MLS Players Including Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Jozy Altidoreand Nani Personally Celebrate Healthcare Heroes as part of “The Real Heroes Project”
MLS Official Healthcare Partner Johnson & Johnson to Raise Funds for the American Nurses Foundation and Donate Tickets to Medical Professionals
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Wednesday, May 6, 2020) – As part of MLS Unites, a league-wide platform designed to educate communities, entertain fans and elevate heroic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to celebrate the kickoff of National Nurses Week, Major League Soccer unveiled a series of programming to thank frontline and essential workers.
Aiming to rally and inspire the soccer world, MLS Unites programming this week focuses on how clubs, players, coaches, staff, partners and fans are thanking frontline and essential workers during this unprecedented time.
MLS Players Salute Healthcare Workers in “The Real Heroes Project”
Fourteen of the world’s largest professional sports leagues united for an unprecedented first time to unveil “The Real Heroes Project” a collaborative initiative to recognize and celebrate healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Real Heroes Project” PSA debuted today, and features professional athletes, including Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Toronto FC and U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore and Orlando City SC forward Nani, dedicating their jerseys to a special healthcare hero who is helping their community on the forefront of this global crisis.
Throughout the PSA and personal tributes, athletes will cover their name on their jerseys or uniforms and replace it with the name of their healthcare hero. For photos and videos of MLS players personal stories, as well as the PSA, click HERE and follow #TheRealHeroes.
Johnson & Johnson Donating MLS Tickets to Medical Professionals
Johnson & Johnson, MLS’ Official Healthcare Partner, has been actively engaged in fighting pandemics for over a century and knows frontline health workers are integral to the global response to COVID-19. The current crisis is demonstrating the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health care workers and ensuring strong, resilient health systems for everyone, everywhere.
Throughout the crisis, Johnson & Johnson has been delivering essential support to health workers on the frontline. When MLS is able to return to play before the league’s passionate fans, Johnson & Johnson will contribute tickets to medical professionals for MLS matches in select communities. To join Johnson & Johnson in thanking and supporting frontline workers, make a donation to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses online or by texting THANKS to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
For more information regarding how MLS’ partners are supporting communities during the pandemic, visit mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/04/mls-partners-unite.
MLS Unites was launched in partnership with the Major League Soccer Players Association. For additional ways the initiative is thanking frontline workers, follow #MLSUnites. For more information on “MLS Unites,” visit MLSsoccer.com/MLSUnites.
A sampling of the way our clubs are positively impacting local communities is detailed below, with more to be featured on @MLS and @MLS WORKS, as well as club social platforms.
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“MLS Unites to Thank Frontline and EssentimovingGearal Workers”
- Atlanta United – Atlanta United is working with club partners American Family Insurance and Gusto! to give back to nurses and healthcare workers at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. American Family Insurance is donating $5,000 worth of meals provided by Gusto! to our frontline heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The club will work with Gusto! to distribute a total of 450 meals over a two-day period (May 6-7) to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital nurses.
- Austin FC – Austin FC and Upper Ninety, a 4ATX Foundation after-school program, are suing social media to highlight resources to empower people across Austin who need help, and as information for those who wish to help others. Austin FC also supported Founding Partner St. David’s HealthCare’s staff by working with local food trucks to feed over 1,000 St. David’s HealthCare workers. On April 21, Austin FC and Founding Partner YETI launched a Central Texas Food Bank fundraising campaign, setting a target of $27,000, which was achieved within three days of the campaign launching, and which finally raised over $28,000. Austin FC matched every dollar raised until the goal was reached, and YETI provided the top 10 donors with a YETI Roadie Hard Cooler. The donations will provide over 113,000 meals for families in need in Austin and Central Texas. Additionally, through May 15, Upper Ninety is running Upper Ninety en Casa to provide continued support to their students at home. Finally, celebrating National Nurses Week, Austin FC and St. David’s HealthCare are recognizing St. David’s HealthCare staff with HealthCare Heroes yard signs which will be displayed outside the homes of a number of St. David’s HealthCare staff across Austin.
