{"id":6502,"date":"2023-07-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-us\/community\/insights\/rbc-wealth-management-major-league-soccer-shine-a-light-on-washington-dc-nonprofits\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T10:32:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:32:04","slug":"rbc-wealth-management-major-league-soccer-shine-a-light-on-washington-dc-nonprofits","status":"publish","type":"rbcwm_community","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcwealthmanagement.com\/en-us\/community\/insights\/rbc-wealth-management-major-league-soccer-shine-a-light-on-washington-dc-nonprofits","title":{"rendered":"RBC Wealth Management, Major League Soccer shine a light on Washington, D.C., nonprofits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every day, in cities across the country, local nonprofits work tirelessly\u2014and often without much fanfare\u2014to make a difference in their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An initiative tied to the annual Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game is helping to make sure those organizations receive the recognition they deserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Called the MLS All-Star Hometown Heroes Showcase, the program, entering its second year, recognizes the work of impactful organizations and leaders who are making positive change in the communities where the MLS All-Star Game is held. Each organization selected as a Hometown Hero receives a $15,000 grant and is recognized at an event the week of the MLS All-Star Game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, the All-Star Game was hosted by Washington, D.C., and RBC Wealth Management\u2013U.S. helped to celebrate the region’s local changemakers. Through the firm’s partnership with MLS<\/a>, RBC Wealth Management was a presenting sponsor of the 2023 Hometown Heroes showcase in collaboration with D.C. United and Black Players for Change (BPC), an independent organization of Black MLS players, coaches and staff working to bridge the racial equality gap in soccer and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beth Rafferty, director of the RBC Wealth Management branch in Washington, D.C., and a native Washingtonian, represented the firm on the Hometown Heroes selection committee alongside several MLS representatives and players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was such a rewarding experience to work with MLS, D.C. United and Black Players for Change to recognize organizations dedicated to making Washington, D.C., a better place for all,” she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading change in the community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of spring 2023, Rafferty and the selection committee worked together to narrow down a list of Hometown Hero nominees. In reading and learning about each nonprofit, Rafferty was struck by the nominees’ wide range of focus, reach and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are so many grassroots organizations in the region that are making a major difference,” she says. \u201cIt was inspiring to learn about each of the nominees and the great work they’re doing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four Washington, D.C.-area organizations selected as 2023 Hometown Heroes were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n