SAN JOSE, Calif. –
Roberto Gil was selected as the San Jose Earthquakes Community MVP and a finalist for the MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest presented by Wells Fargo. Gil immigrated to San Francisco in 1986 during El Salvador's civil war and has been using soccer as a way to unite his community and as a resource to give back. After graduating from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, Gil became a coach and then Director of Coaching for America SCORES. He returns to El Salvador each August with a group of committed volunteers to run programs for 100 students in the small community. He has also developed a scholarship program for youth participants and leaders to pursue degrees in higher education.
The Grand Prize winner of the MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest presented by Wells Fargo, as voted by the fans, will be announced at halftime of the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, and will receive a $10,000 donation for their selected charity.
Every year, MLS fans nominate outstanding individuals that promote goodwill, demonstrate leadership, and help to improve the lives of those living in their community. Of those candidates, 20 nominees are selected, one from each of the 20 clubs, as finalists to represent their MLS team. The Grand Prize winner is determined by an online fan vote and will be announced on Wednesday, July 29 during halftime of the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game and on twitter by @MLSWORKS.
In addition to earning the chance to win the Grand Prize of $10,000 for their selected charity, Wells Fargo has pledged a $1,000 donation to each selected charity of the other 19 finalists.
Each nominee selected uses soccer as a tool to help make a positive impact in one or more of the following areas:
•
Social issues focusing on acceptance, equality, inclusion and diversity
•
Health issues affecting men, women or children
•
Community service for a local, national or international charity or community organization
Please
CLICK HERE
for a complete list of the nominees.
Fans are encouraged to vote on the MLS WORKS site (www.MLSsoccer.com/CommunityMVP) or via their mobile devices or by
CLICKING HERE
.
Fans may also vote by tweeting: “I voted for the @MLSWORKS @WellsFargo #CommunityMVP Contest Grand Prize Winner. Vote Now http://ow.ly/PiC8l [insert club handle]” from 12 p.m. ET on July 27 through 12 p.m. ET on July 28.
“MLS WORKS is committed to giving back to the communities that support our clubs,” said JoAnn Neale, MLS Chief Administrative Officer. “These nominees are using the world’s game to make a difference on a local level and we are proud to share their inspiring stories as well as recognize their incredible accomplishments.”
“The 20 local finalists of this year’s MLS WORKS Community MVP Award each uniquely demonstrate the importance of volunteering and providing needed resources as a way to improve their local communities,” said Jamie Moldafsky, Wells Fargo Chief Marketing Officer. “Wells Fargo applauds their dedication to make a difference in the lives of so many, recognizing that little by little we can have a huge impact on the world around us.”
About MLS WORKS
MLS WORKS is Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues and serves as a platform for both League and club philanthropic programs. MLS WORKS seeks to establish Major League Soccer as a leader for improving the lives of people through sport. Follow us on twitter @MLSWORKS.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.7 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (
wellsfargo.com
) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 266,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at
Wells Fargo Blogs
and
Wells Fargo Stories
.
