[SOCCER NIGHT IN NEWTOWN] Many U.S. stars of today and yesterday -- including Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm -- have agreed to take part in the “Soccer Night in Newtown,” on Monday to support Newtown, Conn., site of last month's tragic school shooting that left 26, students, teachers and staff dead.

Houston Dynamo president Chris Canetti, a native of nearby Guilford, Conn., organized the event that will be open to  Newtown residents and members of the Newtown Youth Soccer Club.

Newtown families and children will meet players and play in small-sided games at the Newtown Youth Academy Sports & Fitness Center.

As part of the event, Dynamo Charities, the charitable arm of the Houston Dynamo, is sponsoring an on-line auction to benefit the United Way of Western Connecticut’s Sandy Hook School Support Fund that provides support services to the families and community members affected by this tragedy.

Quinnipiac University Soccer and Connecticut Football Club are also helping organize the event.

Other players taking part in the event include the San Jose Earthquakes’ Marcus Tracy, who grew up in Newtown and whose mother once taught at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and U.S. women's captain Christie Rampone.

Former stars who will take part include Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda and Connecticut native Kristine Lilly, also quickly pledged to take part.