ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2024) – Today, Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride have announced that Kay Rawlins, Club co-founder and senior vice president of Community and Social Impact, will transition into a newly-created Executive and Club Ambassador role for both clubs.
“Kay Rawlins has been a bedrock for our Club and in our community since arriving in Orlando in 2010. Without Kay’s dedication, passion, and vision, there would not be an Orlando City or Orlando Pride,” said President of Business Operations, Jarrod Dillon. “We are very excited for Kay to take on this new role and continue her impact and passion for building our clubs, while also continuing to make a meaningful impact in our community.”
In addition to her work as a Club founder and Community and Social Impact lead, Rawlins also served as President of the Orlando City Foundation since its inception. Under Rawlin’s leadership, the clubs have become a keystone of the community. Most notably, Orlando City and Orlando Pride were key figures in uniting the community following the Pulse Nightclub tragedy, raising over $390,000 for the then-One Orlando Fund. Other highlights include free soccer programming and the installation of 10 mini pitches throughout the greater Orlando area, nearly two dozen community gardens in local food deserts, and the Club’s annual Turkey Distribution which helped over 4,000 residents of District 5 in 2023, a record number of meals for the event.
In her new role, Rawlins will continue as a member of the senior executive team, reporting to President of Business Operations Jarrod Dillon, while also liaising with Club Ownership and Orlando City and Orlando Pride Soccer Operations. She will continue to contribute to the overall growth of the two teams, focusing on several new strategic priorities including Orlando City and Pride alumni relations and programming, the Club’s Executive Speaking Program, and Chamber of Commerce and civic organization engagement.
A significant aspect of her new role will also task Rawlins with elevating and creating more corporate awareness of the Orlando Pride. Rawlins will be responsible for engaging and growing the Pride Collective, a coalition of over 100 local women business and civic leaders that have expressed interest in investing their time, energy and expertise into growing the brand of the Pride and empowering the team’s players through off-the-field professional development opportunities.
“I am excited for this new opportunity to build on our relationships within the Central Florida community and make connections with both Orlando Pride and Orlando City,” Rawlins said. “I’m also delighted to build the alumni program for both our teams, recognizing our beginnings and honoring the players who are such an important part of our clubs’ history.”
The Club has also announced the promotion of Kaia Forgét to the executive team as Vice President, Community Impact & DEI.
A veteran of the Orlando City and Pride Community and Social Impact team, Forgét has worked with Rawlins and the Club’s leadership team over the past 10 years and has a 25-year history of working in the Orlando non-profit sector. Forgét was Sr. Director of Community Impact for nine years with the Club, and for the past year has served as the Club’s first-ever Sr. Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
In her new role, Forgét will lead the strategy and execution of Orlando City and Orlando Pride’s community relations, social impact and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. She will work with local community partners, Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League in overseeing outreach programs, projects and external engagement efforts.
As the Club enters this new chapter, which also aligns with the 10th anniversary of Orlando City in Major League Soccer, a new foundation will be created that will expand the Club’s community impact and lead into the future of the clubs. Forgét will also serve as Executive Director of the new foundation and will work directly with ownership and leadership to determine the next steps and focus for the Club’s future community and non-profit efforts for the Club. She will lead strategic planning and identify philanthropic and program-focus areas for the new foundation. Additional details about the Club’s new foundation will be announced at a later date.
