Major League Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Foundation announced that Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez is the 2007 U.S. Soccer Foundation-MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year and the LA Galaxy were awarded the 2007 U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Award.
Gutierrez, 34, a native of Kansas City, Mo., is the model of humanitarian and philanthropic efforts as well as a superb athlete and important contributor to the Chicago Fire on the field. He supports more than half a dozen organizations on a national, regional and local level, and collectively helped raise more than $1 million for worthy causes in 2007 alone.
During the past year Gutierrez has dedicated much of his time off the field to serving as a national spokesperson for Nothing But Nets, a campaign dedicated to fighting Malaria in Africa. Working together with MLS W.O.R.K.S, the United Nations Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gutierrez formed a fund-raising team, developed a Public Service Announcement and helped raise more than $400,000 to purchase insecticide-treated bed nets. The nets protect children and adults while they sleep and help reduce the spread of Malaria.
Gutierrez helped launch a new partnership this year with Major League Soccer's charitable arm MLS W.O.R.K.S and the Nothing But Nets campaign. He also appeared as an official panelist at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Forum in Seattle in October.
In April, Gutierrez was honored for his work in the fight against malaria with an invitation to the White House for a visit with U.S. President George Bush and the First Lady in the Rose Garden. Gutierrez and his wife Ginna were joined by MLS Commissioner Don Garber in the nation's capital along with other organizations and individuals involved in promoting malaria awareness. Ginna Gutierrez has also championed the cause and is playing a large role in promoting the fight against Malaria, working in tandem with Diego.
Among Gutierrez's other philanthropic efforts include his work as a spokesman for the U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Program, membership on the board of the Fire Works For Kids Foundation, and his involvement in school assemblies which focus on Tobacco Prevention and Asthma Awareness. He supports local Chicago organizations such as the SALUTE program of the Rehab Institute of Chicago and is actively involved in his hometown of Lake Zurich, Ill., where he supports the Foglia YMCA "Kids Need Heroes" program, the Lake County YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of America's "Dare to Dream" program.
Gutierrez has been a part of Major League Soccer since the inaugural season. He missed the 1997 season while recovering from a serious knee injury and was limited to only 13 games played during the 1998 season, but has played in 20 games or more in 10 seasons in the League.
The LA Galaxy were awarded the 2007 U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Award for the team's efforts in collecting new and gently used soccer equipment. The Passback Program is a joint effort between the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Eurosport, and Major League Soccer to collect and distribute equipment to children and organizations in need. MLS teams were asked to collect as much new and gently used soccer equipment as possible. The LA Galaxy won the Passback challenge by collecting more than 8,000 pieces of equipment, which were distributed to organizations such as LA Scores and Sports Gift, Inc.
U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Winners
2007: Diego Gutierrez - Chicago Fire
2006: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
2005: Brian Kamler - Real Salt Lake
2004: Chris Henderson - Colorado Rapids
2003: Ben Olsen - D.C. United
2002: Steve Jolley - MetroStars
2001: Tim Howard - MetroStars
2000: Abdul T. Conteh - San Jose Earthquakes
