Who We Are
The LAFC Foundation furthers our club’s mission of uniting the world’s city through the world’s game, bringing joy to people, and being a force for good in our community by supporting critical programs and bringing the indomitable Black & Gold spirit wherever we go. By supporting the programming and infrastructure that allow young people to access our favorite game, we provide not only fun and physical exercise – but also critical mentorship and a pathway to lifelong success beyond the pitch.
Community Spotlight: Christy Uribe
Christy Uribe has been a part of the LAFC community since its inception! She is a Bresee Foundation-YLP alumni and current part-time LAFC Communications staff member. While working with LAFC, she is also pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management at the University of San Francisco and working as a Programs Associate with the LA Dodgers Foundation. Read more about Christy and her experience as a YLP leader!
Can you share a little bit about who you are?
My name is Christy Uribe, I was born and raised in South LA. I attended Augustus F. Hawkins High School, and went to California State University Dominguez Hills for undergrad, where I studied Business Administration, Sports Entertainment, and Hospitality Management. I was always involved in sports growing up. I played soccer and softball and ran cross country. During undergrad, I realized I had a strong desire to work in the sports industry. I am now a first-generation master's student at the University of San Francisco, studying sports management, and I work part-time with the LAFC Communications team and as a Programs Associate with the LA Dodgers Foundation.
You're a YLP alumni at Bresee - can you share more about the program and how you got involved?
I was one of the first students who started in the YLP program. I joined as a volunteer back in 2012 and once I started my freshman year of high school, I was able to officially become a YLP leader and was in the program all four years of high school. However, the YLP program was only one of the extracurricular activities I participated in during high school. I was a student athlete playing multiple sports, and I had a job at Pizza Hut. It was hard to keep up with my involvement in the program and at one point I started pushing away. However, my mentor, Danny Oliver, was very supportive.
In the program I learned how to manage my time and responsibilities and gained professional skills. I learned how to be a leader and organize programs for the younger students we worked with. I was very shy, and the program pushed me out of my comfort zone. Once I graduated high school, Luke, the former director of YLP, reached out about an internship opportunity with YLP as part of LAFC Communications’ game night staff. I took the opportunity and have been there for the last six years.
How did the YLP-Bresee program help you?
As a high school student, $5 or $20 dollars goes a long way. YLP would give us monthly stipends for completing our hours and this financial reward motivated me to stay committed to the program. But my main motivation came from the kids. During the soccer clinics I noticed that the students would look up to me as a role model. Seeing the value of having someone like me in their lives kept me committed to the program.
I also gained a great community. We would have summer training, where we got away, disconnected from our home lives, and really got to know one another. This also gave me a new family to lean on and be supported by. I really appreciated that, especially with where I come from. I saw a lot of violence and loss, so the spaces YLP created helped me grieve, process, and find peace away from what I witnessed in South LA. Program leaders were emotionally supportive, but they also helped me professionally by writing letters of recommendation and offering advice throughout my journey.
How did YLP help you grow as a leader?
I grew in so many ways as a leader. As I mentioned, I was very shy, but the program helped push me and taught me how to lead the younger generation. It also taught me how to put myself out there and continue to put my time and energy into giving back to my community. I learned how to take the initiative and find ways to volunteer – helping make a difference in my community. It showed me the importance of showing up and offering help where it is needed and where it matters.
What impact did LAFC’s partnership with the program have on you?
The program itself taught me a lot about who I am as a leader, my professional development, and getting out of my comfort zone. But having LAFC become a partner with YLP and Bresee made the experience even better and provided eye-opening opportunities. One of the biggest impacts this partnership has is that it gives youth a unique understanding of what the sports industry has to offer. Upon taking the LAFC internship opportunity, the first thing I noticed was how white-male dominated the industry is. At the time, my boss, Aubrey, was the only woman in the entire press box. Having her support and guidance helped me find my place in the sports world. If I didn't have LAFC after high school, I wouldn't know what the real sports industry and the real world looks like. It gave me an opportunity to network with people with different backgrounds and gave me a chance to explore my passion to work in sports at a young age.
Why is it important for the LAFC Foundation to support programs like Bresee?
As the partnership has grown, I've seen the impact it has had on the young kids in the community. The LAFC Foundation’s career panel held at BMO Stadium allowed young kids to walk into a professional stadium for the first time. When I was younger, those experiences didn't exist. Now that they do, it’s a huge support to the community and the leaders in the YLP program. The career panels give students a better understanding of the wide variety of jobs that exist in the sports world, and more clearly define what it could mean to “work in soccer." Students meet staff from LAFC that hold amazing positions they probably don't know exist. It opens their career perspective and the possibilities of what they can really do in life. Supporting programs like Bresee and YLP is important because it makes these experiences and the world of soccer accessible to under-resourced communities.
Any advice or recommendations for our newsletter community?
My advice would be to not give up on yourself – continue to network and use any and all platforms to build relationships with people. I highly recommend LinkedIn, I still use it to this day. As far as the parent community goes, I would say not to be too hard on your child. Be there for them, support them, and help them find ways and resources to keep moving forward in life.
LAFC Foundation Highlights:
LAFC Foundation Topgolf Fundraiser Recap
We had an amazing time celebrating and raising money to continue our impactful work! A huge thank you to all our sponsors, donors, community members and LAFC staff and star players for joining us for a night full of swings and socializing in support of LAFC Foundation’s mission to serve as a Force for Good in the Los Angeles community. See the recap here.
Oct. 9, 2024 - LAFC x University of Phoenix Falcon Scholars Program
The LAFC Foundation, University of Phoenix, LAFC Falconer Jason Miknuk, and LAFC players Ryan Hollingshead and Hugo Lloris, visited City Terrace Elementary School to meet with LAUSD students. Students got to learn fun facts about Olly the falcon, enjoyed science-based presentations, and participated in a Q&A session with Ryan and Hugo to hear more about their journeys as professional soccer players and how they use science in soccer. Check out the recap here!
Oct. 10, 2024 - LAFC x Chevron Futsal Court Unveil
LAFC, Chevron, LAFC players Kei Kamara and Ilie Sánchez, and LAFC2 players Christopher Jaime and Matt Evans, unveiled a new futsal court at Bud Carson Middle School. The LAFC Foundation celebrated the unveiling with school staff, students, and parents. Students participated in soccer drills and played on the new futsal court. Check out the recap here!
Oct. 16, 2024 - LAFC x Kaiser Permanente Futsal Court Unveil
LAFC, Kaiser Permanente, LAFC players -Carlos Vela, Hugo Lloris and Nathan Ordaz, and LAFC2 players Christopher Jaime and Edward Berumen unveiled a new futsal court at Sepulveda Middle School. In attendance were students and staff of the middle school. The LAFC Foundation is proud to celebrate the completion of five courts in 2024! Students kicked off the first official futsal match on the court and participated in soccer drills and left with LAFC x KP goodies.
LAFC Foundation Auction
Visit the LAFC Foundation auction to bid on exclusive memorabilia and help us continue to support young people in Los Angeles and serve as a force for good in the community! The auction closes Monday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. PT.
Thank You!
Thank you to all who support our team’s critical social impact work. To date, we’ve had a positive impact on more than 30,000 underserved youths in the Los Angeles area. We are excited to watch this number grow exponentially in the years to come. We couldn’t do any of it without you!
We look forward to keeping you updated with our Force for Good Friday newsletters. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram, @lafcfoundation!
