LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Sparks
With so much bad press these days about the despicable antics of some superstar athletes, it's nice to be reminded that a few bad apples don't represent the whole crop. For every National Football League player who gets arrested for violence or National Basketball Association athlete who gets fined for hateful language, there are others who are quietly taking the time to do things like teach their sport to under-served children or read to kids at inner-city schools.
These athletes, including some who came from their own difficult childhoods, are true heroes. They prove to young fans that you can accomplish great things if you work hard, and they take time to help teach valuable lessons about such things as literacy, physical activity and nutrition. This is why I am thrilled to announce that First 5 LA has partnered with two local professional athletic teams with whom we share a common interest: the health and well-being of Los Angeles County's children. Our partnerships with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and the MLS' LA Galaxy will help us promote awareness and understanding of our four strategic goals that children are born healthy, maintain a healthy weight, are free from abuse and neglect and are ready for kindergarten. The partnerships will also provide opportunities to further acquaint L.A. County families with First 5 LA's countywide and Best Start efforts, along with those of our partners, to support children prenatal to age 5 and their families. The Sparks is providing First 5 LA with space at three of their highest-attended games of the season so representatives can talk with local families about Best Start, our summer Rethink Your Drink campaign and anything from literacy to nutrition. First 5 LA and Best Start already attended the Downtown Dribble event on July 17 at L.A. Live, where children up to age 19 were lead through basketball drills by professional coaches. In addition, the Sparks will bring their street team and players to selected Best Start communities to host Little Dribbler's clinics at Best Start's Play Day events (click here to check for upcoming Play Days). Look for First 5 LA and Best Start at the Aug. 3 Camp Day, a day and game set aside for children and their families, and also at the Aug. 7 Gospel Night Game and Concert and the Sept. 10 Dads and Daughters Day, the final game of the season. Sparks President Mike Levy told us: "We value our partnership with First 5 LA, especially considering we share the mission of dedicating our outreach and efforts to the betterment of kids in our community." In addition, First 5 LA and Best Start will be at two Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation Camps for Kids on Aug. 9 and Aug. 16, which teach between 200 and 300 children soccer drills, plus nutrition and health tips. Potter the Otter, the Rethink Your Drink mascot, will make an appearance to talk with the kids about the importance of drinking water and not sugary drinks, and will have books and water bottles for the kids, too. The LA Galaxy will host First 5 LA and Best Start at upcoming games and will host mini soccer clinics for toddlers and their families at upcoming events in the Best Start communities. Evelyn V. Martinez Chief Executive Officer
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