WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 14, 2024) - D.C. United announced its 12 2024 Raise a Toast honorees for their commitment to promoting service, justice, and leadership in the community. D.C. United’s annual Raise a Toast dinner presented by the D.C. United Foundation recognizes and celebrates local heroes that have made a difference and positively impacted the DMV.
To learn more about D.C. United’s Raise a Toast program and nominate someone you know making a difference, please click here.
In addition to their Raise A Toast award, the D.C. United Foundation granted a $1,000 donation to benefit a nonprofit of each honoree’s choosing. The full list of honorees is below:
Receiving the Empowerment Award:
Laura Berrocal – Board President, The WICT Network
- Laura Berrocal is the Vice President of Policy and External Affairs at Charter Communications (Spectrum) where she directs the development and execution of public policy and communications strategy planning for the company’s External Affairs Segment. Prior to joining Charter, Berrocal served as Director of External Affairs at CTIA, the leading trade association representing the U.S. wireless communications industry. Berrocal holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from The George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science and Professional Studies in Spanish from Temple University. She sits on the Board of Directors of the National Foundation for Women Legislators and The Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Network: Washington DC/Baltimore, where she currently serves as Board President. She is also an appointed member of the Women in Leadership Executive Program Advisory Council with The George Washington University School of Business.
The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **The WICT Network** in Laura's honor.
Rebeca Gore – Community Engagement Manager, Move 2 Learn
- Rebeca Gore is a Washington, DC native, who now lives in Alexandria, VA, as a community advocate and athlete who is passionate about serving others. Early in her professional life, she taught nutrition education at a dual language DC public school, Marie Reed, for three years before moving abroad to Guyana with the Peace Corps to teach Health and Family Life Education with youth at Annai Secondary, in Region 9. Rebeca is the Community Engagement Manager at Move2Learn, where she develops relationships in managing partnerships and programs with all ACPS schools and community organizations to use movement to transform learning so all students can reach their highest potential. She previously worked at a Latino Immigrant Christian Community Center, Casa Chirilagua as the Director of Youth Leadership, where she collaborated with different partners and volunteers to lead the youth programs and events. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **Greater Alexandria Young Life** in Rebeca's honor.
R.M. Horrell, J.D. - CEO, Mozzeria
- R.M. Horrell, J.D. (they/them) is the Chief Executive Officer of Mozzeria, Inc. a deaf-owned and operated restaurant, with locations in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, California, and is an adjunct professor of law at Empire College School of Law. Having grown up in poverty, R.M. is dedicated to anti-poverty work and has served on the Board of Directors of Sonoma Community Action Network since 2020 and has been President of the same since 2021. When not working, R.M. enjoys writing, playing board games with friends, and tooling around in the garden. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **the Deaf Organizations Fund** in R.M.'s honor.
Neil Irvin – Executive Director, MCSR
- Neil Irvin is a collaborative leader with over 40 years in youth development, gender-based violence prevention and leadership experience. As the Executive Director of MCSR, Neil oversees the mission of the D.C. based organization, including youth initiatives, strategic partnerships with government and private entities, and public awareness campaigns. He played a transformative role in expanding the MOST Club, a program that promotes healthy masculinity and violence prevention, from one site in Washington, D.C., to over 300 locations across 40 states. Neil has further enriched the youth development space by creating and producing impactful media projects, including the award-winning documentary “Nameless” as well as creating the smart phone app, Assault Service Knowledge (A.S.K. DC), and its campus specific version, University Assault Service Knowledge (U.A.S.K.) Neil shares his expertise as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and lectures at various universities, aiming to inspire the next generation of leaders in public health and social justice. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **DC Forensic Nurse Examiners** in Neil's honor.
Receiving the Opportunity Award:
Jim Ensor – Former President, Federal Triangle Soccer Club
- Jim Ensor has been a community champion from a young age, playing a number of sports and later transitioning to volunteer coaching including time with Maryland State Youth Soccer Association, Federal Triangles Soccer Club, and D.C. United summer camps. He was inducted into the Federal Triangles Soccer Club Hall of Fame in 2010 and the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association Hall of Fame in 2017. During the pandemic, Jim led an effort that donated and delivered over 1000 meals from local small businesses to first responders, as well as partnering with a local business to donate sports equipment to Leveling the Playing Field. Jim has raised over $40,000 for charity, worked to donate computers to local programs, started Foot Golf for Good fundraisers to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and has become an avid volunteer with D.C. United’s United We Serve program. Professionally, Jim started an HR services firm to help non-profits and small businesses access services that would otherwise be out of reach. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to t**he Montgomery County Children's Opportunity Alliance** in Jim's honor.
