The Los Angeles Post

AEG Community Foundation Awards Playworks $25,000

by ·

National Non-Profit Organization Leveraged “Power of Play” for Second Year to Win 2019 #SpreadCheer Challenge

LOS ANGELES, December 20, 2019 – AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, today announced that Playworks, a national nonprofit that supports learning and physical health by providing safe and inclusive play to low-income students in urban schools, has been awarded $25,000 from the AEG Community Foundation as the winner of the 2019 #SpreadCheer Challenge.

The AEG Community Foundation launched the 2019 #SpreadCheer Challenge on November 18, 2019, which allowed three participating non-profit organizations — Boys & Girls Clubs of America,  Playworks and Special Olympics USA – to engage their communities to complete a digital puzzle which generated points that users then awarded to one of the three charities; the winner being the organization with the most points.

Playworks previously won the 2018 #SpreadCheer Challenge to receive an additional $25,000 grant from the AEG Community Foundation, in addition to its initial $25,000 grant from the Foundation’s first grant cycle.

“We are thrilled to be the winners of this year’s #SpreadCheer Challenge and to receive $25,000 from our invaluable partner and community collaborator, the AEG Community Foundation,” said Celeste Soto, Director of Development, Playworks. “AEG’s #SpreadCheer Challenge enabled us to engage Playworkers throughout the country and our local school communities to celebrate this special time of year through the power of play, just as our organization leverages play to develop safe, inclusive and meaningful play environments at more than 200 schools every day.”

“The AEG Community Foundation’s contribution and continued support of Playworks will allow our organization to continue to develop a place for every child on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills throughout Southern California,” said Soto.

Over the past three years, AEG has partnered with Playworks in schools in the Los Angeles area through activations with the LA Galaxy and Dignity Health Sports Park as well as serving as the official partner for AEG’s annual Service Day for the past two years, during which AEG brought more than 300 employees to two elementary schools in the greater Los Angeles area to beautify the campus and engage with students during recess.

“Playworks has been a fantastic community partner and we’ve enjoyed growing our relationship with them over the years to advance the important work they do for children and communities throughout the country,” said Martha Saucedo, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, AEG. “AEG is committed to giving back to the communities where we do business and we are proud to partner with all three participating #SpreadCheer Challenge organizations.”

Over the past 10 years, AEG has contributed more than $120 million in direct financial and in-kind support to community and civic programs with a focus on children and youth in the areas of education, the arts and health and wellness.  To find out more about AEG 1Community and the AEG Community Foundation, click here.