LA Galaxy Named MLS 2025 Community Impact Club of the Year

AEG-owned LA Galaxy, the most decorated club in MLS history with six league championships, was named Major League Soccer’s 2025 Marisa Colaiano Community Impact Club of the Year. The recognition celebrates the organization’s sustained dedication to serving and uplifting communities throughout Los Angeles. The announcement was made as part of MLS’s 2025 Mark Abbott MLS Club Business Awards.

The honor was determined through a league-wide voting process involving all 30 MLS teams, followed by an evaluation from an MLS judging panel that assessed each finalist’s overall contributions to community engagement and social impact.

“We take tremendous pride in being an integral part of the Los Angeles community, and this recognition carries special meaning for our Club,” said Tom Braun, President and Chief Operating Officer of the LA Galaxy. “Everything we do through our foundation and community initiatives is grounded in our core values, and this award reaffirms our commitment to driving meaningful, long-term change across Southern California.”

Over the course of 2025, the LA Galaxy delivered significant impact through hands-on service, strategic partnerships, and mission-focused initiatives. Players, staff, and alumni collectively contributed more than 800 volunteer hours, while the Club provided approximately $2 million in financial and in-kind support toward programs centered on inclusion, health, and education. The Galaxy also recycled over 4,000 pounds of materials through California Redemption Value, generating funds used to purchase new equipment for youth programs. In total, the Club supported 56 community organizations and reached more than 5,000 young participants through development initiatives. A detailed summary of these efforts will be published in the Galaxy’s 2025 annual report, scheduled for release in January 2026.

Central to the Galaxy’s outreach strategy was the creation of welcoming and inclusive environments where individuals of all ages and backgrounds could experience the game of soccer. MLS specifically acknowledged the Club’s response to Southern California wildfires, along with cornerstone programs such as the LA Galaxy Special Olympics Unified Team, Protect the Pitch, Kick Childhood Cancer, Rising Stars, and other ongoing initiatives.

Community Impact Highlights

In January 2025, severe wildfires affected large portions of Southern California, disrupting the lives of many Galaxy supporters and local residents. The LA Galaxy and the LA Galaxy Foundation acted swiftly, delivering financial relief, coordinating donation drives, supporting community-based service efforts, and maintaining long-term recovery support throughout the year.

 

Presented by Herbalife, the LA Galaxy Special Olympics Unified Team completed an undefeated 2025 season. The program offered athletes a professional-level experience that included contract signings, media training, nutrition education, competitive play, and a season-ending celebration. The team also traveled to Miami to compete against Inter Miami’s Special Olympics Unified Team at the club’s first-team training facility, further promoting inclusive competition.

 

As a Club rooted in one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities, the Galaxy continued to celebrate and honor its community through heritage events such as Central American, Mexican American, and Armenian Heritage Nights.

During the season, longtime partner Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) identified emerging needs among the families it supports. The Galaxy responded with direct assistance and increased visibility for CARECEN’s work during its annual Central American Heritage Night match.

Through its Community Partner of the Match initiative, the Club provided funding and recognition to at least 17 nonprofit organizations each season. In 2025, the Galaxy also collaborated with partners including Herbalife, Dignity Health, City National Bank, Yaamava, and others to support wildfire recovery, construct mini-pitches to expand youth access to soccer, and advance a wide range of community-focused programs.

The Galaxy’s community and foundation work is anchored by three guiding pillars: Youth Sports, aimed at expanding access and opportunity; Health & Wellness, promoting physical activity and positive development through soccer; and Inclusion, harnessing the sport’s ability to bring people together across cultures and backgrounds.

Collectively, these efforts exemplify why Major League Soccer selected the LA Galaxy as its 2025 Community Impact Club of the Year.