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MLS W.O.R.K.S. joined the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Union Foundation, AT&T, Chester Upland School District and organizers from KaBOOM! to construct a new playground and small-sided field on Tuesday at Science and Discovery High School as part of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game festivities.
MLS All-Stars Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Carlos Valdes (Philadelphia Union), Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA), Jimmy Nielsen and Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Osvaldo Alonso and Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC) and Philadelphia Union players Chase Harrison and Krystian Witkowski and MLS and Philadelphia Union executives were on hand to take part in youth activities, to aid in the construction of the playground and to officially unveil the AT&T Community Field. The players were joined by local volunteers in constructing the playground, while Philadelphia Union Academy coaches led drills and small-sided games for children as part of the AT&T Youth Clinic. Former MLS All-Star Alexi Lalas was on hand to participate. The new facilities were officially opened with a net-cutting ceremony by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz and members of Chester Upland School District.
Tuesday's community service project was part of Major League Soccer's effort to create sustainable projects that leave a lasting legacy.
To view video from the event, click here.
Check out some photos on Flickr.
In addition to the event on Tuesday, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the Philadelphia Union sponsored a Starlight Fun Center at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Children undergoing treatment at Crozer-Chester Medical Center will be smiling brighter thanks to the multi-media Fun Center. Designed to combat anxiety and loneliness faced by hospitalized children, The Fun Center was unveiled today along with Philadelphia Union players Michael Lahoud and Amobi Okugo. Lahoud and Okugo visited with patients, participated in arts and crafts and cut the ribbon during the official dedication ceremony.
Check out some photos on Flickr.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP Grand Prize winner was announced at last night’s 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. Congratulations to Andrew Pocklington representing the Philadelphia Union! Andrew won $10,000 for the Animal Care and Control Center of Philadelphia.
Congratulations to Jeffrey Briley, winner of the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Continental Tire Greener Goals contest. Jeffrey and his daughter, Maya, took to the field at the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game where they were recognized for their efforts to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
To view more photos from the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, click here.
MLS clubs lend a helping hand to support various non-profits, conduct soccer clinics, host fundraisers and visit children in the hospital. See the full stories here:
Sporting KC presents the Chipotle Challenge
Earthquakes' Lucile Packard Hospital Visit
Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic
Red Bulls Lend a Helping Hand at Camp Shriver Special Olympics
LA Galaxy to hold soccer equipment drive Saturday
Rapids to wear black armbands in honor of Marisa Colaiano
Impact Academy helps fight Cystic Fibrosis
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS W.O.R.K.S. news section.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. Gives Back to the Chester Community
MLS Players and Executives to Leave a Lasting Impact on Behalf of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game
MLS W.O.R.K.S. is committed to increasing the accessibility of soccer, creating sustainable projects that leave a lasting legacy and supporting local youth programs that will encourage children to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
On July 24, Major League Soccer will join the Philadelphia Union, AT&T, Chester Upland School District and organizers from KaBOOM! to construct a new playground and small-sided field at Science and Discovery High School. The AT&T Community Field and new playground will provide more than 500 children in the Chester community with a safe place to play, and will increase awareness and provide additional opportunities for local youth to play soccer.
Over 200 volunteers will help construct the playground while Philadelphia Union Academy coaches lead drills and small-sided games for approximately 100 local children as part of the AT&T Youth Clinic. MLS All-Stars and Philadelphia Union players will join the day's festivities, taking part in youth activities, the construction of the playground and the ribbon-cutting ceremony with MLS and Philadelphia Union executives and members of the Chester Upland School District. Former MLS All-Star Alexi Lalas will also volunteer his time to participate in youth activities.
The day of service - a partnership between MLS W.O.R.K.S., the Philadelphia Union Foundation and AT&T - is part of the League's community service program, Unite. Volunteer. Serve., a collaborative effort to combine sport and service, promote good will and improve lives and communities at the grassroots level.
On Wednesday, July 25, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the Philadelphia Union will team up with Starlight Children's Foundation for a hospital visit and placement of a Starlight Fun Center™ mobile entertainment unit at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa. Part of the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Soccer Kicks Cancer program, the visit will provide an opportunity for seriously ill children and their families to enjoy a unique experience and a renewed sense of strength and hope. Union players will visit with patients, play games and participate in other activities prior to the dedication ceremony. In addition to the Fun Center, MLS will also provide tickets to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game to Starlight families. The 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, featuring the MLS All-Stars against Chelsea FC, will be played on Wednesday, July 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.
During halftime of the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, MLS W.O.R.K.S. will announce the 2012 Community MVP Grand Prize winner. Fans across the League had the opportunity to nominate individuals who are committed to improving their communities. Nineteen winners were selected, representing each MLS market, and competed in a two-week online contest. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice and a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park, which includes roundtrip airfare, two nights' accommodation, an award from Tiffany & Co. and official MLS merchandise as part of the prize package. Click here to view the final list of 2012 Community MVPs.
In addition, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire will recognize the winner of the "How Green Are Your Goals?" contest, created to engage MLS fans in environmentally friendly efforts leading up to Earth Day. Fans were encouraged to visit the Greener Goals website and share stories of how they incorporate green efforts into their everyday lives. Portland, the MLS market with the greenest MLS fans, has won a Solar 4R Schools Renewable School package valued at $50,000 for a deserving school in their city for Earth Day 2013. The prize includes a solar panel installation and a renewable energy education package for teachers. As the Grand Prize winner, Timbers' fan Jeffrey Briley won a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game and a set of tires, courtesy of Continental Tire.
Be sure to follow @MLSWORKS on Twitter and get updates from all of our events at #MLSWORKS and AT&T #MLSAllStar Game.
