SAN JOSE, Costa Rica— The LA Galaxy Foundation and the Herbalife Family Foundation donated $10,000 to the Club Sport La Libertad Foundation in Costa Rica today.
The Galaxy, in town to face CS Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, in coordination with Herbalife and the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, hosted about 50 children from the La Libertad Foundation at their hotel. Defenders Omar Gonzalez and Sean Franklin and midfielders Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas conducted a 30-minute soccer clinic for the children and then spent some time with them, posing for photos and signing autographs.
The La Libertad Foundation is an organization that uses sports, soccer in particular, to help at-risk youth ages 17-and-under in the Pavas neighborhood of Costa Rica avoid a life of crime. The foundation also provides mentorship and offers programs that improve children’s job skills, appreciation of arts and, of course, interest in sports.
Along with the donation from the LA Galaxy Foundation and the Herbalife Family Foundation, the team also donated t-shirts and the players donated soccer equipment— forward Robbie Keane even donated a pair of his game-worn boots.
All the Galaxy players were happy to have lent a helping hand and give something back to the community.
“When you live in a country like [Costa Rica], you know how important a few words for the children are,” said Sarvas, who played for LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica prior to joining the Galaxy. “I think that it’s very beautiful for Galaxy and Herbalife to do this and help these people. I’m sure that (children from La Libertad Foundation) had a beautiful day and they will keep this in their memory for a while.”
