Conrad, Pause win Humanitarian of the Year
Wizards defender, Fire midfielder become first duo to share award
Conrad, who hails from Temple City, Calif., is an 11-year MLS veteran, five-time MLS All-Star and former MLS Defender of the Year. He continues to be active in philanthropic efforts throughout the Kansas City area and is being recognized as an exemplary role model within the community for his involvement with local schools, youth organizations and MLS W.O.R.K.S. initiatives. Conrad regularly speaks with students at local schools about teamwork and the importance of setting goals in presentations that he designed.
For a second consecutive year, Conrad served as a spokesperson for Athletes Against Autism and the Child Protection Center, actively partaking in efforts to raise money and awareness for the organizations. This season he participated in an appearance at the Kick It 3v3 Championships to raise awareness for the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, and also raised funds for the campaign locally through autograph sessions in Kansas City.
Conrad also receives support for his philanthropic efforts from his wife, Lyndsey. While he is busy supporting community groups, Lyndsey, serves as the President of the Kansas City Wizards Wives Club. Their biggest project this season was a school supply drive at CommunityAmerica Ballpark called "Stuff the Bus." As part of the event, Conrad and his wife set up a soccer clinic for inner-city children with other MLS players. They donated school supplies collected during "Stuff the Bus" and spoke to the children about the importance of staying in school.
Pause, a seven-year MLS veteran from Hillsborough, N.C., has been active in philanthropic efforts throughout the 2009 season. He has donated his time to charitable organizations including the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Passback Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Garth Brooks Foundation and the Joshua Center in Chicago. His off-the-field work of mentoring local youth and participating in community outreach, grassroots and charity events demonstrates his compassion for others in need.
As a spokesperson for the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Passback Program, which provides children in urban economically disadvantaged areas with soccer equipment, he has regularly participated in local Passback clinics speaking to kids about wellness and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As a Chicago Fire representative at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program Chicago-area luncheon this summer, Pause spoke with children about leadership and mentoring on and off the field.
Pause also volunteered this year with the Joshua Center in Chicago. The center is dedicated to providing support to women in crisis by focusing on emergency and long term needs in order to help them break the cycle of homelessness, addiction and abuse.
His contributions to the Chicagoland community were recognized this season when the Chicago Fire Foundation (CFF) added him to its ranks. In this capacity, Pause helped choose which organizations would benefit from more than $100,000 in grants made by the CFF. Pause also joined his teammates to help raise more than $60,000 at the Foundation's annual luncheon and another $30,000 from the Frank Klopas annual golf outing.
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 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.
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1994 to manage the surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. As the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the U.S., the Foundation has invested more than $51 million in the game, supporting hundreds of projects in every state in the country. The Foundation provides grants focused on developing players, coaches and referees and building or enhancing fields and soccer complexes, with a special emphasis on economically disadvantaged youth in urban communities. For more information, or to donate online, please visit ussoccerfoundation.org.
U.S. Soccer Foundation/MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Winners:
2009: Jimmy Conrad - Kansas City Wizards; Logan Pause - Chicago Fire
2008: Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. - Colorado Rapids
2007: Diego Gutierrez - Chicago Fire
2006: Michael Parkhurst - New England Revolution
2005: Brian Kamler - Real Salt Lake
2004: Chris Henderson - Colorado Rapids
2003: Ben Olsen - D.C. United
2002: Steve Jolley - MetroStars
2001: Tim Howard - MetroStars
2000: Abdul T. Conteh - San Jose Earthquakes
