Monday, November 24, 2025

LA Galaxy, City National Bank Donate $30,000 to Support Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada Youth Soccer Families Affected by Fires

The LA Galaxy announced that City National Bank, the team’s official bank and wealth management partner, has donated $30,000 to support AYSO Region 13, the American Youth Soccer Organization chapter serving Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada, after the communities were dramatically affected by this year’s Los Angeles-area fires.

The contribution, detailed in a press release from the team, includes $25,000 in LA Galaxy tickets for local youth players and their families to attend matches throughout the season, along with $5,000 in soccer equipment to replace gear lost in the fires. The donation comes during the season of giving as families prepare for the holidays and is part of City National’s broader wildfire recovery efforts across Southern California.

“We’re incredibly proud to stand alongside our partner City National Bank in supporting AYSO Region 13, an area that was ravaged by the fires earlier this year,” said Tom Braun, LA Galaxy president and chief operating officer.

AYSO Region 13 serves over 3,000 children year-round and has operated for more than 50 years on a volunteer-run, “pay-what-you-can” model to ensure access for all families. Commissioner Patrick Shopbell said the gift “will go a long way for the families of our region,” adding that the support allows children to continue experiencing the joy of soccer and the lessons of teamwork despite the challenges of recovery.

Programs span preschool (4U) through high school (19U), with practices and games held on fields throughout Pasadena, Altadena and La Cañada. The organization relies on parent volunteers to coach, referee and manage more than 200 teams each season.

The donation represents a two-pronged approach: providing immediate relief through equipment while also offering hope and excitement through game-day experiences. Diana Rodriguez, City National’s chief marketing and communications officer, said the bank’s partnership with the Galaxy was “about more than soccer – it’s about helping a community heal.”

City National Bank, a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, previously committed $3 million in the immediate aftermath of the fires to support recovery efforts. The bank also announced earlier this year a jersey partnership with the Galaxy and a founding partnership with the team’s home stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park.

City National, the largest bank headquartered in Los Angeles, continues to support rebuilding through partnerships and community investment programs.

For more information about AYSO Region 13, visit ayso13.org.