How The Chargers Are Fostering Community And Impact Into Their Legacy

The Los Angeles Chargers have a unique approach to philanthropy and sports hospitality. They believe both are not mutually exclusive and that giving back and delivering a fan forward innovation, is a compelling combination. Using the backdrop of one of the most premium and technologically advanced stadiums in the world, SoFi Stadium, Chargers ownership has decided to focus on two key areas: Impact and Community. As a result, the Chargers have not only elevated the game day experience but have evolved their fan experience to include year-round benefits whilst continually contributing to the local community.

The Spanos family, owners of the Chargers, are known for their multi-generation commitment to community involvement and are recognized both as one of the NFL’s most philanthropic families as well as one of Southern California’s most active and caring contributors to local causes. Their financial contributions of more than $15 million and their emotional support for youth, sports, education and our brave men and women in uniform have been a hallmark of their team ownership and legacy. The Chargers Impact Fund is driven by the love of family, gratitude for community, and a passion for giving back. The Spanos family established this charitable program in 1995, which was reimagined in 2020 as the Impact Fund, supporting communities in Los Angeles through two key areas; Youth Empowerment and Community Advancement. The Impact Fund looks for organizations that are mission-aligned and focused on creating the same outcomes and impact that are aligned with their philosophy.

“Additionally, we look for programs and projects where we can use several of our assets to further positive social impact, where it isn’t just cutting a check, but where we are supporting programs through our platform, staff engagement, or fan volunteering. The Impact Fund brings fans, volunteers, players, and donors together to create supportive environments in which the next generation can thrive. We decided to focus on youth empowerment programs that support youth development, learning, and growth, and community advancement initiatives that bring people together and meet basic needs like hunger,” shared Heather Birdsall, Vice President of Community Relations.

Adriana Cox, Special Advisor to the Impact Fund and granddaughter of Alex and Faye Spanos, shares; “My grandfather rose from humble beginnings working 15-hour days at the family bakery to becoming the largest builder of residential apartments in the nation. He was the embodiment of the American dream. What I think was most impressive about him, however, was that he never forgot where he came from or how he got to where he was later in life. Having to help support the family business from an early age, he didn’t get to have a typical childhood – he wasn’t able to play sports and didn’t even have time to just hang out with friends. It’s a situation that countless children in underrepresented communities face today. As he and my grandmother experienced more and more success, they focused on what had been a void for my grandfather growing up – essentially the lack of a childhood. Together, they focused their philanthropy on providing opportunities for children to learn and develop skills both in the classroom and beyond those walls; especially through sports.”

Focusing on education, mentorship, and sports-based development, the Impact Fund has donated over 8,000 books to Bolts Book Club which provides free books to students in Southern California schools and more as they join the Boys & Girls Club of Metro LA to host book distribution events and carry out classroom library renovations. Partnered with Inglewood Unified School District and Brotherhood Crusade, the Impact Fund established the Bolt Academy, which invites high schoolers to participate in a six-month after-school program teaching leadership and job readiness skills which they can combine with real-life experience by working for the Chargers on game days.

With the goal of advancing and uplifting hardship-faced communities in Southern California, the Impact Fund manages a plethora of programs to engage fans, players and partners to foster a sense of belonging through safe places to play and access to basic needs. For over 18 years, the Impact Fund has supported Bikes for Kids Foundation to provide 150 bikes yearly to students in these communities. They also partnered with Oakley to renovate the weight room at Jordan High School in Los Angeles, presenting the football team with new helmets, Oakley visors and sunglasses. Last, but certainly not least, is the Community Corner Program, which believes everyone should have the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of a Chargers home game! Through this program, Chargers players generously sponsor tickets for community and youth-focused nonprofit organizations to attend a Bolts home game in the exclusive “Community Corner” section of SoFi Stadium. Each attendee receives entry, a food voucher, t-shirt, and rally towels to cheer on the Bolts. Last season, five players participated, enabling 25 nonprofits to participate and 1,300 of their guests to attend.

“We’re looking into how we can develop additional food access programming in our Community Advancement Impact Area. We’re continuing to actively fundraise for our Legacy Field program that helps renovate and/or build football fields for youth in under-resourced communities.” explained Heather Birdsall, Vice President of Community Relations

In addition to fostering community, their focus on impact also applies going above and beyond for their discerning fanbase. The question the Chargers posed to themselves was how to improve upon a stadium that is considered one of the most premium venue experiences known to sports? The answer resulted in Chargers LUX, developed to reimagine premium hospitality in the sports industry. “Los Angeles represents a powerful intersection of philanthropy, entertainment, luxury, sports, and business,” said President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos. “Our suite owners are at the forefront of these industries, and it’s important for the Chargers to be on the cutting edge as well. Their success is our success, and Chargers LUX is a valuable tool to help them drive powerful connections, professionally and personally, by providing priceless access to the very best that Los Angeles has to offer.”