Glenn Goodwine - Coach, Twinning Project
- Glenn Goodwine is a compassionate and dynamic soccer coach with over 17 years of experience dedicated to helping players achieve their goals on and off the field. A graduate of Howard University, where he earned a BS in Clinical Laboratory Science, Glenn has a deep commitment to the development of young athletes. He currently serves as the Maryland Developmental Soccer League Director and manager/coach at Sandy Springs Soccer Club. His coaching journey includes roles as an assistant coach for the DC United U17 Academy and as a talent scout for the organization. A co-founder of the DC Cup Elite/Premier Youth Soccer Tournament, Glenn also created the DCID Elite College Combine, which helped 14 players secure college commitments in 2022. His dedication extends beyond coaching; he formerly mentored coaches and youth trainers through the Marlboro Boys and Girls Club Soccer Program and served as a trainer for QuickFeet Soccer for Kids. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **DC Cup** in Glenn's honor.
Denise Lee – Founder, Social Burger
- Denise Lee is a passionate entrepreneur, born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She holds a BS in Management of Financial Institutions from De La Salle University and a Culinary Degree from Académie De Cuisine in Gaithersburg, MD. Her extensive background in the food industry includes roles as a pastry cook, private chef, and event chef. Denise is the founder of Social Burger, a family-owned business established in 2014 in Vienna, VA, which prides itself on local hiring and sourcing. Her business is deeply connected to the Vienna community, supporting local schools, organizations, and sports teams. All employees live within five miles of the restaurant. Denise is also an active board member of The Lamb Center, a daytime drop-in shelter in Fairfax, VA. Since 2020, Social Burger has donated over 10,000 meals to the center, helping individuals who are part of the City Jobs program, which provides employment opportunities to the unhoused. Volunteering is a requirement for life. This is one of the guiding principles Denise Lee learned from her mother, Ruby. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to the **The Lamb Center** in Denise's honor.
Justin Reid – Coach, Twinning Project
- Justin Reid, born in Canada of parents from Trinidad & Tobago, started his soccer career at the age of 4 and would move on to playing NCAA D1 soccer for the University of Delaware. During his time in college, he also played for the Chesapeake Athletic Dragons, a semi-professional team in the USL. After graduating, Reid volunteered to coach at the New Carrolton Boys & Girls Club. He decided to pursue coaching full-time, so in 2006 he co-founded QuickFeet Soccer for Kids, a 2–7-year-old program for beginner soccer players. The program has since served over 30,000 kids in the DC area. Reid recently finished coaching a cohort of the Twinning Project, a D.C. United community program that supports the professional development of incarcerated individuals through sport. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **DC Cup** in Justin's honor.
Receiving the Service Award:
Pablo Amaya – Performance Coach, D.C. United
- Pablo Amaya is a true community champion, leading with compassion on and off the pitch. Amaya holds a B.S. in Sports Science and numerous certifications that have propelled his career in professional sports and athlete development. He currently serves as the performance strength and conditioning coach for D.C. United First Team, assistant coach for Marymount University men’s soccer, and owner of RAMP Optimal Performance & Wellness. His experiences have allowed him to serve as a mentor for kinesiology students at various universities, fostering student professional development in the performance field. Pablo holds the importance of community in high regard, making sure to always give back in support of youth development. He is an active volunteer in D.C. United’s community relations efforts, ACCA Child Development Center, and Students at Risk Program. Pablo received the Fairfax County Civilian of the Year Award in 2019 for his volunteer efforts. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **Annandale Christian Community for Action** in Pablo's honor.
