In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, Tennessee’s professional sports teams and Every Child TN proudly announce a new statewide effort: Every Team for Every Child. This unprecedented partnership brings together the state’s top sports organizations to champion children, youth, and families impacted by foster care.
The partnership unites the Memphis Grizzlies, Nashville Predators, Nashville Soccer Club, and Tennessee Titans*,\* along with many of the minor league teams across Tennessee, including the Nashville Sounds, Knoxville Smokies and Chattanooga Football Club. Together, these teams are mobilizing their platforms, fans, and communities to support children and youth before, during, and after their foster care experience.
Launching in the teams’ 2025-2026 season, Every Team for Every Child will feature localized activations across Tennessee’s stadiums and arenas — raising awareness, recognizing foster care heroes, and inviting fans to take meaningful action. From spotlight moments during games to community engagement events to social stories, the coordinated effort will harness the unifying power of sports to drive support for the foster care community statewide.
At Chattanooga FC's MLS NEXT Pro match on September 21st, the team will be donating free tickets to children in foster care and discounted tickets for foster parents and guardians, while there will also be special events for foster children and celebrations and recognition of community heroes. A portion of ticket sales for the match on September 21st will benefit non-profit organizations that support the foster system.
"We’re proud to stand alongside professional teams across the state to support children and families impacted by foster care,” said Derrall Stalvey, SVP of Strategy for Chattanooga Football Club. "This aligns with our mission to use soccer as a tool to build strong community relationships so we're committed to creating a space where every child feels connected, empowered and part of something bigger."
"We are incredibly grateful for Tennessee’s teams stepping up to help change the story for foster children and families,” said Kathleen Clancy, Director of Every Child TN for the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative. “Sports have a rare and powerful ability to bring people together. With this partnership, we can lift up those on the front lines — foster parents, social workers, nonprofits, and the children themselves — and show them that the entire state is behind them.”
“At the Tennessee Titans, we believe in using our platform to stand with Tennessee’s children and families — especially those impacted by foster care,” said Johari Matthews, Vice President, and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation. “Partnering with Every Child TN for Every Team for Every Child reflects our commitment to building stronger communities and ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and valued. Together with our fellow teams, we’re honored to raise awareness and inspire action for the future of Tennessee’s youth.”
“Since 1998, the Nashville Predators have understood the important role that sports play in a community – leveraging our platform to raise money and awareness for many different causes,” said Rebecca King, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of the Nashville Predators Foundation. “We have been supporting the foster care community since the very beginning through inviting families to attend Preds games, grants to non-profit organizations supporting the foster care community and utilizing our games as a platform to engage and educate our fans. We are excited to partner with Every Child TN and all the Tennessee sports teams for this new statewide initiative.”
“At Nashville SC, we strive to unite our community through the game of soccer in everything we do,” said Brandon Hill, Head of Community Engagement for Nashville SC. “By teaming up with Every Child TN and our friends at Nashville and Tennessee’s other professional sports teams to promote foster care, we will continue using our platform and voice to amplify this amazing cause and support children and families across our state.”
“At Boyd Sports, we believe in the power of community and the responsibility we have to support every child’s future,” said Chris Allen, President/COO of Boyd Sports (owner of the Knoxville Smokies). “Partnering with Every Team For Every Child allows us to stand alongside foster families and children across Tennessee, using the platform of sports to bring awareness, hope, and meaningful impact. We’re proud to support Every Child TN in their mission to ensure every child has a loving and stable home.”
As Every Child TN continues to expand the partnerships with Tennessee's celebrities, teams, colleges, and attractions, earlier this month Dolly Parton announced at Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary Celebration that the family amusement park will provide a complimentary one-time pass to Tennessee’s foster children.
Unveiled in August 2024, Every Child TN is powered by the Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Initiative, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, along with foster care providers, volunteer services, and hundreds of community and faith-based organizations across the state. There are currently more than 8,000 children in foster care in the state of Tennessee and just over 5,000 available homes, with more than 850 young people who age out of Tennessee's foster care system every year. Every Child TN provides an easy and actionable way for everyday Tennesseans to support foster care — whether through fostering, supporting foster families, meeting practical needs, or championing children at any stage in the journey.
For more information on Every Child TN, please visit www.everychildtn.org
