MLS WORKS Blog
This week was a busy one for MLS WORKS and the clubs in their communities. The week started off with celebrations for Earth Day. MLS WORKS and the Portland Timbers hosted an Earth Day Service Project at Hosford Middle School and unveiled a solar panel installation and environmental beautification at the school as part of the MLS WORKS/Continental Tire “How Green Are Your Goals?” contest. Yesterday was World Malaria Day and MLS WORKS joined Nothing But Nets in the fight against Malaria by challenging MLS fans to donate a net to save a life. Find these stories and other MLS club initiatives in our weekly highlights:
Update: World Malaria Day and Juggle-a-thon
Kraft Family's pledge to One Fund Boston nets $617,000 to date
Revolution to wear orange ribbons on Saturday
Dynamo players, coaches participate in Tommy Bahama Island Cowboy Classic
VIDEO: Juggle to save lives on World Malaria Day
Cinco De Mayo celebration planned for May 4 match
How the Union's recent rally around Autism awareness touched one supporter in particular
LA Galaxy players help build Reading Garden at Annalee Avenue Elementary School in Carson
Revolution, Red Bulls Supporters March together
Exclusive Interview with Rafael Garcia on LA Galaxy Foundation event at Annalee Elementary
The human spirit always prevails
Busch, Quakes team up for Navy SEAL Foundation fundraiser
Hejduk Participates in AIDS Walk
Earth Day 2013 at Hosford Elementary
D.C. United celebrates Earth Day
Quakes, Wells Fargo announce Summer 4v4 tournament dates
MLS Players Union donates portion of 2012 fines to Urso Fund
Soccer Walking Denver in your Blue Jeans!
Frankie Hejduk Kicks off the Anti-Bullying Walk/Run in New Albany
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
Today is World Malaria Day and MLS WORKS is joining Nothing But Nets in the fight against malaria!
Together, we will help keep families safe from malaria with Cover Africa, a new initiative from the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to reach families who need your help the most. Through social media, MLS’s matching “flash” challenge will challenge fans and supporters to “Cover Africa,” MLS WORKS will help Nothing But Nets reach the $200,000 fundraising goal to send 20,000 nets to save lives. It’s that easy to make a difference.
MLS WORKS challenges MLS fans to donate a net to help save a life and will match up to 250 nets! Join the MLS WORKS World Malaria Day challenge - we have one day to send 250 life-saving bed nets to protect families in Africa from malaria and we need your help to do it. It only takes $10 to save a life. Are you up for the challenge? Learn more.
MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers hosted an Earth Day Service Project at Hosford Middle School today.
Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe assisted a few Hosford students for a tree planting. In total, 13 new trees were planted around Hosford in honor of Earth Day 2013. Other Timbers players on site assiting in the Hosford Environmental Beautification unveiling included: Jack Jewsbury, Jake Gleeson, Ryan Kawulok, Brent Richards, Sal Zizzo and Sebastian Rincon. Timbers owner and president, Merritt Paulson, was also in attendance as was a representative from MLS corporate partner Continental Tire. Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith also attended the event and kicked off the all school assembly led by Timber Joey.
In advance of the project, Timbers Creative Designer, Matti Jonsson, asked Hosford students, "What Does Green Mean to You?" and out of the students' responses created a sustainable mural at Hosford.
To showcase all of the environmental projects conducted at Hosford as part of the Hosford Environmental Beautification (which was presented by MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers) Timber Joey took Hosford students and faculty on a walking tour around the school grounds.
The Earth Day Service Project from MLS WORKS, Continental Tire and the Portland Timbers included more than $10,000 in added donations from the Portland community and Portland-area businesses, which helped in making the following projects possible at Hosford:
- BEF solar panel installation and subsequent Solar4Schools learning materials
- Student-designed, green-themed mural
- Custom bike racks, including an art bike rack created by Oregon-based designer Matt Cartwright
- Helmet and bike lock giveaways to Hosford students and faculty who ride a bike to work
- Reusable water bottles for every student at Hosford
- New Elkay drinking fountain, which will reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used at the school and track the number of plastic bottles saved from landfills
- Tree-planting and beautification of the entrance to the school
- Permanent directional signage to display the environmental benefits of the project to the Portland community
- Creation of communal gathering places on the school campus
Thank you to the following organizations that donated their services to the project at Hosford: Kelly Fitzpatrick with Benchmark, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, Grey to Green Tree Program, City of Portland Environmental Services, Portland Public Schools Project Facilities and Communications staff, CAL Portland, Portland Nursery, and City of Portland Transportation and Safe Routes to School.
