Fall is here! That means Seahawks football, Blue Fridays, and the excitement of game day. When football season rolls around, our own Kat Shepp, Card Services Representative extraordinaire, is particularly enthusiastic. She’s a superfan, no doubt, but more important to her is the good she can do through the Seahawks community.

Kat is the founder and president of the Olympia Chapter of the Sea Hawkers Booster Club. She is pictured above (center) with club members and fans before raising the 12 flag in Olympia prior to the 2021 home opener. The Oly Sea Hawkers is one of 35 Sea Hawkers Booster Club chapters across the United States and internationally (there are chapters in Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Latin America, Spain, and the United Kingdom.) The Sea Hawkers Booster Club was founded in 1976 with a mission “to make the world a better place by raising awareness and funds for charities in the spirit of the 12s.” Each chapter works with the Seahawks Community Relations team to support the Seahawks organization, players and their families, fans, and their communities through volunteerism. Chapters raise funds for local charities and volunteer their time and talent to help their communities.

Kat and the Oly Sea Hawkers have raised and donated $16,600 to help the community in the past three months alone. Their most recent fundraiser featured the Seahawks mascot, Blitz, raising money for his charity, “Blitz Kicks4Kids.” Blitz rode a scooter from Lumen Field in Seattle across the state line to Idaho and back again. Along the way, he made various stops to raise funds to purchase 3,000 pairs of shoes for kids in need across the United States. Some of these shoes will go to the Oly Sea Hawkers to distribute to a local charity in Thurston County.

In early September, Kat was asked by the Seahawks to raise a “12” flag in Olympia to celebrate their home opener. The Olympia flag raising and that of other chapters around the world heralded the long-awaited first game where fans were able to attend in person again. The “Welcome Home 12s” video can be seen here. 

The Oly Sea Hawkers Booster Club currently has 140 members volunteering in the community for the greater good. Membership is open to those interested in joining to help in the spirit of the 12s. Kat quotes Margaret Mead as an inspiration for the work she does with the Sea Hawkers: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Learn more about the Oly Sea Hawkers here.