A Message to Our Community Seven years ago, Chivas USA burst onto the Southern California landscape with two clear missions, to deliver world-class soccer and give back to the children and families of Los Angeles. Today, Chivas USA is giving back to the community more than ever, proudly running a number of initiatives that range from promoting the importance of reading among school children, to educating fans and supporters about the importance of taking care of our environment. 2011 was filled with great moments! One of our proudest was the celebration of our flagship initiative Chivas at the Park LA, a program that for the past four years has continually advanced our club’s commitment to the growth of youth soccer in Southern California. This year saw the kick off of our team’s first ever “Read & Score Bus Tour,” an exciting event that had Chivas USA players feeling like reading rock stars and one that had a lasting effect on hundreds of children. To support families facing the extraordinary challenge of raising children with special needs, Chivas USA also launched its HEART Soccer Camps program. This unique soccer clinic series was another first for the club and proved to be one of the most rewarding. Chivas USA believes that giving back is the right thing to do, and that our presence in the community gives our supporters more reasons to stand behind us. Our commitment to the community goes beyond the 90t h minute of each soccer match. Our desire to give back goes beyond a great victory or a tough loss. This belief drives Chivas USA forward and will continue to push us towards excellence, advancing new and existing programs that strengthen the community we call home. This report is a snapshot of our accomplishments this year, it is a thank you to the organizations who believed in our club’s ability to support their cause, and is a reminder of why our ownership, players, and staff will continue to give their very best year after year. We hope you enjoy it! All of our best,
Antonio Cue, Chivas USA Owner Operator & President
Youth Soccer Chivas at the Park L.A. Few programs in Southern California have given back as much as Chivas at the Park LA! Thanks to the continued support of the city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Chivas USA hosted close to 5,000 children and families this year alone. Led by certified club academy coaching staff, participating boys and girls had the opportunity to learn a variety of basic soccer skills that ranged from ball dribbling, to passing techniques, and drills that emphasize teamwork. Designed as an event for the entire family, each soccer clinic was an opportunity for boys and girls to score a goal with their favorite Chivas USA player looking on, join in a dance session led by the ChivaGirls, enjoy live music acts, have their face-painted, or win a prize from program sponsors. To date, Chivas at the Park LA has touched the lives of close to 10,000 children and families, proudly standing as one of the most successful grassroots soccer programs in all of Southern California.
HEART Soccer Camps “It’s hard to find fun sports activities for special needs children.” This is what Chivas USA heard from parents and special needs organizations and what sparked the launch of Chivas USA’s HEART Soccer Camps. The initiative hosted hundreds of little ones, their siblings and families giving them all an opportunity to forget about their challenges and enjoy a day of soccer and fun. Each event featured certified Chivas USA coaches and specialized volunteers that led participants in a series of fun and unique activities that had children learning basic soccer skills. The series of camps supported youth facing a variety of illnesses and physical challenges including visually-impaired children, children undergoing cancer treatment, and youth affected by a variety of developmental disorders. To ensure that the needs of each group were met, camps were coordinated with the assistance of specialized staff from participating special needs support groups. Expanding the program in the future is now a priority for the club who is now looking for new ways to bring the joy of soccer to all children.
“Chivas USA’S HEART Soccer Camps are truly something unique and fantastic experiences for our kids and families.”
academics Read & Score Helping students do their very best in school is important and in just two years, Chivas USA’s Read & Score initiative has rewarded top student readers at over 100 schools and impacted the lives of close to 5,000 students. The initiative is designed to support existing reading programs at elementary schools looking for a new way to get their students and families excited about reading. This year the Read & Score program kicked off in an especially exciting way when Chivas USA players, the ChivaGirls, and ChivaFighter took a ride on the club’s first ever, Read & Score Bus Tour! Seeing the team arrive in an actual school bus was a real treat for children and teachers alike and Chivas USA looks forward to taking the tour to new levels in the future.
