NEW YORK, N.Y. (Sunday, August 9, 2020) – Prior to the highly-anticipated championship match of the MLS is Back Tournament on Tuesday, Aug. 11 on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, Major League Soccer provided an update on how the League and our partners united on initiatives to benefit the community.
MLS is harnessing the power of our players on the pitch to give back to our communities during the pandemic through every assist, goal and save made in the tournament. Additionally, the league is donating medical supplies to the Greater Orlando area.
Wells Fargo’s “Rethinking the Assist” Program – 1,000 Meals* Per Assist
Wells Fargo, the official retail bank of MLS, has partnered with Feeding America® member food banks around the country to transform select bank branches and other corporate properties into food distribution centers to help communities in need. For every assist during the MLS is Back Tournament starting July 8 through the Championship presented by Wells Fargo, 1,000 meals will be provided to the food bank in the team’s city. With one game to go, 132,000 meals have been provided towards the overall 50,000,000 meals* Wells Fargo is providing as part of its national Wells Fargo Drive-Up Food Bank program that runs through the Fall.
Audi Goals Drive Progress – $1,000 Per Goal
Audi Goals Drive Progress was developed to enhance player development on and off the field. Funding directly targets barriers to success by supporting MLS Academy players’ access to education, housing, and transportation. For every goal scored during the MLS is Back Tournament, Audi is contributing $1,000 to the Audi Goals Drive Progress program. A total of $180,000 has been contributed to date from the tournament. During the Championship match on Tuesday, every goal scored is worth $5,000. Additionally, Audi will contribute $10,000 to the Academy club of the tournament winner of the Golden Boot award.
Every Save Makes A Difference – $500 Donated Per Save
Univision’s TUDN partnered with MLS WORKS, the league’s social responsibility platform, and Allstate to donate to local charitable organizations that are positively impacting lives in Hispanic communities, providing COVID-19 relief and fighting for social justice. Five-hundred dollars will be donated to the club’s chosen beneficiary for every save made during a TUDN broadcast during the MLS is Back Tournament. To date, nearly $100,000 has been donated.
Co.Protect – 10,000 Protective Masks
Co.Protect, the leading innovator and provider of Branded Protective Equipment (BPE), and the current supplier of single-use facemasks for MLS staff and teams participating in the tournament, is supplying 10,000 FDA Certified, single-use custom masks to Florida residents in order to keep consumers safe and healthy during this time. Co.Protect is serving as a solution to help bring the country back together safely by creating a new category of protective, custom, single-use BPE masks.
For additional ways MLS and our soccer community is helping those in need, visit MLSsoccer.com or follow @MLS, as well as club social platforms.
From 7/8/20 to 8/11/20 for every player assist during the MLS is Back Tournament, Wells Fargo will donate the monetary equivalent of 1,000 meals to Feeding America®. Wells Fargo guarantees a minimum donation of 10,000 meals (monetary equivalent of $1,000) and a maximum of 150,000 meals (monetary equivalent of $15,000). $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.
** 50 million meals calculation is based on 1) Projected number of meals distributed through Wells Fargo drive-up food bank events and 2) Wells Fargo’s financial contributions to support Feeding America food banks 7/20/20-10/31/20. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.
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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.
