Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and United Soccer League™ Team Up to Celebrate Community Champions with Launch of Hometown Heroes Award

Best Western Hotels & Resorts and USL to honor five finalists for their community impact, with the first-ever Hometown Hero Award winner revealed at the Championship Final Game

Phoenix, Arizona (October 4, 2025) – Best Western Hotels & Resorts and the United Soccer League (USL) today announced the launch of their Hometown Heroes Award, a new initiative celebrating the extraordinary individuals across the USL network who are making meaningful impacts in their communities both on and off the field.

The Hometown Heroes Award, presented by Best Western Hotels & Resorts, recognizes five inspiring finalists from across the league this season – including players, team staff and community members – who embody the values of service, leadership and giving back. Each honoree will be recognized through a video showcasing their inspirational story, culminating in a special on-field recognition at the USL Championship Final Game in November.

Today, the companies are proud to unveil the five 2025 Hometown Hero finalists:

●     Jules Myers, Senior Manager of Match Production & Club Impact, New Mexico United

○     Led more than 100 clinics reaching 20,000 youth and helped raise $47,000 for local nonprofits

●     Ryan Troutman, Goalkeeper, Louisville City FC

○     Founded the David Troutman Foundation, raising $30,000+ for cancer research and youth sports while mentoring young athletes

●     Jared Mazzola, Goalkeeper, Sacramento Republic FC

○     Nicknamed “The Mayor,” Mazzola has logged over 1,000 hours of service supporting youth clinics, hospitals and Unified Team programs

●     Maxwell Murray, Community & Youth Programs Manager, Detroit City FC

○     Champions youth soccer in Detroit, including spearheading Black Star Weekend celebrating Black culture

●     Cimi Alvarado, Local Artist, El Paso Locomotive FC

○     Designed team kits honoring Chicanx heritage and co-founded Kalavera Culture Shop to support new creators

“This program reflects the heart of the sport and its power to unite and uplift communities,” said Joelle Park, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at BWH® Hotels. “Best Western Hotels & Resorts is honored to stand alongside the United Soccer League in celebrating the players, staff and community members whose service and leadership make a lasting difference in the places they call home.”

“This award allows us to spotlight the individuals whose passion for service matches their passion for soccer,” said Josh Keller, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development & Partnerships at USL. “By sharing their stories, we not only recognize their impact but inspire others across our league to make a difference in their own communities.”

The Hometown Heroes program builds on the partnership announced earlier this year, with Best Western Hotels & Resorts serving as the Official Hotel Partner of the USL. Together, the companies share a commitment to supporting the communities in which they operate, ensuring the sport continues to drive meaningful change both locally and nationally.

For more information, visit Best Western Hotels & Resorts and United Soccer League. 

 

About BWH® Hotels

BWH Hotels is a leading, global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and SureStay® Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.* With 18 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market. For more information, visit bwhhotels.com.

*Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

 

About USL

Founded in 1986, the United Soccer League (USL) is the largest and fastest-growing soccer organization in the United States, impacting more than 200 communities nationwide. The USL is the first and only organization to offer a comprehensive youth-to-professional pathway for both men and women under one ecosystem. This structure includes four men’s leagues: the newly announced, top-tier professional Division I league, the USL Championship (Division II), USL League One (Division III), and USL League Two (pre-professional). The women’s pathway includes the top-tier USL Super League (Division I), which debuted in 2024, and USL W League, the country’s leading pre-professional women’s league. The USL also oversees USL Academy, a progressive talent development platform, and USL Youth, a premier national youth platform.

With multi-year national and international media rights agreements across various platforms including CBS Sports, ESPN and Peacock, the USL is the most widely accessible soccer league in the country.