13 May 2011

Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid presented the keynote speech at the annual fund-raising luncheon of The Salvation Army. The event, on May 10 at The Grand Hyatt in Seattle, raised funds to help the hungry, homeless and hopeless in King County.

Sigi Schmid was named the first head coach of Seattle Sounders FC in 2008, and is recognized as one of the most successful coaches in MLS history. Since 1999, Schmid's teams have won six major titles, including two MLS Cups. He is the most successful active coach in MLS history and a two-time coach of the year. Before joining the Sounders, he guided the Columbus Crew to both their first MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield (best regular season point total), earning MLS Coach of the Year. Now, in the team's third season, the Seattle Sounders FC continue to lead the league in season ticket holders and will cap its base at 32,000 with an overall seating capacity of 35,500.

Click here for a video from the event, featuring portions of Mr. Schmid's speech, and an interview with Salvation Army Northwest Divisional Commander Lt. Col. Doug O'Brien. 

In addition to the keynote speech by Mr. Schmid, the Soupline program featured an update on the work of The Salvation Army throughout the county, and a heart-warming story of a life changed by The Army. Plus, the event will featured the much-anticipated announcement of this year's recipient of The Salvation Army Arthur S. Langlie Award for Visionary Leadership - presented to Jackie and Pierre Gehlen. Brian Calvert, Seattle TV and radio host, emceed the event.

The term "Soupline" originated during the Great Depression, when lines of hungry people waited outside of Salvation Army kitchens for a bowl of hot soup. Throughout the country's most desolate times, The Salvation Army has often provided the daily source of nutrition for the masses.

Soupline earned more than $213,000, which will support Salvation Army programs in King County - including after-school homework centers and youth athletic leagues, rent/utility assistance, homeless shelters, disaster relief services, summer camps for kids, shelters for battered women and children, and substance abuse rehabilitation, and more.