LAFC, KAISER PERMANENTE, ADIDAS AND U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PREPARE FOR STUDENTS EVENTUAL RETURN TO SCHOOLS WITH NEW FUTSAL COURTS

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Initiative Creates Five Additional Futsal Courts With Local School Districts For Students To Enjoy When Safe To Play Again

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), LAFC Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, adidas and the U.S. Soccer Foundation have teamed up with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Lynwood School District to create an additional five futsal courts throughout Los Angeles. The collaboration highlights each organization’s mission and commitment to expanding access to fitness opportunities for students and providing opportunity to the world’s game.

“We pledged, from day one, to be a force for good in our community,” said LAFC Co-President Larry Freedman. “Our collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, adidas and the U.S. Soccer Foundation will create a lasting safe place to play for local youth in the Heart of Los Angeles.”

LAFC and Kaiser Permanente have spent 2020 installing futsal courts at four of the five schools, including Hosler Middle School (Lynwood), Cimarron Elementary School (LAUSD), Stoner Elementary (LAUSD), and Sun Valley Middle School. Sun Valley Middle School is the first futsal court the partners have created using the innovative Musco Sports Lighting Mini-Pitch System™. This will allow youth and the community to use the court in the evening while ensuring the safety of students and their coaches. The installation at El Sereno Middle School (LAUSD) is scheduled for later this year.

 

“Play is essential to total health – mind, body, and spirit. We are proud to have made this multi-year futsal court commitment to provide youth with a fun way to exercise,” said Julie Miller-Phipps, president, Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Hawaii, Health Plan and Hospitals. “Although COVID-19 has temporarily restricted how youth can safely play, we are investing in futsal courts now, so they are ready when it is safe for kids to play soccer again. Having strong community partners like LAFC, with a shared mission, makes this all possible.”

Kaiser Permanente’s roots run deep throughout Southern California with a long history of expanding access to communities, shaping health knowledge and improving environments. The collaboration with LAFC falls in line with its mission to improve the total health of its members as well as the communities it serves.

”Even though we can’t be together to celebrate in person this year, we’re thankful to still be able to carry out our work in Los Angeles and that we can continue to safely install mini-pitches with LAFC, adidas, Kaiser Permanente, and LAUSD,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, president & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “These mini-pitches are free and open to all members of the community and serve as a uniting force while strengthening community connections.”

In an effort to make the newly installed court accessible after regular school hours to the larger surrounding community, Sun Valley Middle School’s refurbishment will include a full Musco Sports Lighting Mini-Pitch System™. The state-of-the-art system comes complete with industry-leading LED lighting—greatly reducing glare and spill from affecting nearby homes—as well as fencing, goals, benches, and lockable storage.

“The LA Unified Beyond the Bell program is extremely grateful to have partners like LAFC and LAFC Foundation,” LAUSD Regional Director Howard Serpas said. “These futsal pitches have given our students, their families, and our communities the amazing opportunity to play the beautiful game “soccer” before, during, and after school. The addition of Musco Lighting will create even more access to the courts, an enormous win for LA.”

Since the Club’s inaugural season in 2018, LAFC, the LAFC Foundation and Kaiser Permanente have refurbished a total of 11 courts and pitches, continuing their goal to unite the world’s city through the world’s game.

ABOUT LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB (LAFC)

Now in its third season, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is the newest MLS club serving the greater Los Angeles area. Coming off a record-breaking 2019 where the Club won the MLS Supporters Shield and established MLS records for most points, LAFC is dedicated to building a world-class football club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. LAFC’s ownership group is comprised of local leaders and innovators of industry with intellectual capital, financial prowess, operations expertise and success in the fields of entertainment, sports, technology and media. LAFC is invested in the world’s game and Los Angeles, constructing and developing the 22,000 seat Banc of California Stadium and a top-flight training center on the campus of Cal State Los Angeles.

 

ABOUT KAISER PERMANENTE

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health.

ABOUT THE U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION

The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s programs are the national model for sports-based youth development in underserved communities. Since its founding in 1994, the Foundation has established programs proven to help children embrace an active and healthy lifestyle while nurturing their personal growth beyond sports. Its cost-effective, high-impact initiatives offer safe environments where kids and communities thrive. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @ussoccerfndn and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ussoccerfoundation.

Los Angeles Football Club
4751 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #333
Los Angeles, CA 90010
LAFC.com

 

 

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