“Our club is really proud of what this literacy initiative has achieved in such a short period of time,” said Chivas USA President Antonio Cue. “We really look forward to making the bus tour bigger and better because not only will it help us get the word out about our program, but more importantly, it means we’re helping more teachers get their students and families excited about reading.”
fundación chivas de corazón usa 5 th Annual Golf Tournament Following through on its spirit of charitable giving Chivas USA’s Fundación Chivas de Corazón USA returned with its 5 th Annual Golf Tournament. Joined by members of the team’s ownership, coaching staff and team, close to two hundred golfers hit the links for a day of friendly competition, special guests, and surprises along the entire course. From a cool gift bag set, to the snacks, refreshments, lunch and giveaways that kept on coming, the event was a resounding success and participating golfers, players and staff proclaimed it as the best yet!
ChivaKids Makes A Difference In addition to supporting a variety of special causes, the clubs ChivaKids program is another way Chivas USA gives back. This initiative allows as many as 40,000 under-privileged children to attend Chivas USA home games year after year. The program has been around since day one and has brought Chivas USA’s talent and world-class game experience to over 100 local non-profits, community based organizations and groups. From foster-care homes, to children facing extraordinary challenges, the Red-and-White’s ChivaKids program is sure to grow stronger in the future.
teaming up with mls w.o.r.k.s Chivas USA GOES GREEN To do its part in caring for our ocean and planet, Chivas USA joined Major League Soccer’s MLS W.O.R.K.S on a month-long “Greener Goals” campaign that educated children and families on the importance of protecting the environment. Local partners Heal the Bay, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation were also part of the “green team,” and each played a key role in the first piece of the effort that challenged three schools to a one of a kind recycling contest. “It was amazing to see children and families surpass our expectations,” said Steven Casares, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. “The goal was to have each school fill a maximum of 25 bins but, in only a two week period their combined total was equal to 3 tons of material!” The next part of the campaign had Chivas USA team up with Heal the Bay at a beach clean up day where hundreds of volunteers collected debris from a local stretch of beach and learned about the harmful effects of plastic and other debris for ocean life. Finally, the Goats hosted a green game night that treated fans and families to special activities including the Aquarium of the Pacific’s “Aquarium on Wheels,” a mobile tide pool exhibit that gave fans the opportunity to see, touch, and learn about various ocean life species. Partners Heal the Bay taught children how to create their own reusable bag out of t-shirts, and the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation was also on hand informing families about the importance of recycling at home. To add to the excitement of that night’s match-up, Chivas USA player jerseys featured green lettering as well as the MLS W.O.R.K.S Greener Goals patch.
partnerships Donate Life California Chivas USA’s impact in the community can only be matched by the depth and inspiration it finds in the organizations it is proud to support and for the past three years, Chivas USA and Donate Life California have inspired Southern California residents to take action and consider how they could one day give the gift of life. Chivas USA and Donate Life California first connected thanks to Sergio Gomez, an avid Chivas USA fan and member of its Legion 1908 supporters, who is alive thanks to the donation of a kidney from his sister Claudia Pinzon. Chivas USA supports Donate Life in a variety of ways throughout the year. The annual Run/Walk held each spring on the campus of Cal State Fullerton is a team favorite and an opportunity for the ChivaGirls, ChivaFighter and front office staff to join thousands of families impacted by organ and tissue donation. With a nationally-recognized reputation, Donate Life has for many years been a constant presence at the Tournament of Roses Parade held on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. Each year Donate Life commissions their very own Rose Parade Float and as a valued partner, Chivas USA players and staff are privileged enough to count themselves amongst the volunteers invited to decorate their float.
Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw & Pittman Career Panels A valued friend and partner of Chivas USA, the legal team at Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw & Pittman has for the past three years, been the driving force behind a series of career panels that connect legal industry professionals with hundreds of students at middle schools throughout Los Angeles. Each event is attended by a Chivas USA player and members of Pillsbury’s legal team who provide students with insight into their own education and career path as well as send the message that staying in school and getting a college education is important. To ensure that the program has a real impact every event also includes a student academic challenge. The way this works is that school administrators decide in what subject area they want to see students improve and those who step up and improve in their academics are eligible for field level seats to a Chivas USA home game. Every student who participates in the series of panels is rewarded with tickets to a Chivas USA home game making this program an enjoyable experience for all.
LA’s Best Health Fair On Sunday, October 2 LA’s BEST in collaboration with the Consulate General of Mexico and Chivas USA hosted the Annual LA’s Best Health Festival at the Home Depot Center. The Family Health Festival was designed to encourage children and families to make healthier lifelong choices. The fair provided the 5,000 participants hands on experiences including fun and engaging fitness and nutrition activities. The event culminated with everyone attending the Chivas USA soccer match that afternoon.
