The Columbus Crew has been selected as a finalist for Smart Business’ 2013 Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service, one of just 25 organizations receiving final consideration. This marks the second consecutive year the Crew has been honored, having previously received the 2012 Medical Mutual CVG Samaritan Award.
The upcoming winners will be announced on January 17, 2013 during a recognition banquet at the Ohio Statehouse. The Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service recognizes companies, business leaders and nonprofit executives for their commitment to strengthening the bond between the for-profit and non-profit worlds. For its nomination, the Crew will be featured in the January edition of Smart Business Columbus, alongside the other finalists.
The Crew's longstanding community commitment was cemented by more than 250 hours of volunteer service, along with more than $340,000 raised for non-profit organizations and community initiatives throughout 2012. With particular focus on assisting at-risk youth and families, the Crew has worked closely with organizations such as Easter Seals, Faith Mission and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
In addition, the Crew's charitable arm – the Crew Soccer Foundation – has developed numerous programs to use soccer as a vehicle to assist children in economically disadvantaged areas of Columbus through a free recreational soccer league and clinic series, as well as soccer field development projects, student-athlete scholarships and educational and healthy lifestyles programming
