As part of MLS Unites, a league-wide platform designed to educate communities, entertain fans and elevate heroic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to celebrate the kickoff of National Nurses Week, Major League Soccer unveiled a series of programming to thank frontline and essential workers.
Aiming to rally and inspire the soccer world, MLS Unites programming this week focuses on how clubs, players, coaches, staff, partners and fans are thanking frontline and essential workers during this unprecedented time.
Sporting Kansas City
Sporting Kansas City joined the Kansas City Royals last month to deliver a heartfelt message of appreciation to first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers. A subsequent video featured Sporting players exclusively as they expressed gratitude to Kansas Citians on the front line. Collectively, both videos included participation from Sporting Manager Peter Vermes and players Matt Besler, Gianluca Busio, Roger Espinoza, Gerso Fernandes, Tim Melia and Ilie Sanchez. To support #TheRealHeroes initiative, Sporting Kansas City commentator Nate Bukaty endeared supporters to his wife Kelly Bukaty, a physical therapist specializing in geriatrics who has visited patients’ homes to provide treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elsewhere, The Victory Project—Sporting Kansas City’s flagship philanthropic platform—continues to donate surgical masks and non-latex gloves to doctors and nurses working at Children’s Mercy Hospital. In a similar endeavor, Sporting KC associates are assisting in sorting and delivering PPE to emergency managers in rural communities in Kansas and Missouri to help protect first responders, health care professionals and long-term care facility personnel. Sporting’s training facility is being used as the location for sorting and repacking of the PPE before delivery. Lastly, several Sporting players teamed up today to create a mural thanking nurses in observation of National Nurses Day.
MLS Players Salute Healthcare Workers in “The Real Heroes Project”
Fourteen of the world’s largest professional sports leagues united for an unprecedented first time to unveil “The Real Heroes Project” a collaborative initiative to recognize and celebrate healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Real Heroes Project” PSA debuted today, and features professional athletes, including Los Angeles Galaxy forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, Toronto FC and U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore and Orlando City SC forward Nani, dedicating their jerseys to a special healthcare hero who is helping their community on the forefront of this global crisis.
Throughout the PSA and personal tributes, athletes will cover their name on their jerseys or uniforms and replace it with the name of their healthcare hero. For photos and videos of MLS players personal stories, as well as the PSA, click HERE and follow #TheRealHeroes.
Johnson & Johnson Donating MLS Tickets to Medical Professionals
Johnson & Johnson, MLS’ Official Healthcare Partner, has been actively engaged in fighting pandemics for over a century and knows frontline health workers are integral to the global response to COVID-19. The current crisis is demonstrating the essential, tireless, innovative and too-often undervalued role of health care workers and ensuring strong, resilient health systems for everyone, everywhere.
Throughout the crisis, Johnson & Johnson has been delivering essential support to health workers on the frontline. When MLS is able to return to play before the league’s passionate fans, Johnson & Johnson will contribute tickets to medical professionals for MLS matches in select communities. To join Johnson & Johnson in thanking and supporting frontline workers, make a donation to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses online or by texting THANKS to 20222 to make a $10 donation.
For more information regarding how MLS’ partners are supporting communities during the pandemic, visit mlssoccer.com/post/2020/05/04/mls-partners-unite.
MLS Unites was launched in partnership with the Major League Soccer Players Association. For additional ways the initiative is thanking frontline workers, follow #MLSUnites. For more information on “MLS Unites,” visit MLSsoccer.com/MLSUnites.
A sampling of the way our clubs are positively impacting local communities is detailed here.
