Major Leaue Soccer Honors Four Austin Leaders as 2025 Hometown Heroes

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Hometown Heroes Showcase presented by RBC Wealth Management honored local leaders on July 21 in partnership with MLS, Black Players for Change, and Austin FC during All-Star Week in Austin.

Credit: Chelsea Purgahn for MLS

Austin, TX (July 21, 2025) โ€“ Major League Soccer (MLS), RBC Wealth Management, and Black Players for Change (BPC) proudly celebrated four inspiring local leaders during the 2025 MLS Hometown Heroes Showcase presented by RBC Wealth Management, held Monday night at Antoneโ€™s in downtown Austin.

Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver served as this yearโ€™s official program ambassador. The fourth annual event, part of MLS All-Star Week, honored individuals making a lasting impact on the Austin community through education, empowerment, environmental sustainability, and access to sport. Each honoree received a $15,000 grant to support the mission of their organization.

2025 MLS Hometown Heroes:

  *   Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez โ€“ Co-Executive Director, Austin Youth River Watch
  *   LaKissa Bright โ€“ Founder & Executive Director, Ladders for Leaders
  *   Gabriela Kane Guardia โ€“ Executive Director, Latinitas
  *   Bill Wallace โ€“ Founder & Executive Director, Tomorrowโ€™s Promise Foundation

Each leader was recognized for driving meaningful change across Central Texasโ€”whether through environmental science education, youth leadership programs, culturally relevant STEM initiatives, or holistic family wellness services.

2025 Honorary Hero: Ismael Guzmรกn โ€“ Founder, East Austin Soccer Club, was celebrated for his longstanding commitment to affordable, competitive youth soccer and life-skill development through the East Austin Soccer Club.

The MLS Hometown Heroes Showcase is one of several official events leading up to the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, featuring MLS vs. LIGA MX on Wednesday, July 23, at Q2 Stadium in Austin.

For more on this yearโ€™s honorees, visit MLSHometownHeroes.com