FC Cincinnati hosted the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Cincinnati Chapter at TQL Stadium on March 28 for a bed building and delivery day. The event is aimed to provide beds for children in the West End community and ensure “no kid sleeps on the floor”—a motto the organization lives by.
“We’re a national organization that does two things—we build beds and deliver beds to kids in need,” Todd Forman, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Cincinnati Chapter President said. “There’s a huge need for kids in this city, and across the country, who are sleeping on the floor, sleeping on the sofa, sleeping on pallets, sleeping in cars, and our goal is to help children get a nice warm bed of their own so they can have a great night’s sleep, and just a better life.”
Formed in 2024, the Cincinnati Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace works to serve children living in Hamilton County and Northern KY by building beds for those who need them. Working with organizations like FC Cincinnati and Major League Soccer, Sleep in Heavenly Peace have helped more than 1,100 children get into their own ready-to-sleep-in beds and provide them the gift of a good night’s sleep.
“This is an all-volunteer organization… and we really depend on (organizations) like FC Cincinnati… that send their employees out to teach them a little bit about volunteerism and to help them get engaged in the community,” Forman added at the March 28 event at TQL Stadium, where FC Cincinnati staff volunteered alongside Sleep In Heavenly Peace to build the beds.
The collaboration with Sleep in Heavenly Peace is part of the league-wide initiative with MLS Works, ‘Greener Goals,’ Major League Soccer’s social responsibility platform. Now in its ninth season of action, Greener Goals is part of Major League Soccer’s commitment to taking steps to address its environmental and community impact, with all 30 MLS clubs contributing through their own initiatives.
For FC Cincinnati, the attending volunteers who gave their time and efforts built 50 beds for kids in the West End community, the home of TQL Stadium and FC Cincinnati.
In addition to the staff volunteers, FC Cincinnati players Tom Barlow and Evan Louro helped build the beds, while former players and current coaches Omar Cummings and Emmanuel Ledesma assisted with deliveries.
“Obviously, it’s a really important part of this club and its foundation, so when Natalie Anderson (VP of Community Relations and FCC Foundation) reached out to Tom (Barlow) and I to come out, there was no hesitation,” FCC Goalkeeper Evan Louro said. “It’s for a great cause… and it’s just really important for us to come out and show support to the community after all the support they show us.”
“I can’t imagine growing up like that, so anything we can do to make their life easier, we’re all gonna do it.”
“It’s really exciting to be giving back in this way,” Kate Solomon, Chief Youth & Community Officer at FC Cincinnati, said at the event. “We're really fortunate to have players on our team who are ready to dig in and give back. So, we are very excited to have them here today and proud to have them as part of this project.”
“This is a really important event,” Solomon continued. “We know that there is a need in the West End and we of course want to show up for our neighbors. We’re proud to partner with (Sleep in Heavenly Peace) and make sure that we’re getting these beds to the kids who need them.”
In partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, FC Cincinnati continues to give back to the community, making sure that kids in the Cincinnati area are supported with essential resources that will give them not just a great night’s sleep but a pillar of support in their every-day lives.
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About FC Cincinnati Foundation*
FC Cincinnati is committed to leaving a legacy, creating something bigger than itself, and being the embodiment of a rising Cincinnati. Through their own programs and initiatives, and the support of key partners, they aim to improve the lives of children through the game of soccer and will continue to do its part to create an inclusive community.
FC Cincinnati Foundation’s mission is accomplished primarily through five key programs: Club Ambassadorship through In-School and Out-of-School Programming, Mini Pitch Soccer Builds, West End Pride and Learning Is Cool. These programs help promote and encourage strong academic performance, and serve as catalysts to reinforce character values and improved health for children in the Greater Cincinnati region. The Foundation also serves as FC Cincinnati’s philanthropic arm, making donations and investments to Cincinnati-area organizations that have similar goals and ambitions for the area’s youth.
For more information, visit https://www.fccincinnati.com/communityMore about Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building and delivering handmade bunk beds to children ages 3–17 who are sleeping on floors, couches, or in unsafe situations. Founded in 2012, SHP operates over 350 volunteer-driven chapters across the U.S. and Canada, providing beds, mattresses, and bedding at no cost to families.
For more information, visit https://shpbeds.org