PADRES Contra El Cáncer Inspired by PADRES Contra El Cáncer’s mission to provide young cancer patients and their families with the services they need brought Chivas USA to launch a mission-driven relationship that engaged team members as well as the team’s own non-profit, Fundación Chivas de Corazón USA. The first stop for the partnership was PADRES’ Annual Stand for HOPE 5K Charity Run/Walk, a special day where Chivas USA joined thousands of families who braved the rain and hail on a cold morning at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Chivas USA’s own run/walk team was in the dozens with owner Antonio Cue and his family joining PADRES National Spokesperson Eva Longoria and ambassadors, Cristian De La Fuente (actor), Beto Cuevas (musician), Enrique Gutierrez (Univision Sports Anchor) and Keven Ramirez (LA radio host), among others. The marquee event for the club and PADRES happened in late August when Chivas USA’s, Fundación Chivas de Corazón USA hosted its 5 th Annual Golf Tournament in honor of the fight against childhood cancer. Generously supported by dozens of team sponsors, media partners and friends; close to two hundred golfers made the event one of the teams’ best ever. Designated as pediatric cancer awareness month, September had Chivas USA and PADRES connecting with Major League Soccer’s league-wide “Soccer Kicks Cancer” initiative. Activities surrounding this effort included hosting nearly two-hundred PADRES children and families at a Chivas USA HEART Soccer Camp that had little ones learning soccer and taking part in arts and crafts activities. Later on that evening and prior to the start of the Chivas USA game, PADRES representatives educated fans on the services they provide to families with children diagnosed with cancer as well as the need for bone marrow donors.
Los Angeles Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development-Summer Night Lights A strong relationship with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the important work done by his Office of Gang Reduction & Youth Development motivated Chivas USA to step in and do their part to support the Mayor’s Summer Night Lights initiative. Each summer Chivas USA coaching staff lead soccer clinics at inner-city parks affected by gang violence encouraging youth to practice sports while helping to keep them safe.
Thank You To Our Supporters and Friends Your belief in Chivas USA and Fundación Chivas de Corazón USA makes us stronger and ensures that we continue to provide our youth, families, and supporters with programs that enhance their lives, lift their spirits, and make them proud to stand behind our team!
The Summer Night Lights program has gained national recognition and today is a model for cities throughout the United States looking to lessen violence in their communities. Chivas USA is proud to stand behind the City of Los Angeles and its proven dedication to giving inner city youth and families its very best.
LAPD Northeast Boxing Program Showcases Young Local Talent On Sunday, October 2 the Los Angeles Police Department’s Northeast Area PAL Division and Chivas USA hosted the first ever Northeast Area PAL Boxing Show. The show included 13 youth bouts and recognition of the winners during the half-time ceremonies at that night’s Chivas USA home game. Launched in 1987, the LAPD Northeast Boxing Club was established as a way to divert youth from joining street gangs. In its 24 years in existence, this program has helped hundreds of youth stay out of gangs and pursue a higher education.
Building Dreams with Mike Another first for the Foundation this year happened when it joined star club forward Michael Lahoud for a season long Building Dreams with Mike campaign. A native of Sierra Leone, Lahoud’s inspiring mission to rebuild rural schools destroyed by that country’s ten-year civil war led to the foundations first-ever bowling extravaganza, an event that brought the entire team bowling for a worthy cause. “Today I find myself dedicated to the mission of bringing hope to the children of my home country. By helping to build schools in Sierra Leone,” said Michael Lahoud. “We can give children an opportunity to improve their life through education, and maybe, just maybe, they will grow up to one day improve the lives of those around them.”
A special thank you to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Alicia Avalos, John Mukri, Vicki Israel, Charles Singer, Ramon Barajas, Dana Valdes, Sergeant Danny Roman, Officer Juan Padilla, Officer Hector Ibarra, Carla Sanger, Edith Ballesteros, Jan Greenberg, Meredith McCarthy, Mathew King, Marilyn Padilla, Milena Acosta, Steven Casares, Sonia Navarro, Eric Save, Robert Herr, Richard Zaitlen and Stephen Gelfond.
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