Major League Soccer has announced the finalists for the 2019 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest presented by Wells Fargo, which recognizes individuals using soccer to make a difference in their community. The Grand Prize winner, voted on by fans, will be announced on-field during halftime of the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target at Exploria Stadium in Orlando on July 31 and will receive a $25,000 donation for their selected charity.
Throughout June, MLS fans had the opportunity to nominate individuals who are building better communities through soccer. Twenty-four finalists have been chosen, one representing each MLS club. Finalists were selected for making a positive impact in one of the following areas:
- Social issues focusing on inclusion, diversity and equality
- Health issues affecting men, women or children
- Community service for a local, national or international charitable organization
- Sustainability efforts to create a cleaner, healthier environment
Sporting Kansas City’s local representative on the fan voting ballot is longtime soccer coach Wendy Louque, who has demonstrated an insatiable desire to improve the community and grow the sport of soccer through her work with Youth R.I.S.E. KC and a host of other mentor programs for underserved children across the metro area. Louque will be honored Saturday at Children's Mercy Park when Sporting hosts FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. CT (tickets).
At the forefront, Louque’s involvement with Youth R.I.S.E. KC has provided opportunities for youth to develop skills and learn about teamwork, leadership, resilience, responsibility, the importance of education, interpersonal skills and athletics. Louque, who has over 35 years of youth soccer coaching experience, has also started several soccer programs that help local refugee youths become acclimated to their new lives in the United States.
Additionally, Louque runs free training sessions every week throughout the summer with her Women’s Premier Soccer League club KC Courage at Mission Southside, a local Latino-focused charity for underprivileged families. In another weekly training program, KC Courage Valiente, Louque conducts free weekly futsal training courses for girls in Wyandotte County.
Louque uses the platform of soccer to reach countless overlooked, underserved youth in the Kansas City area, making her an invaluable asset to the community and an exceptional local ambassador of the sport.
Each Community MVP finalist will receive two tickets to a 2019 MLS regular season match in their local market, a trip to MLS All-Star week in Orlando and a $1,000 donation for their selected charity.
Fans are encouraged to learn more about the finalists and vote for the Grand Prize winner by visiting MLSsoccer.com/CommunityMVP and using the vote and Tweet buttons to cast their vote. Voting will remain open until July 31 at 1 p.m. CT.
The MLS All-Star game presented by Target, will be televised domestically on FS1 and UniMas in the U.S., on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada, and in more than 170 countries around the world. Coverage begins on Univision starting at 6 p.m. CT and FOX beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com.
ABOUT MLS WORKS
Major League Soccer is dedicated to addressing important social issues and improving communities where we live and play our games. Through MLS WORKS, the League’s social responsibility platform, Major League Soccer and its clubs seek to enrich the lives of those in need across the United States and Canada. To learn more visit MLSsoccer.com/MLSWORKS and follow @MLSWORKS on Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT WELLS FARGO
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,600 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 32 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 263,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune’s 2019 rankings of America’s largest corporations.
