Key Takeaways
The Chargers Impact Fund commits $2.5 million to Lulu’s Place, the largest donation in franchise history
Lulu’s Place is a 34-acre, $170 million campus in Westchester funded entirely through private donations, slated to open May 2027
The gift supports construction of the Alex and Faye Spanos Legacy Field and a new sports-themed career readiness curriculum developed with TGR Foundation
The campus sits within walking distance of more than a dozen Title 1 schools serving low-income students, foster care youth and non-native English speakers
TGR Foundation will operate a 25,000-square-foot learning lab on site focused on STEAM education, college access and career readiness
What the Chargers’ Investment Funds
The Los Angeles Chargers Impact Fund announced a $2.5 million gift to Lulu’s Place, a partnership with the TGR Foundation (Tiger Woods’ nonprofit) and the Kimmelman Family Foundation. The team called it the largest charitable donation in franchise history.
The funding will support two components: construction of the Alex and Faye Spanos Legacy Field, which will host flag football and other youth athletic programming, and the development of a sports-themed career readiness curriculum. That curriculum, built alongside TGR Foundation, will expose students to career pathways within the sports industry.
“Children are our future, and it’s incumbent upon us to provide them with as many avenues to succeed as humanly possible,” said Chargers Owner and Chairman Dean Spanos.
Inside the Lulu’s Place Campus
Lulu’s Place is a 34-acre athletic and educational complex being built on long-vacant land along Westchester Parkway, directly north of LAX. The project is funded entirely through philanthropic donations and carries an estimated cost of $170 million.
Planned facilities include 24 tennis courts, eight multi-use courts, soccer fields, playground areas, walking paths, a 13,000-square-foot Welcome Center and a 25,000-square-foot TGR Learning Lab. Academic, athletic and wellness programs will be offered free or at low cost to area youth. The campus is expected to open in May 2027.
The project is named for the late Carol “Lulu” Kimmelman, a former LAUSD teacher and member of USC’s 1983 national championship women’s tennis team. Her husband, Doug Kimmelman, is the lead donor.
Supporters include the USTA, the USTA Foundation, the Karsh Family Foundation, Cedars-Sinai, the Ballmer Group, the LA84 Foundation, the Walt Disney Company and now the Chargers Impact Fund.
Why Location Matters for Access
The campus sits within walking distance of more than a dozen K-12 schools, many of which receive Title 1 funding and serve low-income students, foster care youth and non-native English speakers. That proximity is central to the project’s access model.
TGR Foundation, which has served more than 216,000 students through its Learning Labs since 2006, will operate programming focused on STEAM education, health and well-being, and college and career readiness. The Lulu’s Place lab will be TGR Foundation’s third location, following facilities in Anaheim and Philadelphia.
Pro Sports Philanthropy Meets Youth Infrastructure
The Chargers’ commitment adds to a growing pattern of professional sports organizations investing directly in youth-serving facilities. Rather than sponsorship or branding alone, the gift funds physical infrastructure and programmatic development tied to measurable outcomes in education and athletics.
For an industry watching how capital flows into youth sports, this is a model worth tracking: private philanthropy, pro sports dollars and nonprofit programming converging on a single campus built specifically for underserved youth.
via: Spectrum News
photo: Chargers
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