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HARRISON, NJ (Tuesday, August 15, 2023) – NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder and Native Hawaiian Mana Shim has a personal and ancestral connection to the island of Maui. On Friday, Aug. 11, Shim worked closely with Gotham FC, the National Women’s Soccer League, the NWSL Players Association, and Soccer Post to coordinate the release of a Maui wildfire relief t-shirt, with 100 percent of t-shirt sale profits set to go to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement relief efforts with the Native Hawaiian community on Maui. As a law student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law, Shim worked with Native Hawaiian landowners and farmers in Lahaina in their effort to secure water rights on their properties. Some of the families she worked with directly have lost their homes.
“My heart has been aching for our ‘ohana in Maui,” said Shim. “Hawaii is my home, and while I may be far away, I’m hoping I can do all I can to help the lāhui heal and rebuild. Many of my family and friends are helping with relief efforts on the ground in Maui and our support from afar is keeping them going.”
In Hawaiian, mana means spiritual or divine power.
“Gotham FC joins midfielder Mana Shim in sending our mana to the Maui community,” said Gotham FC President Mary Wittenberg. “Our hearts and hopes are with the people of Maui. Mana’s vision catalyzed our team, the NWSL, NWSLPA, and our retail partner Soccer Post to create this initiative. We thank and appreciate all of our fans, players, staff and partners who have joined in support and welcome everyone to be a part. We’ll look forward to honoring everyone in support at our next home game on August 27.
The Gotham FC midfielder initiated the effort, provided design and copy direction, and selected the donation recipient. It was a priority to work with an organization that focuses on rebuilding efforts within the Native Hawaiian population.
Gotham FC welcomes fans to support the “Mana for Maui” collection, which is available to purchase online now at GothamFC.com or in person at Gotham FC’s next home match against Racing Louisville on Aug. 27. The t-shirt is available in youth and adult sizing.
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