December 18, 2017- WASHINGTON D.C. -- Jonathan Allen, Defensive End for the Washington Redskins and Russell Canouse, Midfielder for D.C. United, are teaming up to give back to local deserving kids this holiday season. Allen and Canouse are partnering with KRa for Play ( www.drinkkra.com ) on a sports equipment drive to benefit Beacon House, which provides afterschool education and youth development programs in Northeast Washington, DC.

To that end Allen and Canouse will be at The NZone, hosted by Slam City Management, on December 18 from 3-4:30PM collecting new or used sports equipment for the deserving kids at Beacon House. Address : 14550 Lee Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151.

Participants who bring equipment to The NZone will have the opportunity for a photo opportunity with either Allen or Canouse, and will receive free bottle of KRa Organic Sports Drink.

Allen, an Ashburn native and first-round NFL draft pick for his hometown Washington Redskins, is excited to be able to give back to his hometown. Seeing the value of working with local community partners and businesses, Jonathan Allen is partnering with local organic sports drink KRa, ( www.drinkkra.com ), on its “KRa for Play" initiative to ensure all kids have access to sports activities, proper equipment and a meaningful holiday.

“I am thrilled to be in a position to help local kids obtain equipment they need, especially during the holiday season,” says Allen. “I’ve received so much support from my hometown over the years and during my rookie NFL season, I’m just so happy to be able to give back.”

Says Canouse, "I have enjoyed my playing time in the D.C. area and I am excited to get involved in the local community, especially with kids who really deserve equal access to sports and proper equipment."

Allen and Canouse will be delivering the donated sports equipment along with KRa and Bethesda-based Leveling the Playing Field, which gives underprivileged children access to youth sports, to the kids at Beacon House the evening of December 19 (closed to public) with a meet-and-greet and drinks from KRa. To help, please visit: http://www.drinkkra.com/beaconhouse .

"We are so grateful for the sports equipment donation from Jonathan Allen, Russell Canouse and KRa,” says Kevin Hinton, Beacon House’s CEO and Executive Director. “We are proud to offer a high-quality Athletics program to children and families in Northeast Washington, DC. We strive to help our student-athletes develop positive attitudes about learning, cultivate a sense of themselves as capable individuals with promising futures, and make them feel connected to a community that values education and wellness."