The Charlize Theron African Outreach Project and the LAFC Chelsea Soccer Club have joined forces to give kids living in underserved communities – in Southern California and Umkhanyakude District of the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa – more opportunities to play competitive soccer.
This new collaboration will be made official during the upcoming match on July 21, between two of the world’s top international teams – Chelsea FC and Inter Milan. These soccer powerhouses, who have not competed in the United States for fifteen years, will face off in front an expected 90,000 fans at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and will be televised world-wide on ESPN. Net proceeds from this spectacular match will benefit LAFC Chelsea, one of America’s most successful and prominent youth soccer clubs.
The fundraising event will help continue LAFC Chelsea’s mission to give economically challenged youth living in Southern California real opportunities to play competitive soccer as a means to keeping them in school through graduation. Money raised will also allow LAFC Chelsea to help expand its reach, building a viable youth soccer club in a rural community of South Africa in cooperation with Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP).
“LAFC Chelsea has always been focused on leading economically challenged young people to brighter futures and a better life through the universal sport of soccer,” says Don Sheppard, President of LAFC Chelsea. “When I learned about Charlize’s incredible plan to give sustainable opportunities to young South Africans who are at enormous risk, I knew that LAFC Chelsea was in position to help.”
With World Cup 2010 on African soil for the very first time, CTAOP wants to put a spotlight on the urgent need to provide sustainable health, education and recreational resources to remote areas where HIV/AIDS rates are unacceptably high. As part of CTAOP’s plan, LAFC Chelsea has made a three-year commitment to help build a community-wide soccer program for the schools in the Umkhanyakude District. This includes uniforms, cleats, balls and equipment, along with professional training for local coaches, referees and administrators. The soccer league training will also include life-saving health education administered through a CTAOP-funded mobile health program.
“Our goal is to help truly create a safer, healthier and better life for the young people in South Africa, especially those living in remote areas, and to ensure that the resources we bring are self sustaining. The three year commitment is so incredible and key to being sure that the program will be around for many years to come,” says Charlize Theron. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to Don and LAFC Chelsea for their commitment to help us give these beautiful, young people a recreational outlet that is sorely lacking from their lives.”
Tickets:
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of an epic match-up featuring Chelsea and Inter Milan, two perennial European and world soccer giants. The first team players are guaranteed to be here and playing. Never before has Southern California seen over 40 World Cup players and 6 National Team Captains all taking the field at the Rose Bowl. Individual ticket prices are $35, $55, $75, and $100. To buy individual tickets, just go to www.lafcsoccer.com or call TicketMaster at 800-745-3000. For group tickets, VIP tickets, or luxury boxes, call 1-818-952-LAFC.
