Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS), based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a full-line sporting goods retailer offering a broad assortment of brand name sports equipment, apparel, and footwear. The company operates 357 stores in 38 states primarily throughout the eastern half of the U.S. Dick’s also owns Golf Galaxy, Inc., a multi-channel golf specialty retailer with 84 stores in 30 states, ecommerce Web sites and catalog operations; and Chick’s Sporting Goods, which operates 15 sporting goods stores in Southern California.

Dick’s and some of the Major League Soccer’s (MLS) best are teaming up to help some disadvantaged youth for the back-to-school season. A special shopping event, co-sponsored by MLS and several of its teams, is scheduled to take place in Dick’s Sporting Goods stores throughout the country in early September. The events will give approximately 50 underprivileged kids in each community MVP status through a special “personal shopper” experience with players from the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, D.C. United, F.C. Dallas, Kansas City Wizards, New England Revolution, Red Bull New York and Real Salt Lake.

All participating children will be given a complimentary Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card and then accompanied through the store by the players who will help them pick out merchandise to purchase. The events will take place in select Dick’s Sporting Goods stories in each of the team’s home markets and are part of the company’s official sponsorship of MLS. The children will be representing local youth charity organizations selected in combination by the teams and Dick’s Sporting Goods Community Marketing Team.

Let us hear your thoughts below: