The Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Jr. Sparks Host Galactic Sports All- Girls Basketball Clinic

The final session of Gasol Foundation USA’s Galactic Sports Girls Basketball Clinic at Salazar Park was one for the books! On Wednesday, August 2nd, our girls learned fundamentals, advanced drills, and honed their basketball skills through expert instruction provided by The Los Angeles Sparks and Jr. Sparks youth coaches! 

Through their youth clinics, The Los Angeles Sparks strive to have a positive impact on participants’ lives by exposing them to transferable life principles and values such as discipline and confidence. The clinic provided an opportunity for our girls to learn and gain insight from the Jr. Sparks team, all while making it healthy, making it fun. 

And of course, the day wouldn’t be complete without some Gasol and Sparks swag! All participants received a Gasol Foundation T-Shirt, a Gasol Foundation USA participation certificate, a Pau Gasol Lakers jersey, and a Sparks water bottle! 

Experience the thrill of a lifetime! Get ready to win big! Brace yourself for a chance to own an awe-inspiring piece of sports history!

Introducing the ultimate prize: a pair of legendary 2010 Nike Flywire Sneakers personally worn and autographed by none other than NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer (August 12th), Pau Gasol, during the exhilarating Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship!

These iconic sneakers hold the remarkable energy of that unforgettable championship season. Picture yourself owning the very shoes that Pau wore on the court, leaving a forever mark in NBA history. These size 17 sneakers were tailor-made for the towering 7’1″ power forward/ center – and can now be yours.

But wait, there’s more!

Not only are these sneakers a breathtaking fashion statement, they also double as an incredible collector’s item. Imagine proudly displaying this monumental artifact, adorning your home with a testament to greatness. These sneakers transcend their functional purpose, becoming an embodiment of triumph, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of victory.

You have the chance to win this one-of-a-kind treasure! There are not one, but 3 ways to enter: Enter for free by mailing in your form. Make a donation (as little as $1) supporting Gasol Foundation USA children’s wellness programs, while simultaneously increasing your chances of winning. Or, text PAU to 33100 to get your entries. Amplify your odds of taking home this autographed pair of sneakers – the more entries, the better your chances!

So, what are you waiting for? Seize this extraordinary opportunity to triumph in the pursuit of legendary footwear!

ENTER THE PAU GASOL AUTOGRAPHED SNEAKERS SWEEPSTAKES FOR FREE

Sweepstakes ends August 8th, 2023 at 12PM PST. Winner will be selected on August 11th, 2023 at 12PM PST.

NO PURCHASE, DONATION OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.Individual legal residents of, and physically located within, the United States, and who are 18 (except 19 in Alabama and Nebraska and 21 in Mississippi) years of age as of the date of entry or of legal age of majority or older in their country of residence. Any participation by any ineligible person(s) will be void. Void where prohibited.

Gasol Foundation is a proud partner in Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ Walk & Play LA held on Saturday May 20th. The 7th annual event is a family-friendly community event on the Santa Monica Pier that celebrates and supports the health of children. Walk & Play LA brings together the sports and wellness community for a 3K fun walk, family festival for all ages, and sports clinics hosted by professional athletes, including adaptive sports activities. Co-hosted by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and host of the Ellen K Morning Show on KOST 103.5, Ellen K, Walk & Play LA was complete with live music, special guests, food, family fun under the sun and an exciting All-Star line-up in the Play Zone!

Children and parents who visited our Gasol Foundation booth enjoyed healthy games, prizes, and raffle collectibles. Thank you CHLA for the incredible opportunity to participate in such a fantastic event.

There’s still time to give to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles! Help raise critical funds in support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and its mission to create hope and build healthier futures.

It was another great weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books for Gasol Foundation USA! As expected, the nation’s largest literary event had a big turnout on both Saturday, April 22nd – Sunday, April 23rd. We were thrilled to participate at the Festival of Books for the second consecutive year and have the opportunity to engage with the community. It was a (healthy) party in booth #553 as both kids and many adults enjoyed doing exercises as we promoted healthy habits. We provided healthy games, prizes and raffle collectibles on the University of Southern California campus where the festival took place.

Thank you to AltaMed pediatrician and Gasol Foundation USA Advisory Board member, Dr. Iian Shapiro, for visiting our booth! And congratulations to our raffle winners, Aditya and Benjamin, who each won an autographed item from our President, Pau Gasol!

Overall, kids of ages and families enjoyed these free family-friendly days on the main USC campus. Thank you Los Angeles Times and USC for hosting such a fantastic event. We look forward to participating next year and impacting even more families through heathy habits! 

March 6th, 2023 is a day The Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) school children will always remember! Gasol Foundation President and NBA legend Pau Gasol visited Lafayette Recreation Center in Los Angeles, CA to provide a Galactic Sports clinic with children and a Q&A session with the press. This special event was held the day before Pau’s historic Lakers jersey retirement ceremony at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. 

The impact of Pau’s visit was imminent as the 7’1’’ former power forward / center entered the gym. Many of the children in attendance grew up watching him play for the Lakers and were thrilled to meet him in person. As with all Gasol Foundation evidence-based programs, the Galactic Sports demo incorporated the key healthy habits of physical activity, diet, sleep, and emotional well-being.

