Cary, NC (Sept. 20, 2019)- In conjunction with corporate sponsor Aetna and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, North Carolina FC will host a food donation drive prior to the start of its Oct. 5 match against New York Red Bulls II, presented by Aetna.
 
Fans will be able to make donations at the Aetna tent at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, located nearby the Coastal Credit Union Box Office. The first 300 fans to donate at least five cans of food will receive a free ticket to the match.
 
 “Addressing social determinants of health such as access to food and nutritional information in our community is critical to fulfilling Aetna’s purpose: helping people on their path to better health,” said Jim Bostian, president of Aetna in North Carolina. “We’re thrilled to partner with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and NCFC to help put an end to hunger in North Carolina.”

The week following the match, players from NCFC and the North Carolina Courage, along with Aetna representatives, will participate in a day of service on Oct. 9 at the Food Shuttle Child Food Hub, where they’ll help sort and prepare backpacks for the Food Shuttle’s Backpack Buddies program. The program provides children from low-income households with 10-12 pounds of nutritious meals and snacks for the weekend when school is not in session.

NCFC plays at the Charleston Battery on Sunday before returning home to host Ottawa Fury FC on Sat., Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET. For tickets and information please visit NorthCarolinaFC.com or call the Coastal Credit Union Box Office at 919-459-8144.

About Aetna 
Aetna, a CVS Health company, serves an estimated 39 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers’ compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna’s customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit www.aetna.com and explore how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

About North Carolina FC
North Carolina FC is a men’s professional soccer team playing in the USL Championship (Second Division of the United States). They are part of North Carolina Football Club, the largest youth-to-professional soccer organization in the country, which includes a women’s First Division Team, 2018 NWSL Champions North Carolina Courage (NWSL), and a development team, North Carolina FC U23 (USL league Two). The organization is also home to both Boys and Girls U.S. Soccer Development Academies in collaboration with NCFC Youth, effectively creating a true pyramid from youth recreational all the way to the professional teams. The North Carolina Football Club is owned by local entrepreneur, Steve Malik, and managed by North Carolina native and longtime soccer executive Curt Johnson. North Carolina Football Club was established in 2016 to bring the highest levels of men’s and women’s professional soccer to the state. For more information, please visit NorthCarolinaFC.com

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