MLSE Team Up Foundation Launches $200,000 Grant Program

Published on December 22, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Toronto FC News Release

The MLSE Team Up Foundation (TUF) announced that it will invest $200,000 into the community through its new grant program, the Team Up Foundation (TUF) Fund. The TUF Fund will give Ontario charitable organizations the chance to receive one of four $50,000 grants that will support youth sports and recreation programs or assist in the refurbishment of sports/recreational facilities.

The TUF Fund is an online competition where charities submit funding applications for specific youth programs or facility refurbishments which will impact the community and its youth in a positive way. Applicants will then go through a series of voting rounds to determine the recipients of TUF Fund grants.

"The Team Up Foundation is very excited to launch this new funding opportunity," said Michael Bartlett, executive director, MLSE Team Up Foundation. "This will give us a chance to support a new and diverse group of charitable organizations that are engaging youth through sports and recreation. We're looking forward to receiving the submissions and involving the public in the decision process of positively impacting the community."

Charities will be able to submit their projects via an online application form beginning January 3 until January 20. The public will then have the opportunity to vote on which charity or project will make it through as one of the top 20 charities to the semi-final round. The semi-final round is voted on by a Team Up Foundation grant committee, with 10 charities making it to the final.

The final voting round begins March 7, with the public once again taking part in the selection process. The four charities with the most votes when the final round closes March 16 will each receive a $50,000 grant. The official announcement of the four grant recipients will take place on March 20 during the Toronto Maple Leafs game versus the New York Islanders.

Charitable organizations and those wishing to vote during the public voting process are asked to visit http://mlseteamupfoundation.org/giving/Team-UP-Foundation-Fund

Major League Soccer Stories from December 22, 2011

• Red-And-White Defender Heath Pearce Called up to USMNT - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
• Sporting Kansas City Announces 2012 Pre-Season Schedule - Sporting Kansas City
• MLSE Team Up Foundation Launches $200,000 Grant Program - Toronto FC
• Bill Hamid Called-Up to USMNT - D.C. United
• RSL's Kyle Beckerman & Nick Rimando Named to U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp Roster - Real Salt Lake
• Rapids Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz Called up to U.S. National Team - Colorado Rapids
• Devon McTavish Announces Retirement from Professional Soccer - D.C. United
• Earthquakes Star Chris Wondolowski Named to U.S. National Team for January Training Camp - San Jose Earthquakes
• Three Sporting Kansas City Players Selected to U.S. Men's National Team for January Camp - Sporting Kansas City
• Dynamo Center Back Geoff Cameron Called up to U.S. Men's National Team - Houston Dynamo FC
• Philadelphia Union Acquire Costa Rican Defender Porfirio Lopez - Philadelphia Union

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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