Synnove Hoover – Supporter, D.C. United
- Synnove Hoover has been a supporter of DC United since 2014. Her love of the game started when she was a young girl when asked to join an older team. Synnove broke barriers as a female referee in the late 80’s as one of the first in SW Ohio. Since her time as a referee, she has found joy and a sense of adventure with her husband of 30 years, Alex and their two children Halden and Gisselle. Synnove has volunteered with the Girls and Boys Scouts, Red Cross, local schools and church. Synnove’s shared passion for soccer and volunteering propelled her towards joining United We Serve, D.C. United’s signature volunteer service program. She is a very active spectator, never sitting down and always yelling encouragement for the Black-and-Red. As a mother of 2, and a friend to many, she is always happy to bring guests to the game whenever they’re in town, showing off her stadium and her team. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **Leveling the Playing Field, Inc**. in Synnove's honor.
Anna Makela, MD – U.S. Army Veteran, Dog Tag Bakery
- Anna Makela, MD calls Washington, DC Metro Area her home and holds a B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of Maryland. She worked as a biochemist at the National Institutes of Health before her commissioning as an officer in the US Army to attend medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Makela served as an adult psychiatrist during her military career throughout the world, including in a combat zone. After her 13 years of active-duty Army service, she pursued further training at Cambridge Health Alliance during the COVID-19 pandemic, completing a fellowship in consultation liaison psychiatry. Dr. Makela is involved with various charitable activities, including teaching psychotherapy in China through a non-profit organization, organizing community events for veterans as a volunteer with Wounded Warrior Project, and serving as the first vice president of her local chapter of the Military Officers Association of America. Recently, she has been part of an entrepreneurship program for veterans called the Dog Tag Bakery Fellowship. Her ultimate goals include creating innovative solutions in healthcare and patient education and returning to public service. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **Dog Tag Bakery** in Anna's honor.
Brenda Lee Richardson – Environmental Activist, Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative
- Ms. Richardson is an eco-feminist and has been working on welfare reforms, environmental justice, economic development, education, behavioral health and health issues for the past 30 years. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She currently serves as the Coordinator of the Anacostia Parks & Community Collaborative as well the President of Chozen Consulting LLC, a consulting company that focuses on community engagement, facilitation, training, and government relations, and is the principal for “Women Like Us,” an initiative that focuses on design thinking for women. She is also the Vice-Chair of the Friends of Oxon Run Park. She also facilitates the Police Service Area 702 Outreach Committee where she works in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department. She serves as the Chair of the Friends of Parkland Turner Library. She represents the Friends of Oxon Run Park on the board of Greenspaces for DC. Ms. Richardson is also an Advisory Board member to Capital Nature and a member of the Urban Forestry Advisory Council. The D.C. United Foundation will be donating $1,000 to **the Friends of Oxon Run Park** in Brenda's honor.
Raise A Toast at Audi Field
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About D.C. United
One of the founding clubs of Major League Soccer in 1996, D.C. United are among the most decorated teams in the United States with 13 domestic and international trophies.
D.C. United have called the District home for the last 28 seasons and play their home games at Audi Field in the Buzzard Point neighborhood of Southwest, Washington, D.C, which opened in 2018. In addition to D.C. United games, the 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium hosts over 100 events year-round and is home to America’s number one sportsbook through a partnership with FanDuel Group.
The Black-and-Red train at the Inova Performance Complex, a state-of-the-art training facility and performance center located in Leesburg, Va. The 40,000 square foot 30-acre training facility, that opened in 2021, features four outdoor practice fields, and a training center equipped with a weight room and recovery facilities.
The Black-and-Red have won the MLS Cup four times (1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004), the Supporters’ Shield four times (1997, 1999, 2006 and 2007) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup three times (1996, 2008 and 2013). For more information and club updates, please visit http://www.dcunited.com and find us on social media @dcunited.
About D.C. United Foundation
The D.C. United Foundation is an extension of D.C. United, the Major League Soccer Club located in Washington, D.C., and prioritizes serving populations that lack equitable access to important resources and education. The D.C. United Foundation harnesses the power of soccer to reach underserved communities in the D.C. area and give youth the tools necessary to soar on and off the pitch. Our work is centered around programming and partners that encourage and provide opportunities for community members to thrive, unite, and have essential support. For more information, visit www.dcunited.com/foundation.