- Charlotte MLS Team - Charlotte MLS owner David Tepper, through the David A. Tepper Foundation, donated $2.65 million to help the local community in the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition, the Foundation is supporting relief efforts in other parts of the country. The local charitable donations were announced to the COVID-19 Response Fund (launched by Foundation For the Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas), the Atrium Health Foundation, the Novant Health Foundation and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Foundation.
- Chicago Fire FC – During National Nurses Week, Chicago Fire FC players joined forces with local restaurants to serve hundreds of meals to frontline and essential workers across four Chicagoland hospitals. The Club is also supporting the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund and the American Red Cross. In collaboration with the City of Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago launched the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund to unite the funds raised by Chicago’s philanthropies, corporations and individuals to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations across the region. The Fire is raising awareness that blood donations are desperately needed in the state of Illinois. Donating blood products is essential to community health and eligible donors are strongly urged to donate during the COVID-19 outbreak. As part of our nation’s critical infrastructure, healthy individuals can still donate in areas that have issued shelter in place declarations.
- FC Cincinnati - FC Cincinnati launched a digital campaign thanking all front-line workers who have been working exhaustively during the COVID-19 crisis. Kendall Waston, whose mother is a nurse in NYC, shared a personal story on FC Cincinnati’s team-produced podcast, The Orange and Blue Review. In conjunction with National Nurses Week, Bobby Edwards, Caleb Stanko, Spencer Richey, Andrew Gutman and Kekuta Manneh will deliver thank-you notes collected from fans and donations from partners to nurses in various local Mercy Health locations.
- Colorado Rapids – The Colorado Rapids have launched a club initiative called OneClub. OneCommunity. to entertain fans, keep the community connected & informed, and elevate local heroes during the pandemic. The initiative includes a “Community Team of the Week” program highlighting local members of the community making a difference, whether on the front lines or behind the scenes. In honor of National Nurses Week, the club’s mascot, RapidMan, will be delivering 800 flowers to local nurses. RapidMan, along with mascots from the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth, also recently delivered lunch, dinner and gift cards to the hardworking staff at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, as well as the staff at the Denver Fire Foundation.
- Columbus Crew SC – Columbus Crew SC Investor-Operators and Haslam Sports Group founders Dee and Jimmy Haslam, on behalf of the Haslam family, pledged $1.5 million to COVID-19 relief funds throughout the state of Ohio. Black & Gold players have also participated in safe-health practice PSAs about #StayatHome, as well as the importance of proper hygiene and hand-washing. The Club has created at-home activities for supporters to encourage social distancing, including: a Kids Corner (including arts and craft activities as well as players doing read-alongs for children), detailed analysis of 2020 matches, instructional workout videos and registered dietician meal planning recipes. Additionally, Crew SC midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris competed in the Twitch Rivals Super Games, an online Fortnite tournament to raise money for charity. The Black & Gold also recently unveiled its “Columbus Champions” initiative, which recognizes and tells the stories of local individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on the Columbus community
- D.C. United – D.C. United’s partnership with local non-profit, Martha’s Table, is helping to feed those in need and frontline workers across the city. To date, the club’s First Team fundraiser, #UniteTheDistrict has raised nearly $10,000 and the club will be donating up to $50,000 in food and cash to the cause. In addition to this, D.C. United has partnered with Washington National, Ryan Zimmerman, to advance his Pros for Heroes Initiative ensuring healthcare professionals and frontline workers are provided daily meals and the tools they need to be successful in their continued fight against COVID-19.
- FC Dallas – FC Dallas, the FC Dallas Foundation launched a variety of initiatives to support its fans and community during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Taking Care of Those Who Take Care of the Community”, a partnership between Toyota and FC Dallas, assists essential workers, frontline medical professionals and journalists who continue to service North Texas communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. FC Dallas made meal deliveries to medical professionals at Texas Health Resource Presbyterian Plano and newsrooms at NBCDFW and CBSDFW. FC Dallas also delivered pizzas to American Red Cross volunteers during a recent blood drive in Frisco.
- Houston Dynamo – The Houston Dynamo and Dash built upon the Club’s longstanding support of Kids Meals, a local non-profit which has been called upon to help keep more than 7,000 underprivileged children a day throughout Greater Houston well-nourished through this pandemic by replacing school lunches. Dynamo forwards Memo Rodriguez and Christian Ramirez are competing on behalf of Kids Meals in the Twitch Rivals Super Games, an online Fortnite tournament to raise money for charity; Houston Dash players Katie Naughton and Megan Crosson used their car to deliver meals to kids last week and also delivered a donation of pre-packaged trail mix snacks to Kids Meals on behalf of Club partner Power Up Snacks; and the Club’s concessionaire, Levy Restaurants, has donated unused food items to Kids Meals to use in lunch packages.
