First Team Players Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, David Ruiz, DeAndre Yedlin, and the Inter Miami CF U-17 Academy Team Among Participants
Inter Miami CF and Fracht teamed up to host their first community initiative of the season, a Beach Cleanup at the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward County on Tuesday. First Team players DeAndre Yedlin, Drake Callender, Julian Gressel, and David Ruiz and the U-17 Academy Team joined Inter Miami CF staff and Fracht Group to take part in the community activation collecting 205 lbs of waste, thus helping to tackle the growing issue of plastic pollution.
Tuesday’s cleanup helped to protect the marine environment of our South Florida beaches by removing plastic debris to create a cleaner, healthier planet. Inter Miami CF defender Yedlin spoke about the importance of making a positive change.
“I draw a connection to my childhood, and the space nature provides me,” said Callender. “Doing a beach cleanup with Fracht helped me connect with that part of myself that I enjoy, which is being outside; I enjoy the beach. It’s also just a way to give back to the world, help keep our environment clean, and be a community role model for the kids that are out here.”
Inter Miami CF, Fracht Group, and volunteers collaborated with local non-profit, Volunteercleanup.org, whose main mission is to engage volunteers to clean up their neighborhoods, shorelines, and waterways as a way to raise awareness about marine debris and encourage people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.
Prior to beginning the cleanup, Volunteercleanup.org led an educational discussion to inform the group on how volunteers can reduce debris on our shorelines. The group conversation was followed by the physical cleanup, where the volunteers spread out to clean as much of the state park as possible.
The collaboration between Inter Miami CF players, staff and Fracht Group not only highlighted the urgency of addressing environmental challenges, but also emphasized the power of collective action. Through the combined efforts, Inter Miami CF and Fracht were able to remove over 200 lbs of waste from the beach, helping to protect marine life and preserve the natural beauty of our Florida beaches.
This beach cleanup is one of the many initiatives Inter Miami CF has undertaken since the Club's inception to raise awareness on the threats of plastic waste in the ocean, and serves as another example of how sports can be a powerful force for positive tangible change and exemplifies the transformative potential of collaboration and community engagement. Other initiatives and awareness campaigns include the adidas “One Planet” iconic oceans campaign Inter Miami CF has executed over the last three seasons.
This is also the first of many community initiatives Inter Miami CF will execute alongside Fracht Group as part of the joint commitment to our environment and our oceans.
