On February 17, 2023, Herbalife Nutrition, the LA Galaxy, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at DeForest Park in Long Beach to unveil two new mini-pitch fields that will provide kids in the community a safe place to play. Created in underutilized areas, the mini-pitches are made possible through the LA Galaxy Foundation and Herbalife Nutrition’s Joint Community Partnership Fund.
“Our partnership with Herbalife extends off the field and into the communities we serve to make impactful contributions towards the advancement of soccer in Los Angeles and around the world,” said Chris Klein, President of the LA Galaxy.
The mini-pitches, located south of the existing basketball court, will include a resurfaced area as part of the transformation. The surfaces underwent crack filling, asphalt repair, and acrylic resurfacing. The navy blue and white, 27 ½ x 9-foot state-of-the-art pitches were also anchored with two futsal goals at each end and showcase logos from each of the three partners, LA Galaxy, Herbalife Nutrition, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation. The mini-pitches offer the opportunity to rejuvenate abandoned courts and areas with limited space, creating a fun and active place to celebrate the spirit of teamwork, empowerment, and fitness around soccer.
“Living a healthy and active lifestyle is a value the LA Galaxy and Herbalife Nutrition share with the community to instill healthy habits among young soccer fans. We are continuously committed to giving back to and improving our communities,” said Humberto Calleja, vice president, Herbalife Nutrition, North America.
The mini-pitches also mark the latest development in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s It’s Everyone’s Game national movement to ensure children in underserved communities can enjoy the health and youth development benefits of the game. To date, the U.S. Soccer Foundation has installed more than 500 mini-pitches nationwide. The goal is to install 1,000 by 2026.
“We’re thrilled to join our longtime partners at LA Galaxy to unveil two new mini-pitches in the Long Beach community,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We know that soccer has the ability to bring people of all backgrounds and skill levels together, and we look forward to seeing how the community utilizes these pitches to do just that.”
The mini-pitches were unveiled with the support of the City of Long Beach followed by soccer clinics led by the LA Galaxy with participation from Jordan High School’s boys and girls soccer team.
“I cannot wait to see all the kids and families playing on these revitalized courts,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “There’s always a demand for great spaces like this for sports in Long Beach, and this amazing project is going to be a benefit to our community for years to come. I thank our partners, the LA Galaxy, Herbalife Nutrition, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, for their generous contribution.”
To continue this mission, the LA Galaxy and Herbalife Nutrition, through the Joint Community Partnership Fund, are committed to implementing similar programs to promote soccer, healthy lifestyles, and nutrition education in underserved communities worldwide. Since 2012, the LA Galaxy and Herbalife Nutrition have donated over $2.5 million to global communities in need. As part of the extended deal, an additional $1.25 million will go to the Joint Community Partnership Fund designed to promote soccer, healthy lifestyles, and nutrition education in underserved communities.