- LA Galaxy – This week, the club announced expanded initiatives as a part of TO𝕲ETHER AT HOME. The additional measures include a community blood drive at Dignity Health Sports Park on Thursday, May 21 and Thursday, June 4, In conjunction with the American Red Cross and Anheuser-Busch. Goalkeeper David Bingham has started a program delivering food to local first responders and health care workers across Los Angeles and will continue this week with a visit to feed healthcare workers at Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center. Dignity Health Sports Park will be lit up blue on Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 in support of National Nurses Day. The LA Galaxy teamed up with Kogi BBQ and LA Regional Food Bank to provide 1,000 meals to Carson residents at Dignity Health Sports Park. Kogi BBQ Chef and co-founder Roy Choi was on site with the Kogi BBQ staff to help distribute the meals to Carson residents. For all information, click here.
- LAFC – LAFC and the LAFC Foundation announced the launch of the Black & Gold Community Fund, an extension of the LAFC Foundation designed to directly support the LAFC community: ticketed members, in particular those working in essential roles or those overcoming extreme challenges, part-time staff and the small businesses surrounding Banc of California Stadium, that have been impacted by COVID-19. The Black & Gold Community Relief Fund is intended to offer a range of free resources including financial assistance, fresh produce and perishable food items, access to free personal protective equipment (PPE) and additional opportunities as they arise. Following Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s recommendation to wear face coverings in public, the Black & Gold Community Fund and The 3252 Independent Supporters Union have committed to donating 20,000 medical masks to members of the LAFC community. LAFC and the LAFC Foundation together with the American Red Cross and Banc of California are set to host two Blood Drives on Friday, May 8 and Thursday, May 28 at Banc of California Stadium. For more info about the Blood Drives, including how to sign up, please click here.
- Inter Miami CF – On April 29, the Club hosted DeliverLean’s food drive at Inter Miami CF Stadium in collaboration with the Urban League of Broward County, distributing over 300 bags of food with the help of team captain Luis Robles. These events will continue to take place every Wednesday for the foreseeable future. Additionally, Inter Miami altered the Club's logo to encourage social distancing, lit up the Inter Miami CF Stadium scoreboard blue for the nationwide #LightItBlue campaign in solidarity of healthcare workers at the frontlines of this pandemic, joined the global Twitch Stream Aid 2020 that raised over $2.7 millions for the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, played in the Twitch Rivals SuperGames ft. Fortnite for Charity in support of the Baptist Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, teamed up with DJ David Guetta to stream the “United at Home” Fundraiser Concert live raising $240,000 for Feeding South Florida and then auctioned off Guetta’s signed jersey with all proceeds going to Feeding South Florida, and pledged a $55,000 donation to The Mourning Foundation in partnership with Captain Morgan. Inter Miami’s owners Jorge Mas, David Beckham and Marcelo Claure also joined the Fanatics ALL IN Challenge.
- Minnesota United –MNUFC continues to work with its community partners and players in the hopes of making a positive impact in this time of need. Recently, MNUFC has partnered with Michelob Golden Light to deliver lunches to M Health Fairview clinics for the next six weeks. Lunches will be delivered from local Twin Cities-based restaurants. Minnesota United and stadium partner Allianz Life® are donating $75,000 to the Neighbors United Funding Collaborative (NUFC) to support Midway and Union Park area residents, local business and organizations. Fanatics donated jerseys to the MNUFC front office and face masks were made to donate to emergency workers for the City of Saint Paul. Finally, Minnesota United is working with Twin Cities metro-area youth soccer clubs to host weekly surprise player pop-ins on video calls.
- Montreal Impact – The Club has taken on a leadership position in the community and have launched the #IsolatedTogether movement which encourages fans to stay home. Continuous messaging, including dedicated content and contests are being released as the situation evolves, always aligned with the message from local authorities. Also, in an effort to amplify messaging from local authorities, the Montreal Impact launched COVID-19 dedicated social media handles that are strictly utilized as a source of useful information for the public.
