The Chicago Fire hosted the 18th annual Season Kickoff Luncheon presented by Magellan Corporation in downtown Chicago on Monday, March 21, 2016.

The event connected supporters, players and coaches, and club partners to celebrate a new season and support the award-winning youth development initiatives of the Chicago Fire Foundation.

The professional men's soccer team is named after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It has become and emblem of rebirth, and the determination, grit and togetherness that rebuilt Chicago into a vibrant world class city. The Chicago Fire soccer team announced their formation on the 126th anniversary of that fire, October 8, 1997.

Since that date, the Fire has been Chicago soccer fan's number one team, adding Major League Soccer to the roster of Chicago sports. The goal of the Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the team, is to contribute to the quality of life in Chicago and its surrounding communities. Their sports-based youth programs focus on development and direct service programs to underserved communities.