December 30, 2024
Fit and thriving: Inspiring students at school
Kaiser Permanente and Los Angeles Football Club are committed to building healthier communities and brighter futures for youth through local school engagement.
The LAFC Fit Program promotes the importance of both physical health and mental wellness.
Since our partnership began in 2018, Kaiser Permanente and the Los Angeles Football Club have made it a top priority to build a healthier Los Angeles and establish dedicated health programs and activities for youth. By offering our LAFC Fit Program to students and building 5 futsal courts at schools throughout Los Angeles, we’re fostering a healthier, more connected, and energized community. With over 12,000 students having participated in the LAFC Fit program and a total of 31 futsal courts established as of the end of 2024, these initiatives are creating spaces where students can thrive.
“At Kaiser Permanente, we're dedicated to empowering young people to take charge of their own health journeys,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, regional president of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and Hawaii. “Our partnership with LAFC allows us to make a real difference in the lives of countless youths, which feels like scoring a goal for our entire team. We're incredibly proud of this collaboration and its potential impact."
Reflecting on 2024, we’ve continued to make progress in our mission to enhance youth health and wellness.
Futsal courts: A space for fitness and play
In 2024, we established 5 futsal courts — hard-surface soccer fields — for more than 3,500 students at Los Angeles Unified School District schools. To draw attention to these new resources, we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Francisco Sepulveda Middle School. At the event, 3 LAFC players and Danielle Flowers, MD, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center, led over 150 students in stretches and soccer drills. The event showcased the positive impact physical activity can have on youth well-being.
“We are proud of the impact we have made in Southern California over the past 7 years, working alongside our partners at Kaiser Permanente,” said LAFC co-president and chief business officer Larry Freedman. “We are excited for the students at Sepulveda Middle School and members of this community to experience the joy of playing the beautiful game on this new futsal court.”
Kaiser Permanente and LAFC also established futsal courts at Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Northridge Middle School, Pacoima Middle School, and William Jefferson Clinton Middle School. These are spaces where students can hone their skills, stay active, and create lasting memories.
LAFC Fit Program: Helping students manage stress
The LAFC Fit Program, established in 2023, continues to promote fitness and social-emotional learning among students. In 2024, the 4-week program took place at 18 schools, with 23 teachers taking students through a curriculum that helps young people develop healthy habits, such as an active lifestyle, healthy eating, mental wellness, and resiliency. The program provided students with resources and tools to balance the pressures of school, sports, and social media with confidence.
The program culminated with a field trip to Exposition Park, where LAFC players guided the students through interactive wellness stations, creating an unforgettable day of fun and fitness. The students also learned about the stress-is-enhancing mindset, which views stress as an opportunity for growth. Studies show that when students see stress as helpful, they have fewer physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating, and they think more clearly. By providing students with tools to help them shift how they see stress, they can improve performance, reduce anxiety, and build resilience.
"By teaching students to view stress as a tool rather than a hindrance, we are helping them build lifelong skills for managing challenges both on and off the field," said Robert E. Sallis, MD, a physician in family medicine at Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center.
Looking beyond 2024
The accomplishments of 2024 underscore the impact of the partnership between Kaiser Permanente and LAFC, as we continue to build healthier communities through school environments. We’re excited to continue reaching more schools and students to ensure that the partnership’s impact continues to grow and inspire.