- Nashville SC – Nashville SC is raising funds to support the United Way of Greater Nashville’s COVID-19 Response Fund which will deploy resources to help those who are experiencing lost wages or have become ill from the virus. The club, in partnership with Ingram Charities contributed $100,000 to the cause. In addition, Nashville SC will be celebrating its frontline workers by highlighting a Nashville healthcare worker as the Hero of the Match in the club’s EA Sports FIFA 20 weekly match and through the MLS Real Heroes campaign. Nashville SC’s No. 28 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and Nashville native, Tanner Dieterich has partnered with Feed The Front Line Nashville, a new Nashville-based nonprofit charged with helping local restaurants and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization has already partnered with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Saint Thomas Midtown Medical Center and Nashville General Hospital at Meharry.
- New England Revolution – The Revolution and the entire Kraft Sports family have teamed up for the ‘Together While Apart’ campaign, which includes a wide array of initiatives supporting frontline healthcare and essential workers, students, veterans and military families, food banks, and homeless shelters throughout New England. The Kraft family led the transportation of 1.7 million respirator masks for healthcare workers from China by providing the use of their private airplane, and donated $2 million to help cover the cost of the desperately needed Personal Protective Equipment. In addition, the Revolution Foundation and Patriots Foundation launched a donation site for fans to join the organization’s efforts in providing PPE to healthcare heroes, which has generated more than $175,000 in contributions – with 100 percent of proceeds going toward the purchase of medical supplies. In partnership with the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center, Gillette Stadium is hosting at least 23 days of blood drives between April and May, and is serving as a COVID-19 testing site for first responders, grocery store workers, and other essential employees. Together While Apart has also so far encompassed a $250,000 donation from Robert Kraft to the Boston Resiliency Fund, and the distribution of more than one million meals to active duty military, veterans, and their families through Food4Vets.
- New York City FC – In addition to the Club’s ongoing community initiatives amid this pandemic – including a relief fund for stadium workers and a 100,000 meal donation to the South Bronx – New York City FC created a video post where staff, CITC coaches and youth participants thanked the frontline and essential workers of NYC and beyond. This video was shared at the 7 o’clock cheer for frontline workers last Thursday. NYCFC will also be sending a thank you video to staff at our partner hospital, New York Presbyterian. NYCFC will continue storytelling and elevating local heroes through the UndeNYable series – which kicked off with this video last week. NYCFC first team players, James Sands and Ronald Mataritta, are proud to support “The Real Heroes Project” by dedicating their jerseys and uniforms to a special healthcare hero on behalf of NYCFC.
- New York Red Bulls – Red Bulls players have volunteered to do virtual visits with pediatric patients at Hackensack Meridian Health, who are otherwise unable to have visitors during this time. Red Bulls Academy players have been writing letters to the staff at HMH thanking them for working to keep our community safe. The organization continues to work with the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, which aims to raise funds, organize and coordinate resources to fight the medical, social and economic impact of Covid-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens. The club is running its "Thank You Heroes" campaign, working in concert with several of its partners to assist Metro area-based healthcare and service organizations on the front lines, along with local small businesses.
- Orlando City SC – Orlando City SC has recently announced its participation in The Real Heroes Project with captain Nani paying tribute to Dr. Raymond Franklin and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan honoring Dr. Steve Cheung, whose Pathology and Laboratory teams at Orlando Health came together to create a COVID-19 test that provides quick results and expedites patient care. Club Staff members are also participating and honoring frontline heroes from their own lives. Along with The Real Heroes Project, Orlando City SC used digital billboards to thank local essential workers across Central Florida, while also contributing over 10,000 masks for frontline workers through donations of 1,000 pieces of Club merchandise turned into masks, 500 Pepsi bottles turned into shields, 2,000+ additional plastic shields and 6,000 surgical masks to local Orlando Health hospitals.
