Charlotte Shows Up: BPC Celebrates 5 Years of Hometown Heroes
Charlotte, NC – Some nights remind you exactly why this work matters. That was the feeling inside the historic Charlotte Theatre this past week, as the community gathered to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Hometown Heroes program and Black Players for Change was proud to be part of it.
A City That Shows Up
Charlotte has always been a city defined by its people by neighbors who show up for each other, organizations that pour into their communities, and a soccer culture that continues to grow stronger every year. Hometown Heroes was built to recognize exactly that spirit, and five years in, the program has become a cornerstone celebration for the city.
This year's event took that legacy and made it personal, filling the Charlotte Theatre with honorees, families, community leaders, and partners who all share one thing in common: a commitment to making Charlotte better.
Five Years of Honoring the Real MVPs
What started five years ago as a single night of recognition has grown into a full-fledged community tradition. Each year, Hometown Heroes shines a light on the organizations doing the essential work mentoring youth, feeding families, creating access to sport, and building opportunity in neighborhoods across the city. This year's honorees carried that torch forward, and the room made sure they knew it.
The night was guided by Executive Director and emcee Allen Hopkins Jr., whose leadership and voice have helped shape the program into what it is today. Hopkins set the tone early, reminding the crowd that recognition nights like this one aren't just ceremony, they're a reflection of the everyday work happening across Charlotte.
“Hometown Heroes is more than a tradition,” says Hopkins Jr. “It’s a reflection of the heart, resilience, and unity driving our neighborhoods and communities forward. Standing in a room full of people dedicated to service reminds us why Black Players for Change uses its platform to build real, lasting opportunity where it's needed most."
Black Players for Change in the Room
For Black Players for Change, being present for a night like this is always meaningful. Our mission has always centered on equity, opportunity, and using soccer as a platform to strengthen communities. Seeing that mission reflected on stage, in the honorees, and in the crowd was a powerful reminder of why this partnership matters.
The moment carried extra weight as BPC co-founder Justin Morrow took the stage to present one of the evening's awards. Watching Justin hand off that recognition and sharing a moment with an honoree who has spent years serving their community captured exactly what Hometown Heroes is about: real people, doing real work, getting their flowers.
“I live in South America these days and I always come for this event because I love it… I leave with my palms sore from how much we clap at this event – it fills me with so much joy. ”
A Night Made Possible by Strong Partners
None of this happens without the organizations willing to invest in community. Major League Soccer's continued support of Hometown Heroes reflects a broader commitment across the league to using the platform of soccer for lasting community impact. And as presenting sponsor, RBC Wealth Management brought that same spirit of investment — not just in markets, but in people — helping make the evening possible from start to finish.
That combination of league support, corporate partnership, and grassroots community organizations is exactly the formula that allows nights like this to keep growing, year after year.
“Five years ago the seed of an idea was planted. We’ve been able to honor and recognize 25 heroes over the last five years. We’ve been able to donate a quarter of a million dollars so that they can continue their work long after the spotlight, long after the applause are gone. They wake up each and every day to do the work that’s so important to keep lives healthy and communities sustained.”
Here's to the Next Five
As the lights came up and honorees posed for one last group photo on stage, it was clear this was more than a ceremony. it was a citywide thank-you. Five years of Hometown Heroes have built something real in Charlotte, and Black Players for Change is grateful to have stood alongside Allen Hopkins Jr., the Hometown Heroes team, Major League Soccer, RBC Wealth Management, and every honoree who made the night unforgettable.
Charlotte showed up. And BPC will keep showing up right alongside it.
ABOUT OUR CHARLOTTE HOMETOWN HEROES
Anderson Outreach | Alesia Fleming, Board Chair - Anderson Outreach exists to shift the narrative of young survivors of trauma by creating moments that restore dignity, belonging, and love — from birthday celebrations to holiday joy to luggage filled with necessities during times of transition. These initiatives strengthen emotional well-being and empower youth aging out of care to become confident, productive contributors to the community.
Read 2 Succeed | Ashley Allen, Co-Executive Director - Read 2 Succeed Asheville/Buncombe is a local, independent literacy nonprofit working to close the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered, evidence-based literacy programming across early childhood, elementary tutoring, and family literacy access. Its impact comes through practical, no-cost investments — one-to-one tutoring, literacy trainings, and culturally responsive books distributed directly to homes and classrooms.
Two-Six Project | Janae Aiken, Director, Emerging Leaders Program - The Two-Six Project supports historically under-resourced youth and communities through intentional exposure, education, and community activation that fosters leadership, creativity, and advocacy. Its pillar program, the Emerging Leaders Program, gives under-resourced high school student-athletes a year-round leadership and professional development experience through bi-monthly immersive sessions with expert professionals.
Charlotte ToolBank | Maureen Krueger, Executive Director - The Charlotte ToolBank has been a cornerstone of the region's charitable ecosystem for 15 years, partnering with over 1,300 nonprofits to provide tools, equipment, and expertise that save organizations more than $18 million and countless hours. Looking ahead, it aims to expand equitable access to tools and position itself as essential infrastructure for workforce development, housing stability, and neighborhood revitalization.
LEARN MORE: mlshometownheroes.com
Watch the full showcase
About Black Players for Change
Black Players for Change (BPC) is an award-winning independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization consisting of over 170+ Black players, coaches and staff from MLS, working to bridge the racial equality gap that exists in society. BPC is committed to tackling the racial injustices that have limited Black people from having an equitable stake in the game of soccer and society. Among the many goals, the organization strives to advance the attention on human rights inequalities from protests to programs, partnerships, and policies that address systemic discrimination. For more information visit www.BlackPlayersForChange.org.
