Major League Soccer and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® Team Up For Same Goal: Helping Kids Fight Cancer

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®  is celebrating Goals for St. Jude Week Sept. 15-22. The week-long program asks fans to join forces with their favorite MLS teams to support the lifesaving work of the hospital. St. Jude is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other deadly childhood diseases.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120918/DC76706)

This year Rafa Marquez and Kenny Cooper (New York Red Bulls) joins Logan Pause (Chicago Fire), Shea Salinas, Jason Hernandez and Mehdi Ballouchy (San Jose Earthquakes) and Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA) on the Goals for St. Jude ambassador roster. These talented players will work together to raise awareness and funds to help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children.

"I think it is important for myself and others to support St. Jude because they are fighting for an incredible cause," said Cooper. "I feel lucky that I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the lifesaving work that St. Jude is doing."

Throughout Goals for St. Jude Week and the month of September, PSAs about St. Jude will run in-stadium and on broadcasts featuring Marquez, Cooper, Pause, Salinas and Kennedy. Goals for St. Jude Week also coincides with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

"St. Jude helps its patients celebrate everyday moments – both big and small – that make life so special," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "What's more, because of the generosity of our donors and the support of great partners like Major League Soccer, no family ever pays St. Jude for anything."

Prior to Goals for St. Jude Week, each ambassador traveled to Memphis to tour the hospital and met with patients and doctors. All of the players were able to bring smiles to the faces of the patients, but Ambassador Logan Pause felt the patients had a bigger impact on him than vice-versa.

" I think it is wonderful to see smiles on the faces of the patients," said Fire midfielder Logan Pause. "To have a chance to sit and talk to them and get to know them was an extremely memorable and humbling experience for me."

Fans can join MLS and St. Jude by participating in Goals for St. Jude Week. For an inside look at exclusive videos and photos of Goals for St. Jude ambassadors or to make a donation online, visit stjude.org/goals.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:

Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer's 17th season features 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season matches. Those clubs include the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2011 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC; Vancouver Whitecaps FC; and, in their inaugural season, Montreal Impact. For more information about MLS, log on to the league's official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.   

About MLS W.O.R.K.S.

MLS W.O.R.K.S. is Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues and serves as a platform for 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. For more information visit the website at www.MLSsoccer.com/works

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital