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Climate Justice & the Beautiful Game

In their inaugural season in the summer of 2022, Vermont Green Football Club set out to answer the question, Can a football club be a force for good? Besides winning games, their objective was to build a local soccer club that embeds environmental justice into its competitive strategy, operational processes, and culture.

“Up The Green,” a new short documentary from SunCommon, tells the story of the club’s historic first season and the community’s overwhelmingly positive response to their ambitious pitch. What began as a shared dream among a few friends grows into something beyond their wildest expectations.

VGFC - Up The Green
VGFC - Up The Green
VGFC Pat Infurna headshot - Up The Green

“The real genesis for the club was one of those classic “What if…?” conversations. Like what if we started a football club that addressed climate change?”

– Patrick Infurna, Vermont Green FC Co-Founder

VGFC Pat Infurna headshot - Up The Green

“The real genesis for the club was one of those classic “what if?” conversations. Like what if we started a football club that addressed climate change?”

– Patrick Infurna, Vermont Green FC Co-Founder

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

We were first introduced to Vermont Green Football Club at one of their first practices and got the mission pitch from the club’s co-founders. We were instantly compelled to capture and share their story with a larger audience, as their entire strategy was premised on climate justice through building a football club. In terms of a sports franchise taking an ethical position, their mission contrasted the global football landscape significantly.

As we tracked their progress throughout the season, we realized one of the most significant results of their efforts was a passionate and growing base of supporters. The way the fans locked onto the mission seemed to be fueling wins on the field, and the local excitement surrounding the team signaled a clear demand for more climate conscious sport communities.

VGFC - Up The Green Director Patrick McCormack

– Patrick McCormack, Director

  • VGFC Team and Fans - Up The Green
  • VGFC Fans - Up The Green
  • VGFC Diba Nwegbo - Up The Green
  • VGFC Coach - Up The Green
  • VGFC Riley Urie - Up The Green
  • VGFC Celebration - Up The Green
  • VGFC Goalie - Up The Green
  • VGFC Teammates - Up The Green
  • VGFC Fans - Up The Green
  • VGFC Tom Proctor - Up The Green
  • VGFC Fans and Stands - Up The Green
  • VGFC Celebration - Up The Green
VGFC Soccer Ball - Up The Green
VGFC Ren Russo headshot - Up The Green

“The only way we’re going to solve what’s going on with the climate and decarbonize is by being more local and community focused in pretty much everything, including our entertainment.”

– Ren Russo, Fan

VGFC Soccer Ball - Up The Green
VGFC Ren Russo headshot - Up The Green

“The only way we’re going to solve what’s going on with the climate and decarbonize is by being more local and community focused in pretty much everything, including our entertainment.”

– Ren Russo, Fan

SunCommon & VGFC 

SunCommon is proud to be the title sponsor of Vermont Green Football Club, a new local soccer team with climate justice goals. Vermont Green FC is on a mission to promote climate & social justice through net zero operations, fighting systemic racism in soccer, and using their platform for education and awareness building, all while bringing the beautiful game to folks across the Northeast.

VGFC 2023 SunCommon Kit - Up The Green
VGFC - Up The Green
VGFC - Up The Green King Street Center Partnership
VGFC Shabnam Beth Nolan King Street Center Executive Director - Up The Green

“When you think about wanting to teach youth, you want to meet them where they’re at. Our youth LOVES soccer. The best way to engage youth on a really important topic like climate change or climate justice is to connect it to something they care about.”

– Shabnam Beth Nolan, Executive Director, King Street Center 

VGFC Shabnam Beth Nolan King Street Center Executive Director - Up The Green

“When you think about wanting to teach youth, you want to meet them where they’re at. Our youth LOVES soccer. The best way to engage youth on a really important topic like climate change or climate justice is to connect it to something they care about.”

– Shabnam Beth Nolan, Executive Director, King Street Center 

VGFC - Up The Green
VGFC - Up The Green Film Poster

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, contact alex@cultivatepr.co & media@suncommon.com

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