Columbus Crew SC and MLS WORKS Unveil 2020 MLS Cup Legacy Project at Ronald McDonald House Columbus
NEW YORK, N.Y.
(Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020) – In celebration of MLS Cup being played in Columbus on Saturday night, MLS WORKS – Major League Soccer’s social responsibility platform – and Columbus Crew SC today unveiled a reimagined fitness room at the Ronald McDonald House Columbus.
Former MLS Cup Champion and MLS Great
Frankie Hejduk
, along with Crew Cat (Crew SC’s club mascot), were onsite to surprise two families staying at the facility. The special moment also featured virtual greetings by Crew stars
Gyasi Zardes
in addition to the team’s Chief Business Officer and EVP,
Steve Lyons
.
Photos and video assets from today’s surprise are available
HERE
The transformation of the fitness room includes $10,000 worth of workout equipment – courtesy of MLS and Crew community partner AT&T – as well as new towels, water bottles and a sanitation station. A state-of-the-art video monitor and sound system was also installed to run club fitness and mental wellness videos from the Ronald McDonald House app. The facility also features a vibrant Columbus Crew SC-inspired mural by local artist Hakim Callwood.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have the support of the Columbus Crew SC and MLS,” said Dee Anders, CEO and Executive Director of RMHC of Central Ohio. “We rely on the generous support of our partners in the community, and the Crew is truly one of the very best. This room will allow our guests to stay fit while they are with us at the Ronald McDonald House, and will provide a healthy outlet for the thousands of people who stay with us each year.”
As part of “Fitness Fridays,” the Crew will facilitate weekly virtual training classes and programming on the app followed by complementary healthy lunches. Free lunches were also provided today to all families at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio by Crew Cat.
“Major League Soccer is proud to join forces with Columbus Crew SC to provide additional levels of support to patients and their families who are staying at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House,” said JoAnn Neale, MLS President & Chief Administrative Officer. “On behalf of our 25th MLS Cup, our commitment to positively impacting the communities where we play our games continues despite these challenging times. We hope the enhancements to the fitness room will help improve the health and well-being of the families staying at the facility.”
Benefiting more than 4,500 families annually, the Columbus facility is the one of the largest Ronald McDonald Houses in the world and provides a home-away-from-home for families who have children that are being treated at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other area hospitals. The reimagination of the room at the Columbus facility continues both the League and Crew SC’s longstanding commitment to making a positive impact and keeping children active, healthy, and engaged.
“The Columbus Crew SC is dedicated to making a positive impact in our community. As a part of our hosting the 25th MLS Cup in Columbus, we are excited to partner with MLS Works and AT&T on the Ronald McDonald House Fitness Room Renovation,” said Crew SC Executive Vice President & Chief Business Officer Steve Lyons. “In support of the Ronald McDonald House’s mission to keep families close during their time of need, the Crew’s Fitness Room Renovation will provide a space for families to enjoy during their stay while promoting healthy and positive lifestyles to our young people. On behalf of the Haslam & Edwards Families, the Crew is proud to provide this MLS Cup legacy gift to our community.”
MLS’ 25th season will culminate with MLS Cup 2020 on Saturday, Dec. 12 when Columbus Crew SC meets Seattle Sounders FC at MAPRE Stadium in Columbus on FOX, UniMás//TUDN, TSN and TVA Sports, starting with the pregame show at 8 p.m. ET.
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ABOUT MLS WORKS
:
Major League Soccer is dedicated to addressing important social issues and improving communities where we live and play our games. Through MLS WORKS, the League’s social responsibility platform, Major League Soccer and its clubs seek to enrich the lives of those in need across the United States and Canada. To learn more visit
MLSsoccer.com/MLSWORKS
and follow @MLSWORKS on
&
Instagram
.
ABOUT COLUMBUS CREW SC:
Columbus Crew SC (Soccer Club) is the first club in Major League Soccer. Crew SC is operated by The Edwards Family and Haslam Sports Group. The Black & Gold won their first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and also won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. The 2020 campaign is the Crew’s 25
th
season in MLS and the 21st season at historic MAPFRE Stadium -- the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States.
Website:
ColumbusCrewSC.com
| Twitter: @ColumbusCrewSC | Instagram: @ColumbusCrewSC | Hashtag: #Crew96 |
Facebook.com/columbuscrewsc
| Snapchat: ColumbusCrewSC | App:
ColumbusCrewSC.com/app
| Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium | Training Facility: Crew SC Training Center at Obetz | Future Training Facility (2021): OhioHealth Performance Center | New, downtown stadium coming July 2021
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio:
The Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio is located directly across the street from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Open 365 days a year, the Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home for families with seriously ill children receiving treatment in the hospital. The House offers comfortable bedrooms with private baths, continuing care suites for recovering transplant patients, fully equipped kitchens and dining areas, play rooms, laundry facilities, a meditation room, exercise room and informal gathering areas. Currently, the House can accommodate 137 families every night, making it the second largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. In addition, RMHC of Central Ohio operates a Ronald McDonald Family Room at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, and partners with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to operate a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. To learn more, visit
www.RMHC-CentralOhio.org
.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
MLS
Angela Alfano
Sr. Director Corporate Communications
Angela.Alfano@MLSsoccer.com
Columbus Crew SC
Carlos Mojica
Communications Manager
cmojica@columbuscrewsc.com
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio
Ryan Wilkins
Sr. Director Communications & Facilities
ryan.wilkins@rmhc-centralohio.org
