The anticipation is growing for the members of the 2016 Chicago Fire Special Olympics Unified Team.
This weekend, the squad will accompany the Chicago Fire first team on their trip to Frisco, Texas, where both groups are set for big matches against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. The first team renews its Brimstone Cup series against FCD at 8 p.m. CT (TV: CSN Chicago) and the Fire Unified Team squares off with their counterparts from FC Dallas in the nightcap of the doubleheader, also competing on the main pitch at Toyota Stadium.
For this year's edition of the Chicago Fire Unified Team -- which is composed of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities -- the match is their first competitive outing after several months of training, the most recent of which was held Wednesday at Toyota Park prior to the Fire's 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. With the big road trip to Texas on the horizon, the athletes were delivered personal well wishes from Special Olympics Global Ambassador Elena Delle Donne, the standout forward of the WNBA's Chicago Sky and her league's reigning MVP:
Serving as an assistant coach for a second straight season is Jen Marcello, the Chicago Fire's nominee for the 2016 MLS WORKS Community MVP. Fans are encouraged to vote for Marcello in recognition of her outstanding dedication to the growth and success of the Chicago Fire Unified Team and her many other community contributions on behalf of Special Olympics.
Each Community MVP finalist will receive two tickets to a 2016 MLS match and a trip for two to the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in San Jose, CA, among other prizes. In addition to the Grand Prize winner receiving a $10,000 donation to their selected charity, Wells Fargo has pledged a $1,000 donation to each selected charity of the remaining 19 finalists.
Following this weekend's road trip, Chicago can watch its Special Olympics Unified Soccer Team compete live and in person when the group hosts a home match in conjunction with the Fire's match vs. Orlando City SC on Sunday, August 14 at Toyota Park (3 p.m. CT | TICKETS)
