ribbons for the cause.

• To bring awareness to Wear Orange Weekend to fans, the Nationals will host representatives from other D.C. sports teams on the field on Sunday, June 9.

• Representatives from participating D.C. sports teams will join together on the field for pre-game ceremonies.

• Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will throw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch on behalf of the Commanders rookie class, which is making a special group trip to Nationals Park on Sunday.

• The Commanders rookie class will also attend the game on behalf of the organization.

• Nationals Philanthropies continues its support of and collaboration with Peace for DC, which hosts Peace Academy trainings at the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy’s Ward 7 facility.

Washington Mystics, Wizards, Capitals and Capital City Go-Go

• The Mystics will host their “Wear Orange” game for the sixth year in a row on June 7. To highlight Wear Orange Weekend, the team will:

• Host a pre-game panel discussion about gun violence prevention in the DMV at District E Powered by Ticketmaster.

• Commemorate National Wear Orange Weekend with a full orange LED takeover at Capital One Arena

• Give away Wear Orange towels for every fan in attendance.

• Highlight gun violence prevention facts and calls to action from Everytown For Gun Safety during timeouts.

• Present a halftime performance by Bootsy Collins, a grammy-award winning Artist for Action and advocate for gun violence prevention.

• Display the I Wear Orange photobooth mural on the concourse.

• Showcase concourse activations by Artist for Action featuring a Knotted Gun Display and Sandy Hook Promise Tabling.

• Donate $25K to the TraRon Center, a DC based non-profit organization committed to helping those affected by gun violence heal through the arts, in a half court check presentation featuring MSE owners Ted Leonsis and Sheila Johnson.

• Donate all proceeds from the MSE Foundation’s 50/50 Raffle at the game to the Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund. Proceeds will benefit local DMV organizations implementing community-based violence interruption programs as a core component of a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence.

• Fans can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets in person or here: WashingtonMystics.com/wearorange

• The Washington Wizards have partnered with the Alliance of Concerned Men to support their work to the eradicate violence for all communities, focusing on reduction, mitigation, and prevention. During the 2023-24 NBA season, the partners hosted a Youth Basketball Clinic at Kimball Elementary School for Jr. NBA Week.

• MSE teams have collectively made calls to action for fans to donate to national gun violence prevention groups in support of Wear Orange efforts, broadcasted statistics and data on the affect gun violence has in the DC community and supported dedicated initiatives annually.

Washington Commanders

• The Washington Commanders, in collaboration with a coalition of D.C. sports teams, are contributing funds toward Everytown Community Safety Fund, a program of Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund.
• The team will leverage its social platforms to share important stories from select team Legends impacted by gun violence in an effort to bring awareness to Wear Orange Weekend.
• The Commanders will have players and coaches in attendance for the Washington Nationals game on June 9 where the Nationals are supporting and recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

D.C. United

• D.C. United and the D.C. United Foundation will provide ongoing support to local nonprofit organizations that provide services, support, and safe spaces. These organizations include DC SCORES, Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso: FAN-DC, Hope Foundation Reentry Network, House of Ruth, Peace for DC, Playtime Project and Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid.
• The D.C. United Foundation will provide ongoing partnership and grant support for Peace for DC as they work together to provide training and resources for educators and coaches working with youth in communities experiencing high crime and violence rates.

Washington Spirit

• The Washington Spirit will provide ongoing partnership and grant support for Peace for DC's work, providing training and resources for educators and coaches working with youth in communities experiencing high crime and violence rates.
• The Washington Spirit will continue to support Friends of Anacostia Park's mission to provide healing spaces and respite programming in areas most affected by gun violence.
• The Washington Spirit will show support on social media platforms.

DC Shadow

• DC Shadow players and staff will wear an orange ribbon on the front during warmups for their away game in Atlanta on Saturday, June 8.
• DC Shadow will recognize the work of Peace For DC and their community-based violence prevention partners through their social media platforms.
• DC Shadow will solicit contributions to Peace For DC through its social media platforms during the days surrounding Wear Orange Weekend.