MLS WORKS Greener Goals identifies ways to reduce our carbon footprint and helps raise awareness for environmental issues throughout the soccer community. The greening of our game will encourage MLS clubs, players, corporate partners and fans to create a cleaner, healthier environment.
MLS WORKS and the Portland Timbers today will unveil a solar panel installation and environmental beautification to Hosford Middle School in Southeast Portland as part of the MLS WORKS/Continental Tire “How Green Are Your Goals?” contest.
Representatives from Major League Soccer, the Portland Timbers, Portland Public Schools and Continental Tire will unveil the many sustainable additions provided by MLS WORKS and Continental Tire during a special Earth Day event at Hosford Middle School today.
The “How Green Are Your Goals?” contest engaged MLS fans to participate and support environmentally friendly efforts leading up to Earth Day 2012. Portland was the MLS city selected as having the greenest fans with its many submissions detailing the city’s everyday approach to incorporating green efforts. Reflecting this, the Hosford Middle School Environmental Beautification project included a holistic approach, with touch points and significant improvements in the following areas: energy/solar, storm water/garden and sustainable mural, transportation, recycling and CO2 reduction.
In addition to the award from MLS WORKS and Continental Tire, more than $10,000 in added donations from the Portland community and Portland-area businesses helped in making the following projects possible at Hosford:
- BEF solar panel installation and subsequent Solar4Schools learning materials
- Student-designed, green-themed mural
- Custom bike racks, including an art bike rack created by Oregon-based designer Matt Cartwright
- Helmet and bike lock giveaways to Hosford students and faculty who ride a bike to work
- Reusable water bottles for every student at Hosford
- New Elkay drinking fountain, which will reduce the amount of plastic water bottles used at the school and track the number of plastic bottles saved from landfills
- Tree-planting and beautification of the entrance to the school
- Permanent directional signage to display the environmental benefits of the project to the Portland community
- Creation of communal gathering places on the school campus
Follow @MLSWORKS and #GreenerGoals today for all the details on the Hosford Middle School Environmental Beautification.
MLS WORKS Greener Goals identifies ways to reduce our carbon footprint and helps raise awareness for environmental issues throughout the soccer community. The greening of our game will encourage MLS clubs, players, corporate partners and fans to create a cleaner, healthier environment.
MLS is a proud member of the Green Sports Alliance, a non-profit organization with a mission to help sports teams, venues and leagues enhance their environmental performance. Alliance members represent over 170 professional and collegiate sports teams and venues from across 15 different sports leagues. MLS club members include the Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes, and AEG teams the Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy.
Learn more about the Green Sports Alliance and the green sports movement by visiting www.greensportsalliance.org and following @SportsAlliance and #GreenSports on Twitter.
It is starting to feel like spring and this can only mean that the MLS season is in full effect. The New York Red Bulls and Sporting KC played on Wednesday and prior to the match, the teams held a moment of silence to honor those victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy. Clubs and players took to Twitter to show their support for all those affected by this tragedy. Check out the weekly club highlights:
Red Bulls to Honor Victims of Boston Marathon Tragedy Before Saturday's Match
LA Galaxy honor a member of the family
Earth Day celebration planned for Sunday
Whitecaps FC launch free Saskatchewan Coaches Day and Spring Academy
Philadelphia Union to host Star Wars Day at PPL Park against Seattle
Quakes partner with You Can Play Project
Not sure how just yet, but Williams plans to pay tribute to Boston Marathon bombings
Red Bulls to Honor Victims of Boston Marathon Tragedy
Timbers, MLS WORKS, Continental Tire Launch Earth Day Service Project at Hosford Middle School April 22United Drives to collect pet supplies
Join Lamar Neagle in the 60-60-60 challenge
Kraft Family will match $100,000 in donations to support Boston Marathon victim recovery
Revolution to host Autism Awareness match on April 27
FC Dallas Foundation Gear Up Project Presented by Albertsons Market
Francisco Palencia inaugurates turf field in Bell Gardens
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
Clubs are getting ready for Week 7 of the MLS season, which kicks off this weekend. Before lacing up their cleats and taking the field, players have been lending a hand in their communities. Check out what clubs have been up to around the community in our weekly highlights:
