Charlotte Independence Announces Strategic Partnership with Blue Cross NC

13 Jan 2022

Blue Cross NC is named the official health insurance partner of the Charlotte Independence and the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club

The Charlotte Independence and the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club (CISC) announced today a multi-year partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), a not-for-profit North Carolina company focused on making health care better, simpler and more affordable for the communities in which they serve. Blue Cross NC is now the official health insurance partner of the Charlotte Independence and the affiliated youth academy, the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club.

"Blue Cross NC has been a stalwart supporter of our community for decades," stated Charlotte Independence President & COO, Tim Schuldt. "Their investment will help our organization continue to make Charlotte a better place to live through sports. We are humbled and thankful that the leading healthcare insurance provider in North Carolina has chosen to partner with us."

Blue Cross NC will become a kit sponsor of all competitive youth club teams and the professional team shorts starting in 2022. Their logo will be prominently placed on the uniform of thousands of members registered with the CISC, which includes playing levels for boys and girls ranging from Youth Academy, Select, Futures, ECNL, USL (United Soccer League) Academy, USL League Two, USL Women's W-League and the USL League One first team.

Another cornerstone feature in the partnership between Blue Cross NC, the Charlotte Independence Professional Team and the Youth Academy includes the creation of a system-wide character and leadership awards platform that highlights players and their accomplishments, on and off the field. Awards will go to members and first team players that embody the club's key values of character, commitment, community, competition and communication.

"The partnership with Blue Cross NC goes well beyond a traditional sponsorship," explained Thomas Finlay, Chief Executive Officer of the Charlotte Independence Soccer Club. "We are thrilled to be aligned with such a great organization that agrees 'Culture Counts'. We look forward to awarding our first, and future years', winners of the Independence Soccer Blue Cross NC Character and Leadership Awards."

Blue Cross NC is also set to become a presenting sponsor of the One Club One Love Community Clinics and will provide free jerseys for participating children. The pro team and youth club host approximately 12-24 soccer clinics throughout the year working with a variety of nonprofit organizations in the Charlotte community.

The final cornerstone of the partnership includes a visual and promotional presence at all first team games including signage elements and two themed game nights all to be executed at the USL's newest, and spectacular Independence home field, American Legion Memorial Stadium.

"Our partnership with Charlotte Independence focuses on a shared commitment to cultivate stronger, healthier communities," said Reagan Greene, Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement at Blue Cross NC. "We look forward to working together to provide active and inclusive opportunities for North Carolinians across the state."

To learn more about our community partnerships, please visit: www.charlotteindependence.com/sponsors.