COLUMBUS, Ohio — Major League Soccer and their partner organizations have announced the slate of events in Columbus during MLS All-Star Week ahead of the All-Star game on July 24.

What You Need To Know

  • Major League Soccer and their partner organizations have announced the slate of events in Columbus during MLS All-Star Week ahead of the All-Star game on July 24

  • Events range from packing meals, soccer clinics, computer distributions and more

  • There will also be sensory bags available during All-Star week

“From providing meals to those experiencing food insecurity, to unveiling a new in-school soccer program, and hosting a showcase to celebrate local community leaders, below are some of the ways MLS is leaving a lasting impact in Columbus,” reads a release from MLS.

AT&T will be presenting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio with $25,000, and some pre-selected students involved with J. Ashburn Jr. Clubhouse will be getting laptops thanks to AT&T and Human I-T, according to the release. There will also be soccer challenges for students through the MLS All-Star Skills Mobile Tour.

That event will be at 11:15 a.m. on July 18 at the J. Ashburn Jr. Clubhouse in Columbus.

There MLS All-Star Concert will feature Marshmello and PinkPantheress at 6:30 p.m. on July 21 at Nationwide Arena. Tickets are $35, accoding to the release, with some of the proceeds going toward the local nonprofit Neighborhood Athletics.

The MLS All-Star Day of Service presented by Target is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at Nationwide Arena, where fans and players alike will work together to pack 100,000 meals “for local children and families facing food insecurity.” The food will be donated to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Student Success Stores as a partnership between MLS and U.S. Hunger. You can sign up here.

The MLS will partner with RBC Wealth Management and Black Players for Change for the MLS All-Star Hometown Heroes Showcase “celebrating local non-profit organizations and their exceptional leaders who demonstrate innovative approaches to serving individuals and communities with the greatest need throughout Columbus.”

The organizations will each get $15,000 grants. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. on July 23 at Lincoln Theatre.

The free Special Olympics Unified Sports MLS All-Star Game, “representing 25 MLS clubs and comprised of players with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (Unified partners)” are scheduled to play at 3:30 p.m. on July 23 at Historic Crew Stadium.

Finally, the MLS All-Star Community Day presented by BODYARMOR Sports Drink  will take place at 9 a.m. on July 24 at Northgate Intermediate School. This events is in celebration of the Columbus Crew’s Soccer in Schools program.

“The Crew – in collaboration with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and support from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce and Columbus City Schools (CCS) – developed and are implementing an in-school soccer program to help eliminate common barriers to youth soccer and promote classroom engagement,” the release reads. “The initiative will provide a free, turnkey soccer curriculum and equipment to benefit 3rd-5th grade CCS elementary students.”

The community day features food, soccer clinics and even a youth soccer tournament with local teams.

There will also be sensory bags available during All-Star week, according to the release, as MLS has partnered with KultureCity to provide them.

“The sensory bags will be available at Lower.com Field for the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T as well as the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target,” the release reads. “Within Lower.com Field, the sensory bags can be picked up by visiting Chase Plaza and Guest Services (located at section 11).”

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