NJYS Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

NEW JERSEY - MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, announced today that it has teamed up with the New York Red Bulls and New Jersey Youth Soccer to support Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

The newly created program is a soccer-centered community outreach initiative that will teach young people the value of community service, educate them about global issues facing children in other parts of the world and empower them with the tools to be active global citizens making a difference in the world.

One hundred and sixty thousand youth soccer players from New Jersey Youth Soccer (NJYS) will be invited to participate in an incentive-based fundraising challenge. The challenge began in early October and will run through mid-November. Winners -- both individual and team-based -- will be recognized at a 2009 Red Bulls game and receive a variety of prizes including autographed memorabilia and a private meet-and-greet.

Every day, 25,000 children die needlessly from preventable causes – because they lack simple things like access to clean drinking water, basic childhood medical attention, or mosquito bed nets to prevent malaria.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to teach our youth about the struggles of children in other parts of the world, as well as teach them the value of community service,” said JoAnn Neale, executive vice president for Major League Soccer. “Soccer is a global game and the youth soccer players participating in this initiative will be directly contributing to the well being of a less fortunate child somewhere in the world.”

New York Red Bulls All-Star forward and MLS W.O.R.K.S. ambassador Juan Pablo Angel will be writing a blog about his support and participation in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. Starting on October 9, Juan Pablo’s blog can be viewed at: http://fieldnotes.unicefusa.org.

To obtain a Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF kit, please visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat to order your free materials and get involved.

For further information, please visit MLS W.O.R.K.S. and UNICEF representatives who will be located on the concourse at the New York Red Bulls Fan Appreciation Game, Saturday, October 18th at Giants Stadium. Representatives from both organizations will be on-hand to answer questions.

Team up to make a difference, empower your soccer community and save the lives of children in countries all across the world. With your support, UNICEF has the resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival.

About MLS W.O.R.K.S.
MLS W.O.R.K.S. was launched in April 2007 and is Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people. MLS W.O.R.K.S. serves as a platform for both league and team philanthropic programs. Specific areas of focus include health and wellness, education, respect, fair play, leadership, human rights and diversity with an emphasis on programs and initiatives directed at school-aged children. For more information about MLS W.O.R.K.S., please visit www.MLSnet.com/works.

About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading international children's organization, working in over 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org.