LOS ANGELES, CA- MARCH 6: Gasol Foundation Galactic Sports Program at Lafayette Park Recreation Center in Los Anegeles NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The demonstration also provided an opportunity for the children to ask Pau questions and engage with him. The children gained knowledge on healthy habits applicable to their daily lives, which made the experience even more valuable.

Additionally, Pau shared personal anecdotes regarding his personal journey, discussed adversity he’s faced to get where he is today, and the hard work he put in to achieve his goals- both on and off the court. He emphasized the importance of perseverance, resilience, and a positive attitude with the children – all crucial skills for success. 

We are honored to share this moment with The Heart of Los Angeles, Rise Kohyang Elementary School, and Bright Stars Schools as we celebrate our co-founder, Pau Gasol. Thank you to all who made this event possible! 

Gasol Foundation USA is celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers’ retirement of number 16 to honor Lakers legend and Gasol Foundation USA Co-Founder, Pau Gasol, on March 7, 2023. As part of the celebration, Gasol Foundation USA is hosting a drawing for two game tickets and a meet-and-greet with Pau Gasol. One lucky winner will receive two tickets to Laker game/ceremony

and a meet-and-greet with Laker great Pau Gasol.

The retirement of Pau Gasol’s jersey by the Los Angeles Lakers will take place as the Lakers face the Memphis Grizzlies (Gasol’s first NBA team) at Crypto.com Arena.

The prize drawing for the two game tickets and meet-and-greet with Pau has begun, with entries at $25 each (multiple entries are allowed). The deadline to enter is noon PST on March 1, 2023, and the winner will be drawn at 4pm PST on March 1st. 

Pau played for the Lakers during seven seasons with three All Star selections–and helped lead Los Angeles to back-to-back championships. He is “humbled and excited” about this great recognition by such a great franchise. He is delighted to share this moment with his family and friends, and supporters of the Gasol Foundation. 

Gasol Foundation USA, in collaboration with Keck School of Medicine of USC, is looking for overweight/obese participants age 12-16 for a research study in Southern California. This scientific study will analyze the effects of a home exercise program on health outcomes for overweight/obese youth. Learn more and register here. 

The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California teaches and trains physicians, biomedical scientists and other healthcare professionals, conducts medical research, and treats patients. Founded in 1885, it is the second oldest medical school in California after the UCSF School of Medicine.

Gasol Foundation USA’s Galactic Sports winter programming, in collaboration with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, will begin in January 2023 at the following locations: El Cariso Community Regional Park (Sylmar, CA), Del Aire Park (Hawthorne, CA), Pamela Park (Duarte, CA), Amelia Mayberry Park (Whittier, CA), Ruben F Salazar Park (East Los Angeles, CA), and Lennox Park (Lennox, CA). Register today – and we’ll see you there! 

Galactic Sports is a community-based program promoting sports and healthy habits. The goal of the program is to reduce risk of childhood obesity among children by engaging them in sports and promoting these healthy habits: diet, physical activity, sleep, and emotional well-being. Galactic Sports is for children ages 6-13. The activities are designed for beginners to gain confidence in the sport.

Gasol Foundation USA presented at the 2022 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo in Boston. Our presentation poster was based on the pilot of the ENERGY program and its impact on children’s physical activity and health in both the United States and Spain. We are proud to be invited to present at the APHA conference in order to share our childhood obesity work, engage with public health experts, and collaborate with other advocates. We look forward to expanding our research for the benefit of children’s health!

On Thursday, October 27th, Gasol Foundation USA hosted our first in-person event since 2016! ‘A Night with the Gasol Foundation’ took place at Tatel Restaurant in Beverly Hills. The patio at Tatel provided a collegial setting to showcase our work and mingle with current and new collaborators. We were excited to see friends, partners, and donors who showed their support for our #ZeroChildhoodObesity mission. This friend and fundraiser built momentum for us to continue empowering children to develop healthy habits. We are thrilled to report a generous $50,000 contribution from the Los Angeles Lakers was made at the event. As always, all funds go directly toward our free children’s wellness programs.

 

On Thursday, September 15th, Gasol Foundation celebrated our new partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation with a kick-off event held at Ruben F. Salazar Park. We are officially up and running for the Fall and currently providing our Galactic Sports programming at five Los Angeles County Regional parks (Ruben F. Salazar Park in East Los Angeles, El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar, Pamela Park in Duarte, Sorensen Park in Whittier, and Lennox Park in Lennox) and the Los Angels Boys and Girls Club in Lincoln Heights.

We would like to thank Supervisor Hilda Solis and Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, Norma Garcia, for recognizing our work to reduce the risk of childhood obesity through sports and healthy habits. 

We are happy to announce a new partnership between Gasol Foundation and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation. This fall, Gasol Foundation USA will be offering our Galactic Sports programming to children ages 6-13 at five LA County Parks on weekday afternoons – Ruben F. Salazar Park in East Los Angeles, El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar, Pamela Park in Duarte, Sorensen Park in Whittier, and Lennox Park in Lennox.

Join us to announce the new partnership with County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation Thursday, September 15th at Ruben F. Salazar Park (3864 Whittier Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90023) at 5:30pm PDT.

In attendance: Director of the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation – Norma Garcia, Gasol Foundation USA Executive Director – Hector De La Torre

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