- Philadelphia Union – Philadelphia Union and the Philadelphia Union Foundation announced “FIGHT FOR PHILLY” campaign. The “FIGHT FOR PHILLY” initiative will provide thousands of items of Personal Protective Equipment and thousands of meals to frontline workers and vulnerable populations in the greater Philadelphia area while highlighting the work of men and women fighting on the frontlines of the covid-19 pandemic and inspiring fans to continue engaging in safe practices. In the first three weeks of the campaign, 1,000 lunches, 4,000 face shields, and 2,500 KN95 masks were delivered to frontline workers at Philadelphia area hospitals. For fans interested in getting involved in the relief effort, “FIGHT FOR PHILLY” t-shirts are available to purchase, and all net proceeds will go toward the platform’s charitable efforts.
- Portland Timbers – The Portland Timbers are proud to have implemented the ‘Stand Together Assistance Fund,’ to assist staff members and individuals in the Portland area affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the club is helping deliver 2,500 meals each week to families in need at three Portland area Boys & Girls Clubs, hosting virtual children’s reading sessions to homebound school kids with Timber Joey, promoting Stand Together youth initiatives that include a STEM Booklet, Diversity Passport, coloring pages and other youth activities and sharing bilingual soccer skills videos with area youth.
- Real Salt Lake – Light the RioT - Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC teamed with Wonder Entertainment to provide a drive-through light show at Rio Tinto Stadium. All proceeds from tickets sold to the event will directly benefit Frontline relief. Full details for Light the RioT can be found here.
- Sacramento Republic FC – Sacramento Republic FC is providing supports for the region’s most vulnerable and at-risk groups, teachers launching virtual classrooms, families facing new challenges, and local nonprofits and organizations working together to support our community. The Indomitable Club, with its partner Raley’s, is distributing free meals for vulnerable, home-bound seniors isolated during the state’s public health shelter orders. In the month of April, club supporters have contributed over $57,000 through donations and by purchasing a limited-edition scarf, helping the team reach more of the 42,000 food-insecure seniors in the region. Through the Indomitable Hands program and partnerships with local school districts and restaurants, the club’s volunteers have already distributed over 12,000 meals to seniors, students and families who rely on school lunches for daily nutrition and provide a transportation resource for local restaurateurs connecting people in need. Republic FC players and coaches are supporting educators shifting to a new distance learning platform. The club is helping teachers with lesson plans by surprising students in their new virtual classrooms, in addition to backyard skills videos and reading children’s books to help families working from home.
- San Jose Earthquakes – The San Jose Earthquakes and their most prominent supporters group, the San Jose Ultras, raised more than $8,000 to cater three food trucks to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on May 1. The San Jose Ultras, members of the Quakes’ front office, and goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski accompanied the food trucks to thank and celebrate the frontline workers during the hospital’s largest shift change of the day. Complimentary food was provided to more than 1,000 hospital staff. A video recap of the unique event can be found here. The Earthquakes are also joining forces with three team partners to provide meals for up to 500 frontline workers on May 12. The donation originated from an el Jimador Tequila-branded video on social media featuring Earthquakes players Daniel Vega, JT Marcinkowski and Jackson Yueill touting Cheers to the Medical Staff. el Jimador will make a financial contribution to cover the cost of one meal for every retweet or share the video received. Tacomania will then deliver burritos to Sutter Health’s Mountain View Center, the same facility that provides the club’s preseason physical examinations.
- Seattle Sounders FC – Seattle launched the Seattle Sounders FC Relief Fund, aimed at supporting individuals, non-profits and small businesses in the neighborhoods surrounding CenturyLink Field that have been impacted by the postponement. The Hanauer Family has provided an initial investment of $500,000 to the fund, while the club’s annual Sports Science Seminar raised more than $40,000 through donating its registration fees. The Sounders, along with Seafair, Seattle Seahawks, The Bite of Seattle, the Seattle Mariners, the Seattle Storm and the Washington State Fair joined forces to create the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” campaign regarding the small steps fans can take now that could help stop this virus in the community, while Sounders players also took part in a PSA campaign for Washington state Governor Jay Inslee’s office, posting videos shared by the governor on social media encouraging Washingtonians to continue staying at home and limiting non-essential travel. In partnership with the team’s jersey sponsor, Zulily, Sounders FC is running a weekly Skills Challenge for young fans, encouraging activity with soccer skills that can be practiced in enclosed spaces and without specialty gear, recognizing the limitations many families may be facing. Young fans who share their videos have a chance to earn a surprise video from a Sounders FC first team player and a prize pack from Zulily.
