Luna Bar, part of Clif Bar & Company, is giving each of the 23 women named to the 2019 U.S. women’s national soccer team $31,250, comprising the difference between the women’s and men’s World Cup roster bonus.
The donation was announced on Equal Pay Day, which highlights the gender wage gap.
“When Luna Bar approached us in January to support and recognize the USWNT players in this way, I was speechless,” said USWNTPA Executive Director Becca Roux. “Many brands raising awareness for equal pay use the USWNT’s fight as an example, but don’t go the extra step to offer a solution to the problem. Luna Bar has a long history of supporting women’s equality and is truly walking the walk by maximizing the amount of money going directly to the players and intentionally closing one of their pay gaps.”
“It’s ironic that one of the most popular sports in the world is still experiencing pay inequalities between women and men,” said Clif Bar & Company Owner and Co-CEO Kit Crawford. “We are big fans of the U.S. Women’s National Team and were inspired to take action and make a difference that matters. Luna Bar is honored to give these women, and women everywhere, our support. It’s what is right, but more importantly, it’s what they deserve.”
The U.S. women’s national team filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this month over alleged gender discrimination after first publicly speaking out about the pay disparities in 2016.
The players have said in court documents that U.S. men’s team players earned a $55,000 bonus apiece for making the World Cup roster in 2014, while the women earned a $15,000 bonus each for making the 2015 World Cup roster.
Image courtesy Luna Bar
