REUTERS/Peter Cziborra
Two of the biggest cities in New England have been swarmed by soccer fans who’ve flocked to the region for the World Cup. That includes thousands of diehards hailing from Scotland who’ve invaded Providence, and they’ve pulled an awesome move by donating a sizable amount of money to some charities in Rhode Island.
Boston was technically one of the 11 cities in the United States that were selected to host games during the 2026 World Cup, although those showdowns will actually be held 30 miles south at the stadium in Foxborough where “Gillette” has been swapped out for the name of the capital city of Massachusetts for the tournament.
Beantown will serve as the base for a large contingent of soccer fans who will be attending the seven games held at that venue, but many others have opted for another hub that’s even closer: Providence, which boasts an approximately 20-mile trip north of the Rhode Island border.
None of the supporters of the eight teams who will be playing a group stage game at Boston Stadium have managed to garner more attention in the area so far than the ones hailing from Scotland.
Some members of the “Tartan Army” decided to stay in Providence in an attempt to save some money (including the ones who hired a massive fleet of school buses to get to their games), but they’re not cheaping out when it comes to contributing to some noble causes.
Scottish fans in Providence for the World Cup have donated $30,000 to various charities
A number of bars in Providence have received a serious cash infusion from Scottish fans who have forced them to scramble to keep up with the thirst they brought with them to the World Cup, but they aren’t the only institutions that have reaped the benefits of their arrival.
According to The Boston Globe, some of those supporters got an assist from the Providence tourism department and other local officials who helped them figure out various logistics as they were attempting to firm up their accommodations for the World Cup.
That was no small task when you consider the traveling delegation that has been dubbed the “Providence Tartan Army” is approximately 5,000 people strong, and its members decided to give back to the community by spearheading a fundraising drive for a number of admirable causes.
That included t-shirt sales and portions of the price of the tickets to ride the aforementioned school buses that were set aside for charity, and when everything was said and done, they managed to raise over $30,000.
On Thursday, the cancer unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital will receive a check during a march that will make its way through the city. That will undoubtedly feature more than a few bagpipes, and the Rhode Island Highlanders Pipe Band will also be getting $6,500 to fund a program dedicated to teaching kids how to play the instruments for the next two years.
The outlet reports another $10,000 will be set aside for a soccer program catering to underprivileged children in the area, and Craig Ferguson, a Scottish man who walked from Los Angeles to Boston to raise money for mental health programs in his native country, will also be receiving $6,500 for the cause.
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