SAN JOSE, Calif. – Voting is underway for the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP with Earthquakes representative and Bay Area native Stuart Berman in the middle of the pack so far. The winner of the fan vote will earn a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice.
Berman is an active community member as well as a fan and strong advocate for promoting soccer in the Bay Area. He has organized many fundraisers to support R.O.C.K. (Real Options for City Kids) and America SCORES, including Sports Basement shopping parties and house concerts. Both R.O.C.K. and America SCORES are non-profit organizations that help low-income children. He has also organized clinics for children and adults to participate and learn how to play soccer. He has headed and supported events for the Young Survival Coalition, an organization that helps young women with breast cancer.
“I am thrilled to have been selected as the San Jose Earthquakes Community MVP, and I am honored to represent the Bay Area and the Earthquakes in this contest,” Berman said. “The real MVPs are all of the people who work for organizations like R.O.C.K. and America SCORES and make an impact on children’s lives every day. If I can change one child's life by raising funds for these great organizations and awareness for the work they do, or if I can inspire someone to choose a cause they care about and act on it in a similar fashion, then it’s worth all of the time and energy I put into it."
Major League Soccer and The Home Depot, the official home improvement retailer of MLS, teamed up to recognize 18 Community MVPs. MLS fans throughout the League had the opportunity to nominate themselves or other individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their community.
Winners of the Community MVP award will be recognized nationally and locally and will be selected based on their efforts in one or more of the following areas: Community Service, Positive impact on youth, Environmental Sustainability, Health, Wellness and Education, Military or Civic Service. Each Community MVP will receive a local prize package including VIP tickets, recognition at a home game during the 2011 regular season, club merchandise, and an autographed item. The National Prize Package includes a trip to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game for two including tickets to the game at Red Bull Arena, two nights accommodations, roundtrip airfare, a $500 gift card provided by The Home Depot, recognition during 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game halftime ceremony, and a 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Gift Bag. One Grand Prize winner will receive a $10,000 donation to their charity of choice. The Grand Prize winner will be announced during the 2011 AT&T All-Star halftime ceremony.
Launched in April 2007, MLS W.O.R.K.S is Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people and serves as a platform for both League and club philanthropic programs. MLS W.O.R.K.S seeks to establish Major League Soccer as a leader for improving the lives of people through sport. For more information about MLS W.O.R.K.S, visit http://www.mlssoccer.com/mlsworks/about.
Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) is dedicated to nurturing the healthy development of children by listening attentively to their needs and by providing opportunities they might not otherwise have had. R.O.C.K. serves the children through a combination of in-school and afterschool learning enrichment, sports and fitness, leadership training and outdoor adventure opportunities. The programs are designed to serve boys and girls ages 6-17 who live in or attend school in San Francisco’s Visitacion valley. To learn more about R.O.C.K., visit http://rocksf.org/.
America SCORES inspires urban youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world. The program partners with urban schools to provide a high quality, team-based program that integrates soccer, poetry, and service-learning. The result is a team of children who experience success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. To learn more about America SCORES, visit http://www.americascores.org/.
