Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron has been named the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for June for his efforts raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). The Dynamo all-star was inspired to raise money for LLS after Tim DaPonte, a former youth soccer teammate and close friend of Cameron’s, was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in January 2011.
“I was very humbled to be given the opportunity to raise money for LLS,” Cameron said. “Tim is a major inspiration for me and I’m thankful I was able to give something back to him and to the countless others who are affected by this disease.”
Through various initiatives, including a FIFA Street video game tournament, a celebrity pour and silent auctions, Cameron and Dynamo Charities raised more than $30,000 for LLS. Cameron also partnered with Sarah Pepper from The HOT Show for the celebrity pour and a karaoke event, with all proceeds benefiting Cameron’s and Pepper’s Man and Woman of the Year campaigns. Sponsors of Cameron’s campaign included Dynamo Charities, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Rivela Plastic Surgery.
This is the second time that Cameron has been honored as the MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month. His first honor came in October 2011 when he raised $20,000 for the local chapters of The Fisher House and The Ronald McDonald House.
Cameron is currently training with the U.S. men’s national team as they prepare for upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala. The two-time MLS all-star started and played 90 minutes in the United States’ 5-1 win over Scotland on May 26.
The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer club that has won two MLS Cup championships and three conference championships in its first six seasons and qualified to represent the United States in international competition five times, including in the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League. The team currently trains in the Methodist Champions’ Field at Houston Amateur Sports Park (HASP), and plays at BBVA Compass Stadium. For more information, log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.
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 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
