2009 MLS and WPS Spokespeople & Collection Dates

In 2008, the U.S. Soccer Foundation partnered with Major League Soccer to collect and redistribute 42,065 pieces of new or gently-used soccer equipment. As the 2009 professional soccer season kicks off, the Foundation has partnered with teams from both Major League Soccer (MLS) and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). The Foundation is proud to announce the MLS and WPS teams’ spokespeople and collection dates!

2009 MLS and WPS Spokespeople:

• Logan Pause, Chicago Fire
• Megan Rapinoe, Chicago Red Stars (WPS)
• Jonathan Bornstein, Chivas USA
• Jed Zayner, Columbus Crew
• Conor Casey, Colorado Rapids
• Santino Quaranta, D.C. United
• Pablo Ricchetti, FC Dallas
• Leslie Osborne, FC Gold Pride (WPS)
• Craig Waibel, Houston Dynamo
• Herculez Gomez, Kansas City Wizards
• Julian Valentin, L.A. Galaxy
• Katie Larkin, L.A. Sol (WPS)
• Brad Knighton, NE Revolution
• John Wolyniec, NY/NJ Red Bulls
• Joe Cannon, San Jose Earthquakes
• James Riley, Seattle Sounders FC
• Cat Whitehill, Washington Freedom (WPS)

2009 MLS and WPS Collection Dates

• Chivas USA: April 18
• Washington Freedom (WPS): April 18
• Kansas City Wizards: April 23
• Colorado Rapids: May 2 & 23
• L.A. Galaxy: May 30
• L.A. Sol (WPS): May 30
• Columbus Crew: June 14 & 27
• NY/NJ Red Bulls: June 20
• San Jose Earthquakes: July 11 & 25
• D.C. United: July 18
• FC Gold Pride (WPS): July 19
• Chicago Red Stars (WPS): July 26
• Houston Dynamo: August 9
• Chicago Fire: August 23
• NE Revolution: August 29
• FC Dallas: May 16 & 23 & October 17

The spokesperson that does the most to ‘Share the Equipment. Share the Game’ will be voted the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s “Humanitarian of the Year” and the team that collects the most gear by the end of the season will be voted “Team Humanitarian of the Year.”

Start collecting new and gently used soccer equipment. Mark your calendar and deliver the gear to your favorite team’s Passback Collection. Cheer on the Passback Spokespeople and help your team win the Team Humanitarian of the Year Award!

Passback Star Collection Dates

• July 31-Aug 2: West Chester United Soccer Club will again be collecting gently used soccer equipment at the 2009 West Chester Summer Classic in West Chester, PA. The designated recipients for equipment are the Chester Police Athletic League (PAL) in conjunction with the William Trippley Foundation, local West Chester children through WCUSC’s Community Development program, the Heritage Academy schools in Ghana founded by a local teacher and children in the Caribbean and South American through the local girls travel league, PAGS.
• August 21-23, 2009: Bluegrass Soccer Club in Versailles, Kentucky will be hosting a Passback collection in conjunction with the Bluegrass Cup
• August 29-31, 2009: East Meadow Tournament  in Nassau County on Long Island, NY
• Saturday, September 26, 2009: The Cranford Soccer Club in Cranford, NJ will be hosting a Passback collection in conjunction with their Picture Day at Cranford High School