Henry, Lampson show support for Kevin Alston
Timbers award $44,286 in Community Fund Grants
Dalena Tran wins BAASST scholarship from Quakes
Timbers team up with Make-A-Wish Oregon to grant special wish
Crew license plates available once again throughout Ohio
#SoccerWalking Chicago with Jared Montz
Ben Olsen to attend DC Budget Freedom Happy Hour
Celebrity Bartending Event to Benefit AIDS Walk Central Ohio 2013
#GetWellKASporting Club finds success on and off the field
Designated Driver Challenge: Beat Red Bull
Right to Play and MLSE, Day 3 - Whitefish River First Nation
Sporting Club launches The Victory Project to help children with cancer in KC
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
April is here and clubs are preparing for the second month of the season by becoming involved in different initiatives in their communities. On Tuesday, Calen Carr from the Houston Dynamo was named the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Month. Calen and others raised $5,000 to jump-start the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program at Rusk Elementary School. Find this full story and other MLS club community stories in our weekly highlights:
Crew and Union wear unique shoelaces in support of Autism Awareness Month
The Impact Soccer Schools summer camp schedule released
Evans and Levesque take Seattle by storm in their kilts
Fire to Host Third Annual Art of Futbol
8th Annual Tommy Bahama Island Cowboy Classic
Spring What to Wear Fashion Show
Brad Davis, Tally Hall launch charitable initiative
MLS WORKS names Calen Carr Humanitarian of the Month
Daily Doop: On the hunt at the White House, Kleberson unveiling and Mitts on the radio
Brent Richards and Sal Zizzo team up with Timbers Army and fans to work with Friends of Trees
PPL Park pair make up first Delco Success story
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
As the first month of the season wraps up, clubs have already spent countless hours in the community. On Tuesday, President Obama honored the 2012 MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy at the White House. After the ceremony, the Galaxy players participated in a Let’s Move! Q&A session with youth sports participants from around the country. Find this story and other MLS club community highlights here:
Chicago Fire Foundation Launches P.L.A.Y.S. Program
Soccer community forms one Union for the life of supporter Mike McKinney
Earthquakes to host Second Annual 5K/10K Challenge
Sporting KC forward Bobby Convey named Big Brothers Big Sisters spokesperson
Beating Seattle Never Gets Old: A Benefit for Bless Field
Quakes to host Fourth Annual Corporate Cup
Sporting KC Wears Blue for Child Abuse Prevention
President Obama honors LA Galaxy and LA Kings
Newark Mayor Cory Booker and the Red Bulls Street Team for the Arts
Successful weekend at Whitecaps FC Girls Showcase
Chris Seitz posts a shutout in first game since bone-marrow donation
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
Clubs have been gearing up for Week 4 of the MLS season, which kicks off tomorrow. Before the action starts on the field, check out what the clubs have been up to around the community in our weekly highlights:
BBVA Compass Stadium to participate in Earth Day Hour this Saturday
Massive Makeover: Ronald McDonald House Fitness Facility
Impact kicks off All the Way with the Impact program for 8th year
Graham and Levesque highlight Gates Foundation event on Saturday
Dynamo launch BBBS Program at Rusk School
Soares builds burritos for charity
100 children participate in Sports Day for kids with Autism
Bashir Hooper, Hero of Gainsville
U.S. Soccer to host Pep Rally Thursday at Paramount Theatre
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.
This weekend is MLS Rivalry Weekend where some of the League's biggest rivalries will take the field in head to head matchups. Prior to Rivalry Weekend, MLS WORKS launched the 2013 Don't Cross the Line campaign. Don't Cross the Line promotes unity, respect, fair play, equality and acceptance throughout the soccer community. More than ten MLS players were featured in the PSA showing their support for the message behind the campaign.
Here are other MLS club community highlights:
Revs to take part in Fashion Show
Brad Davis is taking a stand against discrimination . . . will you?
Daily Loop: Prepping for the Revs, Great "Cocktails," a Leprechaun and more
United Soccer Club kicks off spring campaign
LA Galaxy unveil new sport court at Boys and Girls Club of Carson
Black & Gold unveil Crew-themed fitness room at Ronald McDonald House
Vancouver Whitecaps FC to participate in Sports Day for children with Autism
Photo and video diary of the LA Galaxy's trip to Costa Rica
For more community news from around the League, visit the MLS WORKS news section.