Columbus Crew SC Community MVP Merv Brereton has been nominated by Major League Soccer as one of 23 finalists for the 2018 MLS WORKS Community MVP Contest, the League office announced Thursday.
The Grand Prize winner, voted on by fans via online and Twitter, will be recognized on-field during halftime of the 2018 MLS All-Star Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on August 1, and will receive a $25,000 donation for their selected charity.
Voting for the Community MVP Grand Prize winner will close on August 1 at 2 p.m. ET.
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As part of an effort to recognize individuals who use soccer to make a difference in their community, finalists were selected on the basis of making an impact in one of the following three 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.
Brereton, who founded and serves as head coach of Kicks for Kids Worldwide United Soccer Association for Youth, Inc. (WUSAY), has been a key figure in the New American community in Columbus for more than 21 years. In addition to other services, Kicks for Kids WUSAY, which was founded in 1997, is designed to ensure that trained coaches are on site at every field to implement effective academic models to youth.
As Crew SC’s Community MVP, Brereton will receive two tickets to a home Columbus regular-season match and a trip to MLS All-Star week in Atlanta, Ga., in addition to other prizes.
