MLS Cup Communities to Receive $25K in Sports Equipment to Help Restore Play Amidst COVID-19 Impact

 

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020) – MLS WORKS, Major League Soccer’s social responsibility platform and FOX Sports are teaming with national nonprofit Good Sports Inc. to donate a total of $25,000 worth of soccer equipment to youth in communities in need in Columbus, Ohio and Seattle, Wash. – the markets of the two competing clubs in MLS Cup.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Good Sports launched the Restore Play initiative to deliver important resources to the youth sports community. The 2020 MLS Cup takes place on Saturday, December 12 at 8:00 PM ET when the Columbus Crew SC faceoff against the Seattle Sounders on FOX. In celebration of the League’s 25^th season, MLS teamed up with FOX Sports, official media partner of Restore Play, to support Good Sports’ goal of giving children the opportunity to play.

“Major League Soccer is dedicated to improving communities where we live and play our games,” said Jan Greenberg-Mirman, MLS Vice President of Social Responsibility. “During this challenging time, the MLS community and our partners at FOX Sports are coming together to give local youth the opportunity to be active and stay mentally and physically fit until organized soccer can resume safely.”

Throughout the week leading up to the championship game, youth organizations selected by the Crew and the Sounders will be provided with a combined $25,000 donation of new soccer equipment, footwear and apparel to help keep the kids they serve in the game. Fans can help restore play by following @MLS using hashtags #MLSCUPGIVESBACK and #ENTRY on Twitter now through the end of the Championship Match for a chance to win $1,000 in MLS merchandise and provide soccer equipment to approximately 500 kids in need at a Good Sports organization in their community.

“The importance of supporting community sports organizations and the children they serve has never been more apparent than it is right now,” said Terri Hines, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Communications. “The work that Good Sports is doing to restore play is tremendous, and FOX Sports is honored to collaborate with MLS to further the initiative’s impact.”

Donations of sporting goods from Good Sports and their industry partners are critical to helping alleviate economic challenges of community organizations, schools and recreational programs. For the past 17 years, Good Sports has been supporting youth across the country, with 80% of their service population being children of color in high-poverty communities.

“Many children rely on schools and local programs for active play, social interaction, and character-building experiences. As these programs navigate bringing play back as safely as possible to their communities, we remain committed to being a resource for these organization leaders and coaches now more than ever,” said Good Sports CEO Melissa Harper. “We are thrilled to partner with FOX Sports and Major League Soccer to bring resources to soccer programs in Columbus and Seattle to help them keep play going during these turbulent times.”

For more information, visit MLSsoccer.com. To help create equity in youth sports through the Good Sports initiative Restore Play, visit goodsports.org/restoreplay/.

###

 

ABOUT MLS WORKS:
Major League Soccer is dedicated to addressing important social issues and improving communities where we live and play our games. Through MLS WORKS, the League’s social responsibility platform, Major League Soccer and its clubs seek to enrich the lives of those in need across the United States and Canada. To learn more visit MLSsoccer.com/MLSWORKS and follow @MLSWORKS on Twitter & Instagram.

ABOUT FOX SPORTS: 

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing FOX Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform Caffeine jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture business Big Ten Network, a licensing and commercial relationship with The Stars Group that created the FOX Bet sports betting platform and the FOX Bet Super 6 free-to-play game, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

ABOUT GOOD SPORTS: 

Good Sports gives all kids the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity by providing equipment, apparel and footwear to those most in need. Since 2003, Good Sports’ all-time impact comes to more than $60 million in donated sports equipment, impacting over 8 million kids from more than 4,200 youth programs across the country. Good Sports has been awarded a coveted 4-star rating seven consecutive times from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity evaluator, for sound fiscal management, transparency and accountability; and is a Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance accredited charity. To learn more or to get involved, please visit www.goodsports.org.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

MLS
Angela Alfano
Sr. Director Corporate Communications
Angela.Alfano@MLSsoccer.com

FOX Sports
Mark Toyama
Manager, Community Partnerships
Mark.Toyama@fox.com

Good Sports
Christy Keswick
Co-Founder, COO
Ckeswick@goodsports.org
617-921-3558