The Philadelphia Union Foundation has launched its first-ever apparel line, and the name comes straight off a highway sign: Exit 6, the I-95 off-ramp that leads into Chester, Pennsylvania. Hats, shirts and tote bags in the new collection carry designs like “Exit 6” and “Forged in Chester,” with proceeds going toward local programs including the Chester Union Soccer Club, which covers uniforms, cleats and club fees so kids in the city can play for free.
The name is not just a clever hook. As CBS News reports, Alyssa Radu, executive director of the Philadelphia Union Foundation, said “everything goes through the six in Chester,” framing the exit itself as a kind of gateway to the community the foundation has spent years investing in. Radu said the apparel line could connect Chester and anyone else, not just soccer fans, to that identity. The collection is available now in Chester and through the foundation’s website.
For 11-year-old midfielder Zidan Harris, the appeal is simpler: playing soccer, he said, is fun and lets him play with his friends and teammates. Chester native Johnjalee Corbin put it in broader terms, saying people will always find their way back to the Chester community, and that Chester has come a long way with children, art, creativity, sports and the community, per the same CBS News report.
A Program Built to Remove Cost as a Barrier
The Chester Union Soccer Club, which the apparel proceeds help fund, was launched by the Philadelphia Union Foundation in November 2023 as a no-cost soccer program for youth ages U8 to U19. According to Philanthropy Daily, the club had grown to more than 369 registered players by late 2025, with nearly 500 total participants across its programming. The club eliminates financial barriers like equipment and registration fees for local families, a detail that matters in a city where those costs can be prohibitive…