Funds raised support families affected by COVID-19
Alexandria, VA – May 18, 2020 (PRNewswire) As part of our collective efforts to #stayhomestaystrong, United Way Worldwide announced today the launch of a virtual hangout fundraiser with National Football League (NFL) players. This 14-day campaign to raise resources for COVID-19 relief gives fans and followers the chance to win a 30-minute virtual hangout with an NFL player.
Fans can enter to win by visiting unitedway.org/hangout. Donations start at $10. Each player offers a list of activities from which winners can choose. Sample hangouts include virtual workout, lunch, Q&A, gaming session, jam session, cooking class, story time, dance-off, etc. The sweepstakes, powered by Ascend, will run from May 18-31, 2020. The hangouts are scheduled to occur between June 1-14, 2020.
“United Way is proud to offer unique and creative ways for fans to engage with NFL players while raising money to help communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stan Little, Chief Experience Officer, United Way Worldwide. “Fans everywhere are already thinking about the coming football season and this opportunity gives them the chance to personally connect with players while practicing safe distancing.”
Participants include:
No purchase is necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes. Odds of winning a prize depend upon the total number of eligible entries for that prize. A donation or payment will not increase your chances of winning. Void where otherwise prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. See Official and Campaign Supplemental Rules.
About United Way
United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 8.1 million donors worldwide and $4.8 billion raised every year, United Way is the world’s largest privately funded nonprofit. We’re engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit UnitedWay.org. Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited.
Media Contact
Southerlyn Reisig
Director of Public Relations
United Way Worldwide
202-664-2314 ext. 321
Southerlyn.reisig@uww.unitedway.org
Frisco, TX – May 15, 2020 (PRNewswire) US Youth Soccer (USYS) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to a strategic partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS) in a groundbreaking alliance bolstering player development in the United States.
USYS is the largest youth sport organization in the country and has been a leader in the development of youth soccer for decades. With nearly 3 million registered players nationwide, USYS offers an unmatched range of soccer programming, resources, and leadership. Since launching the MLS club academy initiative in 2007, Major League Soccer has demonstrated unprecedented commitment to the development of top-level professional players in the United States and Canada, including an investment of more than $70 million last season alone. This investment has produced more than 250 homegrown players that have become professional and national team players.
The MLS club academy coaches have the highest international licensing in the country and MLS continually introduces innovative ways to train and develop both coaches and players. From grassroots to competitive, USYS and MLS collaboration efforts will provide unique player opportunities, build a lifelong love for the game, and allow all players to find their path through the sport of soccer. With an ability to reach into every community in the country, the shared USYS and MLS goals will focus on:
Improving U.S. domestic youth player identification and selection processes
Building a more integrated pathway to advanced opportunities for both boys and girls
Creating a more inclusive and accessible pathway for a more diverse player pool
Reducing pay-to-play barriers and other access challenges for elite players
Expanding MLS outreach and opportunities through an expansive network of coaches and scouts
Building multi-tiered relationships that strengthen the U.S. talent pool
Supporting the MLS nationwide through player, club, & fan engagement designed to drive growth, participation and generations of new fans
USYS also looks forward to collaborating with the new MLS elite youth competition platform which will include more than 8,000 players throughout the U.S. and Canada and will consist of elite year-round competition, as well as player identification initiatives, coaching education opportunities, and additional programming to create the premier player development environment.
“We are very proud that USYS and its 55 member States Associations have decided to make MLS their league of choice,” said Gordon Bengtson, Senior Director of Player Development. “The State Associations are a crucial component to creating more meaningful connections to the professional levels while supporting the overall growth of the game. This is particularly important in communities that have not historically had access to elite development environments or professional pathways. This is a first step towards our goal of making the size and diversity of our country, our biggest strength.”
“This is not a short-term vision, but rather one in which we realize the opportunity to truly connect the whole system of soccer in our country. For too long the professional and youth systems have been working relatively independent of each other and with this MLS partnership, we start down the path of true collaboration. This will not only expand resources to grow the game at the grassroots level, but also reveal to players and families that there is a clear pathway to any level of soccer they want to achieve,” said US Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert.
“We are excited to partner with Major League Soccer on this truly national initiative. By combining our resources and expertise, we have created a unified pathway that helps all youth soccer players reach their true potential. We are thankful to everyone at MLS and US Youth Soccer who made this possible, including MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Gordon Bengtson, Fred Lipka, the USYS Organizational Growth Committee and our friends at Collective Global. We look forward to working with MLS to transform the American soccer landscape,” said Dr. Peter Zopfi, Chairman, US Youth Soccer.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to make soccer the preeminent youth sport in the country. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 55 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.usyouthsoccer.org.
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.
