Nov. 18, 2010
Matt Moran, who played on the Wright State men's soccer team from 2001-04, will be honored at halftime of the MLS Cup on behalf of the Freddy Fund.
As the recipient of the Major League Soccer W.O.R.K.S./Home Depot Community MVP Award, project manager Moran will be honored at halftime of the MLS Cup on behalf of the Freddy Fund. As FC Dallas makes their first ever appearance at MLS Cup, the last of the founding franchises to reach the Cup, it's fitting that the Freddy Fund will be honored for their work to build a community-based, memorial soccer field to honor the late Federico "Freddy" Garcia, a former member of FC Dallas.
As a Dallas native and former FC Dallas reserve player, Freddy loved the FC Dallas franchise. Now, after shattering the MLS unbeaten record with 19 straight games, his beloved team is playing for the 2010 MLS Cup for the first time. Few could think of a more perfect scenario. The MLS Cup will be held in Toronto on Sunday, November 21 at 8:30 PM EST on ESPN.
The MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community Service Program is a collaborative effort to combine sport and service, promote goodwill within MLS markets and improve lives and communities at the grassroots level. In addition to receiving the Community MVP Award, MLS has chosen to highlight the Freddy Fund on their website here.
"When I got the call from MLS that I had been nominated, the playoffs had just started. Knowing that FCD had a good chance of doing well in the playoffs, I wrote a letter to FC Dallas Assistant Coach John Ellinger to pass on to the team. I basically challenged the guys saying that I would be attending the MLS Cup for the Freddy Fund and it would be great for us both to be there," said Moran. "The MLS W.O.R.K.S. Community MVP Award is truly an honor, but it's not about our work. This award is for our friend Freddy and everyone who has believed in our mission to build this soccer field in his name for the kids who grow up in the same community as Freddy."
Awareness of the Freddy Fund has been increasing thanks to the hard work by the Freddy Fund team, Mike Anderson, Michael Morales, Susan Morales, Miguel Valles, and the successful partnership with America SCORES Dallas and the Dallas Independent School District.
With a goal of raising $150,000, Freddy Fund was the recent recipient of an $8,000 planning grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation and its partner, CHA Sports, and has begun raising money through personal donations and several fundraisers including a screening of the documentary film "I Speak Soccer" at the University of North Texas, a World Cup watching party for the United States - England match at the Londoner Uptown and a silent auction hosted by Veritas Wine Pub among others. Along with being considered for for several grants, future fundraising events include a Texas Hold'em poker tournament, and a team challenge to help raise money to secure a matching grant.
To get involved or learn more about the Freddy Fund, visit www.FreddyFund.com or www.facebook.com/FreddyFund, or contact Matt Moran at freddyfund@freddyfund.com or 214-868-7622.
About the Freddy Fund - The mission of the Freddy Fund is to honor the life of the late Federico "Freddy" Garcia by building a community-based, memorial soccer field in the Dallas neighborhood where he was born and raised. The Freddy Field will allow opportunities for future Dallas generations to share in the same game that helped shape the extraordinary character of an amazing young man.
About MLS W.O.R.K.S. - Launched in April 2007, MLS W.O.R.K.S. is Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people and serves as a platform for both League and club philanthropic programs. MLS W.O.R.K.S. seeks to establish Major League Soccer as a leader for improving the lives of people through sport.
