The Los Angeles Rams hosted an opening ceremony with Mayor James T. Butts, and Inglewood Police Department. Rams provide youth in the community hope and a future with sponsored flag football team.
The Los Angeles Rams held an opening ceremony for their newly sponsored flag football team for the youth in Inglewood. The ages are from 5-16, 22 different teams, and each team is named after a Rams player. The Rams partnership with the Parks and Rec center started about three years ago with camps, clinics, and football tournaments. They realized the need for them to do more in the community, and how they can sustain their impact. This is an opportunity to build that connection with the kids and the players.
Former Rams running back Johnathon Franklin, and now the current Community Affairs and Engagement Manager says, “It’s not what’s happening today, it’s the experience we’re able to provide for these kids, and for their future. To have an opening ceremony with the major, and Chief of Police Department, it really paints the picture of what community means to all of our participants.”
Franklin also mentioned, “It’s about being mentors and role models. I started playing football here for the Inglewood Jets when I was young. Fast forward, going on my fourth season here with the Rams, I reflected on the power of role models and community members. And now for an NFL football team to come pour into these youth, who knows who they can become, or what they can become. We’re validating them and giving them hope. Our goal is to maintain, and build upon that hope.
With that being said, kids will have someone they can aspire to become. It’s a surreal feeling for young people when they can see someone who come from similar situations, made it out, play professional sports for a career, and give back to the community. It’s a special feeling for kids to build that connection with players. It paints a picture of what a community really means.
This is a major opportunity for the kids in the community to grow as leaders and chase their dreams. The sports and development opportunities are teaching kids the value of being part of a team. To have them involved this early, and this young, is something that is going to impact them for the rest of their lives. Also having the involvement of a professional football team is going to give the kids a sense of self esteem, and beliefs in their future, knowing they have a huge organization like the Rams behind them.
The mayor of Inglewood James T. Butts Jr. says with enthusiasm, “We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for the kids.” Butts says, “In the city of Inglewood, there were times when we were home of the three peat showtime Lakers and LA Kings. We had 43,000 people a day going to Hollywood Park to see the horses and all that went away. To bring back the forum, to have the Rams come here and the Chargers. We’re working on an arena for the Clippers. All of these things together are having a dramatic impact for our children to see that there is so much more to life than the day to day.”
The city of Inglewood and the Rams are giving kids hope and a future, and also changing the employment picture for the city. They are contributing to the schools, rebuilding playgrounds and more. Inglewood has invested a million dollars to build a soccer field and a football field so kids can have a safe environment to play in. Chief of Police Mark Fronterotta says,”This is a wonderful opportunity for the Inglewood Police Department to strengthen our bond in the community. It shows what we’re about. We have several officers that’s coaching. We believe in this community, and we look to building with them for years to come.” Great things are in store for the city of Inglewood.
