The above Photo is by Sander Valdre / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0


The LA Galaxy, an AEG team, joined forces with adidas and Raising Cane’s to host young cancer patients and their families as part of the Jessie Rees Foundation’s Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) program. The gathering took place at Dignity Health Sports Park and marked the fourth year of the club’s Kick Childhood Cancer Boot-Making Lab.

Eight pediatric cancer patients participating in the NEGU initiative attended the event alongside their families, LA Galaxy first-team players and coaching staff. The day focused on creativity, friendship and providing encouragement to children and families navigating the challenges of cancer.

Following the team’s training session on September 3, each participating child was teamed up with LA Galaxy players and coaches. Together, they customized selected adidas cleats and shoes, using colors, artwork and personal details to turn each pair into a one-of-a-kind creation representing the children's personalities and spirit.

More than simply a creative activity, the Boot-Making Lab gave NEGU families the chance to spend meaningful time with Galaxy players and coaches in a relaxed and supportive setting. The interaction helped create memorable experiences while reinforcing the sense of community that is central to the LA Galaxy Foundation's youth-focused initiatives.

The footwear decorated during the event will have a role beyond the workshop. LA Galaxy players and coaches will wear the customized cleats and shoes during training sessions ahead of, and during, the team's September 12 fixture against the Seattle Sounders. The initiative is intended to draw attention to childhood cancer while recognizing the courage and resilience of the young participants.

“The Boot-Making Lab is a powerful reminder of the impact meaningful connections can have on children and families facing difficult circumstances,” said Mariah Rodriguez, Manager of Community Relations and the LA Galaxy Foundation. “Partnering NEGU youth with our players and coaches creates special moments of joy and inspiration. We’re grateful to adidas and Raising Cane’s for helping make these experiences possible and for joining us in supporting children affected by pediatric cancer.”

Programs such as the Boot-Making Lab form part of the LA Galaxy Foundation's broader effort to use soccer as a vehicle for positive community engagement. Through these initiatives, the foundation aims to create memorable experiences for young people while increasing awareness of childhood cancer and highlighting the importance of support from the wider community.

For the past thirty years, Aflac Incorporated has been a steadfast ally to families confronting the unimaginable — a diagnosis of childhood cancer or a blood disorder. What began in 1995 as a heartfelt commitment has evolved into a powerful legacy of care, innovation, and hope for children and their caregivers.

To mark this 30-year milestone, Aflac leaders — including Chairman and CEO Dan Amos and Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos — came together with patients, survivors, doctors, and staff from the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The celebration served as a moment to reflect on decades of dedication, countless lives touched, and the ongoing pursuit of better outcomes for young patients.

Among those present was cancer survivor Elaina Schreckenberger, who had appeared in an iconic photograph from the center’s first event. At just five years old, Elaina was then undergoing treatment for stage-4 neuroblastoma when a photographer captured a touching exchange between her and Dan Amos — a moment the two lovingly recreated at this year’s gathering.

Back in 1995, Amos pledged to help create what would become the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, beginning with a $3 million donation. That initial act of generosity set in motion a philanthropic journey that has now surpassed $200 million in support for pediatric cancer and blood disorder research, care, and family assistance.

“Our work with children battling cancer and blood disorders goes far beyond corporate responsibility — it’s personal,” said Amos. “For Kathelen, our employees, and our entire sales force, it’s about ensuring no family walks this path alone. We’re committed to standing beside them, providing comfort, resources, and hope at every turn.”

Today, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center ranks among the nation’s largest pediatric hematology and oncology programs, caring for more than 500 new cancer patients and over 2,100 new sickle cell patients each year. With a network of more than 200 clinical trials and an expert team of physicians, nurses, and researchers, the center remains at the forefront of pediatric medicine and discovery.

For Aflac and its people, true success over the past three decades is reflected not in numbers, but in the smiles of children, the relief of parents, and the strides made in advancing care. From funding breakthrough research to offering support with travel, housing, and emotional well-being, the center’s holistic model ensures that families receive care on every level.

“While thirty years is a remarkable achievement, it’s also a reminder that our mission continues,” Amos said. “We’ll keep working until every child with cancer or a blood disorder has access to healing, hope — and ultimately, a cure.”

In an era often defined by profit margins, Aflac’s three-decade journey stands as proof of what’s possible when compassion drives purpose. It’s a story not only of corporate philanthropy, but of humanity — and a promise that no child or family will face these challenges alone.