Following the conclusion of the 2022 MLS Season, FC Cincinnati technical staff voted on and awarded FC Cincinnati players with several end-of-season awards. This week, FCCincinnati.com will reveal the winners of this year’s team awards, beginning today with Ray Gaddis, who was awarded with the Humanitarian of the Year award, presented by P&G.
Gaddis came out of retirement to help FC Cincinnati’s rebuild of the team culture off the field and the team performance on the field. Gaddis’ ability to lead and uplift those around him helped the Orange and Blue earn a spot in the MLS postseason for the first time in club history. Those same qualities extend beyond the pitch and have helped Gaddis to be a driving force for change in the communities he serves.
“For me, coming here, this was always the plan—to move the needle here at FCC,” said Gaddis. “I couldn't have asked or written it up any better. Being integrated into the team and the players accepting me, the fan base accepting me, as well as the community of Cincinnati. It's been great, not only on the field, but socially off the field. And I think that contributed to a lot of the success and a lot of the things I was able to do on the field as well.”
Gaddis is a founding member of Black Players for Change, an organization comprised of over 170 MLS players, coaches, and staff working towards bridging the racial equality gap while acting as a current member of the executive board.
He is also an active member of Cincinnati’s philanthropic community, most recently partnering with Bigger Than Sneakers for their fourth annual SneakerBall in August, which provided resources for an athletic closet for Saturday Hoops, a faith-based youth mentoring program.
Gaddis hosted a backpack giveaway earlier this year handing out much-needed school supplies to kids in the Cincinnati area and is already working to support local Cincinnati families over the holidays.
The Indianapolis, Ind. native is an active member of the youth soccer scene in his hometown and assisted in the installation of a public mini pitch as part of beautifying Oscar Charleston Park in conjunction with Black Players for Change.
He said he’s proud to have “brought a different presence to the team, a calming presence, more of an older statesman. When the game’s on the line, to calm guys down in the locker room when we're playing but just also bring some fun, right? This is my 10th season, I've seen a lot, so I have a different perspective.”
Gaddis made 23 appearances for FC Cincinnati during the 2022 campaign starting 11 matches and logging over 1000 minutes for the ninth time in his career.
