Gasol Foundation USA Welcomes Nehal Raj to the Board of Directors

Gasol Foundation USA is excited to welcome Nehal Raj to our Board of Directors. The mission of Gasol Foundation is to promote children’s wellness through programming, research, awareness, and advocacy, with a focus on eliminating childhood obesity. Every effort by the Gasol Foundation incorporates physical activity, healthy, sleep, and emotional well-being to improve the health of our children and their overall development. As we continue to expand our impact on children’s wellness, we are very much looking forward to the knowledge, insights and new ideas Nehal will provide in his new role with Gasol Foundation USA. 

Nehal Raj is Co-Managing Partner of TPG Capital, TPG’s flagship private equity business, and Co-Managing Partner of TPG Tech Adjacencies (TTAD),

TPG’s fund focused on flexible capital solutions for the technology industry. He also co-leads the firm’s investment activities in software and enterprise technology across its private equity platforms.

Nehal serves on the board of the following TPG investments: Boomi, Digital.ai, Kaseya, Lyric, New Relic, Nintex, Planview, and WellSky. Nehal was previously a director of a number of TPG investments prior to their successful exits, including: C3 AI, CCC Information Services, IQVIA, Intergraph, Wind River, and Zscaler.

Prior to joining TPG in 2006, Nehal was an investor at Francisco Partners and worked in the Tech M&A group at Morgan Stanley. He received an AB with Distinction in Economics and MS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University (Phi Beta Kappa) and an MBA from Harvard Business School (Baker Scholar).

Nehal is also active with several non-profits. He serves on Stanford University’s H&S Council and Undergraduate Cabinet, the HBS Fund Council, and the Board of Trustees of San Francisco University High School. He previously served on the Board of Trustees of San Francisco Day School and the Advisory Board of Breakthrough San Francisco.

Outside of work, Nehal is an avid sports fan and sports investor. He is an investor / co-owner of Leeds United Football Club and Alpine F1 Team. Nehal splits his time between San Francisco and Los Angeles with his wife and two high school aged kids.

Nehal joins Board President, Pau Gasol; Board Vice President, Marc Gasol; President of The Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation, Michele Chan Soon-Shiong; and President and CEO of The Molina Foundation, Dr. Martha Molina Bernadett.

Welcome on board, Nehal!

Gasol Foundation USA is currently featured in All Things Orange County Holiday Magazine Issue. The article highlights the ways in which we are serving Southern California children as we continue to expand our free health and wellness programming throughout Orange County.

To read the full article, click here:

As a partner in the Voices for Healthy Kids Coalition, Gasol Foundation USA has been a proud  supporter of California State Senator Nancy Skinner’s SB 348, Healthy Meals for Kids, and California State Senator Josh Newman’s SB 291, Daily Recess for All. 

We are excited to share that Governor Gavin Newsom signed both Senate bills into law, making California provide two free school meals a day to all public school students (SB 348), and making a half-hour of recess mandatory for all elementary school students from kindergarten through eighth grade in the state (SB 291). 

Gov. Newsom’s signing of SB 348 codifies President Biden’ standards so that California’s school meals will meet the nutrition guidelines for added sugar and salt recommended by America’s pediatricians, making California, once again, a national leader in the fight against diabetes and other health issues. SB 348 won unanimous approval in both the state Assembly and Senate. The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed Senate Bill 291 into law, making a half-hour of recess mandatory for all elementary school students from kindergarten through eighth grade in the state. legislation puts a very needed spotlight on the importance of recess time. The law goes into effect next school year.

Gasol Foundation USA is very proud of our contribution to move forward both SB 348 and SB291. As Gasol Foundation USA continues to expand our impact on children’s wellness by teaching proven healthy habits, we will continue supporting measures that improve health outcomes in the fight against the obesity epidemic. 

Gasol Foundation USA is excited to share that we have been awarded a grant from the LA84 Foundation! 

The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education and advocates for the important role sports participation plays in positive youth development. Created with a share of the 1984 Olympic Games surplus, LA84 began operations in 1985 as a grant making and educational foundation. The foundation supports hundreds of non-profit youth sports organizations throughout Southern California annually, trains coaches, commissions research, convenes conferences and maintains the world’s premier Olympic and sports library collection. 

LA84 gives special consideration to organizations and efforts that can impact at scale children and youth. They focus their support on organizations that view sports as an integral way to develop children and youth to be healthy, happy, and engaged individuals. 

As part of the LA84 protocol, a site visit of our Galactic Sports program was conducted at Hoover Elementary School the following month after applying for the grant. One week after the visit, we learned that Gasol Foundation USA had been awarded the grant. 

Funds from this grant will help with Galactic Sports program costs, including staffing, and purchasing of sports equipment. 

We look forward to sharing with you all about the accomplishments that result from this LA84 grant! 

We are excited to share that the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has named Gasol Foundation USA a National Youth Sports Strategy Champion! 

The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) is an essential resource for policymakers and key decision-makers in youth sports. It aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports. NYSS Champions represent organizations that are working towards achieving this vision. Gasol Foundation USA is thrilled to further the mission of the NYSS and help foster a lifelong love of sports and physical activity for our youth. 

 

 

Research indicates children who obtain regular physical activity gain important physical and mental health benefits. It is crucial, now more than ever, to promote the benefits of and access to physical activity and sports opportunities to youth and their families- regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or zip code. 

Gasol Foundation, along with other NYSS Champions, are currently featured on the health.gov/ NYSS website as part of a growing network of organizations working to improve the youth sports landscape in the US.

We would like to thank the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition for recognizing our work in promoting physical activity and youth sports. 

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! 

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.

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