DC United Goals Now Worth Up to $20,000 for National MS Society

D.C. United and its official sponsor, Leidos, opened a campaign to donate up to $20,000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, the soccer team announced.

The initiative aims to support the almost one million people in the U.S. living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Among them is Dave Johnson, the team’s sportscaster, who was diagnosed in 2019.

“Dave is more than just the voice of our club, his influence and commitment to building community for D.C. United supporters — new and old — is second to none,” Danita Johnson, president of business operations for D.C. United, said in a press release.

“We’re proud to be able to support him and a cause that is so near and dear to him,” she added.

For every goal that D.C. United scores in games between Aug. 21 and Oct. 30 — a moment marked by Dave Johnson’s signature call, “It’s in the Net!” — the team and Leidos will donate $1,000 to the campaign, up to $20,000.

Johnson, whose mother died of MS, is also a patient advocate and ambassador for the National MS Society.

“My mother lost her battle with multiple sclerosis, but with the support of the likes of Leidos and D.C. United, I and millions of others are going to kick MS,” Johnson said.

“As United Head Coach Hernán Losada preaches, ‘Vamos Por Más,’ we will continue to go for more until we win,” he added.

D.C. United matches can be viewed in English on NBC Sports Washington and D.C. United’s website, and in Spanish on TeleXitos.

Johnson is also registered to take part in a society fundraiser called Bike MS: Nation’s Capital, which will take place on Aug. 29. The initiative is reported to be the largest fundraising cycling series in the world, bringing together nearly 75,000 cyclists and more than 6,000 teams.

Leidos, a technology company headquartered in Reston, Virginia, includes a branch office specialized in biopharmaceutical product development services for scientists and companies working in diseases that include MS.

“Leidos is honored to partner with legendary sportscaster Dave Johnson and D.C. United in the fight against MS,” said Melissa Dueñas, senior vice president of Leidos.

“With Dave leading the way we hope to further groundbreaking research to find a cure,” Dueñas added.

A founding club of Major League Soccer, established in the U.S. in 1996, D.C. United holds 13 domestic and international trophies.