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The International Soccer Festival (ISF) Celebrity Gala Fundraiser will be held at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice in Downtown Houston on Sept. 29 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Event organizers said the celebration looks to raise $2 million, which will benefit BlueCheck Ukraine, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and the ISF.
“Our 2023 Celebrity Gala will recognize the achievements of our non-profit partners, celebrity guests, and community leaders,” ISF President Corey Mason said, according to a press release. “We look forward to bringing them together in Houston and to kick off ISF 2027. Our first gala will complement the FIFA World Cup in the United States in 2026 and is designed to infuse the spirit of peace and cooperation.”
According to the press release, the gala, which organizers project to draw more than 400 guests, will honor Mason, ISF Chairwoman Lucia Kaiser, actor Liev Schreiber, retired soccer star Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and U.S. Soccer Foundation leader Ed Foster-Simeon. Grammy Award winning record producer Quincy Jones and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) will also attend the event.
The ISF is in the process of putting together its namesake event slated to take place in Houston in 2027. “We know how effective soccer can be in serving as a catalyst to unite diverse communities,” Mason said, according to the press release. “The International Soccer Festival in Houston in 2027 will be a unique experience that enables participants, attendees, and supporters to gain a better understanding of international culture while highlighting Houston's passion for ‘all things soccer.’”
Inter Miami president and co-owner and former soccer luminary David Beckham will be donating a personally autographed Manchester United Jersey as one of the auction items at the gala, per the press release. Tickets to the event cost between $500 and $1,000 per support, with sponsorship packages for as low as $25,000 available on the ISF website.