- Sporting Kansas City – Sporting Kansas City joined the Kansas City Royals last month to deliver a heartfelt message of appreciation to first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers. A subsequent video featured Sporting players exclusively as they expressed gratitude to Kansas Citians on the front line. Collectively, both videos included participation from Sporting Manager Peter Vermes and players Matt Besler, Gianluca Busio, Roger Espinoza, Gerso Fernandes, Tim Melia and Ilie Sanchez. To support the Real Heroes initiative, Sporting Kansas City commentator Nate Bukaty endeared supporters to his wife Kelly Bukaty, a physical therapist specializing in geriatrics who has visited patients’ homes to provide treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elsewhere, The Victory Project—Sporting Kansas City’s flagship philanthropic platform—continues to donate surgical masks and non-latex gloves to doctors and nurses working at Children’s Mercy Hospital. In a similar endeavor, Sporting KC associates are assisting in sorting and delivering PPE to emergency managers in rural communities in Kansas and Missouri to help protect first responders, health care professionals and long-term care facility personnel. Sporting’s training facility is being used as the location for sorting and repacking of the PPE before delivery. Lastly, several Sporting players will team up today to create a mural thanking nurses in observation of National Nurses Day.
- St. Louis’ MLS Team – Saint Louis’ MLS Team launched their #MEALS4THELOU initiative by partnering with Butler’s Pantry, 612North Event Space + Catering and Kimchi Guys to donate over 1,200 meals to thank frontline workers across four prominent hospitals in the St. Louis region. From doctors and nurses to the cleaning crews and maintenance workers, these meals benefited all evening and night shift hospital staff workers doing their part to help keep St. Louisans safe and healthy during this pandemic. The team is also getting ready to announce the next phase of #MEALS4THELOU in the coming weeks, which will provide fans an opportunity to get involved and help support the St. Louis community during the pandemic. For more information, keep an eye on MLS4THELOU’S social channels.
- Toronto FC – The five major sports franchises in Toronto created the ‘Team Toronto Fund.’ Team management, coaches and players from the five teams are personally contributing to the fund to provide additional aid to the many workers that support them. MLSE also donated 27,000 pounds of food to those in need and Toronto FC filmed PSA’s in partnership with Toronto Public Health about the importance of handwashing, staying home and social distancing. Jonathan Osorio made a virtual visit to Sick Kids Hospital. Michael Bradley joins fellow Toronto sports stars and Mayor John Tory in Team Toronto video. On Friday, April 24, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) announced that MLSE and a team of dedicated partners teamed up to launch “Bringing Toronto back to its feet.” Creating a large-scale meal program to support and thank Toronto’s front-line health workers and their families, and to protect the city’s most vulnerable. The goal of the community meal program, operating out of Scotiabank Arena, is to prepare and deliver as many as 10,000 meals a day to local hospital front-line workers and community agencies. Joining MLSE as founding partners in the community outreach effort are Scotiabank, Tangerine Bank, Bell Canada, and Rogers Communications.
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Every night at 7 p.m., as Vancouver erupts in a salute to frontline workers, Whitecaps FC highlight one such worker with the club’s #FrontlineHeroes initiative. To raise money for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, the club joined forces with internationally-recognized local artist Carson Ting to create It Takes A Village - an inspirational piece commemorating the 7 p.m. ovation. The project is supported by the BC Nurses’ Union and made possible by donations from club partners including Hemlock Printers and Hemlock Harling, Kindred & Scout, NÜTRL Vodka, Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., Daily Hive, Postmedia, and TSN 1040. The collaboration allowed for 100 per cent of the proceeds to go directly to the food bank and with more than 2,750 prints sold so far, over $100,000 has been raised. The club also partnered with the Vancouver Aquarium to sell athletic face masks to raise money for the civic landmark during this critical period of need. More than 25 ‘Caps staff members are providing hundreds of labour hours in vital outreach efforts to aquarium members, donors, and supporters. More than 100,000 face masks have been sold and over $1 million has been raised.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 25th Season in 2020 – features 26 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, in addition to future expansion teams in Austin, St. Louis, Sacramento, and Charlotte. For more information about MLS, visit www.MLSsoccer.com.