The MLS clubs continue their efforts in the community. Check out the highlights from this week:
Special Olympics: Sounders FC vs Rapids
Michael Cuccione Kick for a Cure
Only five spots remain in 2012 Greenstar Recycling Corportate Cup
Q&A with Sidekicks organizer Kersten Mullan
'Caps participate in Vancouver Street Soccer Practice
Quakes to host A&W Root Beer Float Night on Saturday
Rapids to host Military Appreciation Night on July 28
Timbers partner with adidas to host soccer festival benefiting Special Olympics
Timbers win MLS W.O.R.K.S. "How Green are Your Goals?" Contest
American Red Cross Blood Drive in Philadelphia area
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS W.O.R.K.S. news section.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. would like to thank all of our 2012 MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP nominees for their outstanding commitment to our communities.
Chicago Fire - Ivan Vargas
Chivas USA - Jesse Torres
Colorado Rapids - Loren Lichti
Columbus Crew - JP Ratajczak
D.C. United - Richard Nidel
FC Dallas - Colleen Kugler
Houston Dynamo - Rob Denton
LA Galaxy - Ricardo Renteria
Montreal Impact - Claudine Couture-Trudel
New England Revolution - David S. Cohen
New York Red Bulls - Gregory Pinel
Philadelphia Union - Andrew Pocklington
Portland Timbers - Fernando Machicado
Real Salt Lake - Trent Ewing
San Jose Earthquakes - Michelle Soares
Seattle Sounders FC - Monica Trujillo
Sporting Kansas City - David Belpedio
Toronto FC - Lindsay Leo
Vancouver Whitecaps - Alan Bates
Read the 2012 Community MVP bios>
Thanks to all of the fans and supporters who voted. Find out who won the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP Contest Grand Prize - including a $10,000 donation to their charity of choice and a trip for two to the AT&T MLS All-Star Game - during halftime at the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 25th!
Yesterday, MLS stars and New York Red Bulls players Rafa Marquez and Kenny Cooper visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. During their visit, Rafa and Kenny spent time with several patients and even helped a few patients learn some new soccer tricks.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. helps share the mission of St. Jude through the Goals for St. Jude program. Rafa and Kenny join Logan Pause of the Chicago Fire, Shea Salinas of the San Jose Earthquakes and Dan Kennedy of Chivas USA as ambassadors for the program.
Be on the lookout for Goals for St. Jude week in September to see how you can get involved in the life-saving mission of helping St. Jude find a cure for childhood cancer. Help us kick cancer!
Learn more about the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Soccer Kicks Cancer program.
Ask Joe Bendik about his eight-year-old nephew Gavin, and his eyes instantly light up.
You see, Gavin has cystic fibrosis and Bendik, the Portland Timbers backup goalkeeper, has used his notoriety as a professional soccer player to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It's a passion that has led Bendik to raise close to $3,000 through the Portland chapter of Team Gavin as part of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Great Strides National Walk Event.
Those efforts have earned him the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month award for July.
Bendik and a handful of teammates participated in the May 19 Great Strides event at Oaks Park Amusement Park or donated gear to show their support. Along with the money generated at the local event, Team Gavin raised more than $30,000 nationwide.
Bendik is hoping to draw on the excitement displayed during the Great Strides walk to plan a charity golf tournament in August. He's also working with a local high school in the area on an alumni football game fundraiser. All of it with Gavin in mind.
Article by Dan Itel. Read more.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. and MLS corporate partner Continental Tire announced their commitment to educate the next generation of energy users during MLS Cup 2011 and are participating in Bonneville Environmental Foundation's (BEF) Solar 4R Schools program. A solar panel installation was awarded to KIPP Los Angeles Preparatory School--also the location of an environmentally friendly service project that culminated Greener Goals week and included players from MLS Cup 2011 champion LA Galaxy.
In addition, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire launched the "How Green Are Your Goals?" campaign as a way to engage MLS fans to participate and support environmentally friendly efforts leading up to Earth Day. Fans were encouraged to visit the Greener Goals website to share stories of how they incorporate green efforts into their everyday lives.
Thanks to the incredible support from supporters and fans, the Portland Timbers are the MLS W.O.R.K.S./Continental Tire "How Green Are Your Goals?" contest winners. A deserving school in Portland will receive a $50,000 solar panel installation as part of an MLS W.O.R.K.S. Earth Day 2013 community service project.
Timbers fan Jeffrey Briley was named the "How Green Are Your Goals?" Sweepstakes Grand Prize winner and has won a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester, PA, and a set of tires, courtesy of Continental Tire.
Congratulations to the Portland Timbers and Jeffrey Briley for your outstanding commitment to the environment.
For photos from the event at KIPP LA, visit the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Flickr page.
MLS clubs continue to show support for their communities through fundraising, grants, community visits and youth programming. Check out the highlights:
Timbers Lose Their Boots to Help Mercy Corps
Timbers Award $37,000 in Community Fund Grants
Get "Scooped" by Benny Feilhaber on Friday, July 6
Kaiser Permanente Get Earthquakes Fit
'Caps Visit BC Children's Hospital
Rapids to Support Disaster Fundraising Efforts at HelpColorado.Now.org
For more community news around the League, visit the MLS W.O.R.K.S. news section.
You've nominated them, now it's time to vote...
Who should win $10,000 for charity and a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game?
One Community MVP has been chosen to represent each MLS club. Only one winner will have the chance to win the Grand Prize, a $10,000 donation to their charity of choice and a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at PPL Park. MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP Grand Prize voting is now open! Vote now!