MLS Major League Soccer

MLS W.O.R.K.S. and the Home Depot Team up to Build a Playground in Houston

Published on July 27, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


HOUSTON (Tuesday, July 27, 2010) - All eyes will be on Houston's Reliant Stadium tomorrow when the MLS All-Stars take on Manchester United of the English Premier League in the 2010 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. Today, however, a number of Major League Soccer players and executives were working hard off-the-field to give back to the Houston community that is hosting them.

The 2010 MLS All-Stars joined forces with over 250 associates from The Home Depot, organizers from KaBOOM! and local volunteers to build an entire playground at The Golden Acres Elementary School - creating a great place to play within walking distance of the more than 500 children who attend the school.

The day before they face English soccer's most storied club, the MLS All-Stars contributed to leaving something behind for the Houston community.

"It's always great to get out in the community and make the children happy," said Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando. "In five hours these volunteers built a entire playground. It was great to come out and lend a helping hand. To trade goalie gloves for work gloves does the heart good."

It will be a day to remember for the local volunteers who worked alongside MLS players Kevin Alston (New England Revolution), Bobby Boswell (Houston Dynamo), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Moreno (Philadelphia Union), Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton. The playground itself will serve as a lasting legacy for the host city of Major League Soccer's 15th annual All-Star Game.

"It was an honor for our organization to participate in today's event," said Chris Canetti, Chief Operating Officer, Houston Dynamo. "To witness the hundreds of volunteers and fans that showed up to help build a playground was inspirational. The support that our soccer club receives from the Houston community is second to none."

The playground build is one component of a partnership between Major League Soccer's "Official Home Improvement Sponsor," The Home Depot, Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, MLS W.O.R.K.S., and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.

MLS is committed to creating sustainable projects to leave a lasting legacy. The playground build falls under the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community Service Program, a collaborative effort to combine sport and service, promote goodwill within MLS markets and improve lives and communities at the grassroots level.

This build is part of The Home Depot's ongoing commitment to give back to the communities its stores serve. The project is funded through a grant from The Home Depot along with a contribution from The Golden Acres Elementary School.

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