Herbalife, LA Galaxy, LAUSD and the U.S. Soccer Foundation Unveil New School Mini-Pitch in South Central Los Angeles

Herbalife, the LA Galaxy, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, unveiled a new community mini-pitch at Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles. Made possible through the LA Galaxy and Herbalife’s Joint Community Partnership Fund, the project provides students with a safe, dedicated space to play soccer, stay active, and learn teamwork through sport.

The event brought together students, educators, and community members, along with representatives from each partner and local elected officials. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, LA Galaxy defender Mauricio Cuevas, an alumnus of Ricardo Lizarraga Elementary, led a soccer clinic for more than 75 students.

“We are proud to help create a space where students can discover the joy of movement and community through soccer,” said Samantha Holway, vice president of regional sales and business development at Herbalife. “For more than 20 years, our partnership with the LA Galaxy has focused on giving back to the communities we call home. As a company headquartered in Los Angeles, we’re deeply committed to creating opportunities for youth to stay active, learn teamwork and develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.”

The 60-by-120-foot mini pitch features a SnapSports performance surface and futsal goals at each end, with a blue, white and gold design that reflects the shared goal of the LA Galaxy and Herbalife to inspire teamwork, empowerment and fitness through play. This installation marks the eighth community field project opened through the Galaxy and Herbalife partnership, joining a growing network of safe play spaces across Southern California. Previous projects include A Place Called Home in South Central Los Angeles, Jim Thorpe Park in Hawthorne, Beckham Community Field at the Salvation Army Red Shield Youth Center in downtown Los Angeles, DeForest Park in Long Beach and Palms Park in Lakewood, as well as a recent renovation in Pico Rivera. Together, these efforts reflect a long-term commitment to investing in communities and creating opportunities for youth to thrive through soccer.

“Coming back to the school where I first fell in love with the game means a lot to me,” said Mauricio Cuevas, defender for the LA Galaxy. “I hope this new pitch inspires the next generation of kids to chase their dreams, stay active, and find joy in playing soccer with their friends every day.”

Herbalife continues to invest in programs and facilities that help children stay active, build confidence and develop lifelong healthy habits. Earlier this year, Herbalife and the LA Galaxy teamed up with A Place Called Home to distribute more than 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to students in South Los Angeles. Herbalife and the LA Galaxy also continue their partnership with the Garden School Foundation, supporting the Seed to Table Program to teach students about gardening, nutrition, and sustainability. In 2024 alone, the fund provided $45,000 to support garden-based education at schools in L.A.

Since 2012, the LA Galaxy and Herbalife’s Joint Community Partnership Fund has contributed more than $3.5 million to initiatives supporting youth development, nutrition education, and access to safe play spaces in underserved communities.

Herbalife is a premier health and wellness company, community and platform that has been changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in more than 90markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle to live their best life.

For more information, visit https://ir.herbalife.com/.

The LA Galaxy are Major League Soccer’s most successful club. Based in Carson, Calif. at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy have won the MLS Cup a record six times (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024), the MLS Supporters’ Shield four times (1998, 2002, 2010, 2011) and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice (2001, 2005), and one Concacaf Champions Cup (2000) since their inception in 1996. Under the direction of LA Galaxy President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer Tom Braun and LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz, the Galaxy are the premier club in MLS, with stars like Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Hernandez, Cobi Jones, Riqui Puig and Marco Reus representing LA over the team’s 30 seasons in MLS.

For more information on the LA Galaxy, visit www.lagalaxy.com.

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 http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

media@herbalife.com