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
New York City FC’s local representative on the fan voting ballot is Bervin Harris, the co-founder, president, and CEO of Renaissance Youth Center a non-profit organization based in South Bronx providing services to almost 4,000 students a week. He manages, writes, and directs for the Music With A Message (MWAM) band, performing with them in close to 100 shows a year. His latest initiative is the citywide Renaissance Youth Council where he engages disconnected youth ages 13-24. For the past 30 years, Bervin Harris has dedicated his life to empowering youth to maximize their potential. His experience in youth services and community development are unmatched and he has helped create several successful programs throughout the Bronx community.
Paul Jeffries, NYCFC Senior Director of Community Development, said:
“We are proud to name Bervin Harris NYCFC’s 2019 Community MVP representative. Bervin is an authentic role model who embodies our Club’s commitment to local youth and our community as a whole.”
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.
The MLS All-Star game presented by Target, will be televised domestically on FS1 and UniMás 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 7 p.m. ET and FOX beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets for the 2019 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com.
