Los Angeles Rams Charity Initiatives

American football is by far the most popular and successful of domestic sports here in the United States with 123.4 million people tuning in to this year’s Super Bowl coverage. The NFL doesn’t just top the charts in viewing figures either, it’s top of the pile when it comes to sponsorships ($2.4 billion annually) and betting; an estimated 73 million Americans wagered on NFL spreads last year.What is remarkable about top level American sports however, is that although conceived in the spiritual home of capitalism, they are all deeply socialist at heart. Not only do leagues such as the NFL manage wealth to protect the collective, but the organisation itself fulfils its social obligations through a number of charitable initiatives.It is not just the league itself that puts such a high value on charitable endeavours, but individual teams too such as the Los Angeles Rams. Owner, Chairman and CEO of the Rams Stan Kroenke has often been criticised by Arsenal fans in the UK for not taking an active interest in their club. The same could not be said for his role at the Rams.Since acquiring the organisation in 2009, Kroenke has seen his team win their second ever Super Bowl and has also overseen the establishment of a number of remarkable charity initiatives. Read on to find out about just a few that have benefitted the local area and beyond.Taste of the RamsSpeak to any self-respecting farmer and he’ll tell you the taste of a ram isn’t worth the work, so it’s just as good that this annual event has nothing to do with ram’s meat! Established in 2013, Taste of the Rams is an annual dinner.The best chefs in the city are brought in to serve guests some truly delectable cuisine, whilst players and staff head down to entertain guests and regale them with stories from the field. The event typically raises $200,000 a year, all of which is used to provide vital assistance to people in LA who are living in food poverty.Here in Los Angeles of course, the reality of food banks and social deprivation are perhaps more stark than many other areas of the country so it’s good to see the Rams doing their bit to help out those most in need.

Certified #RamsHouseStarting up a business is hard at any time, let alone in the wake of a global pandemic and in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Recognising the difficult economic landscape that small business owners and start-ups in the local area faced, the Rams came up with the above program in 2020 to support local businesses.The program supports season ticket members in the Inglewood and LA area with promotional materials and a support network of like-minded individuals. Since its inception in 2020, Certifieid #RamsHouse has helped 83 local businesses and 40 small businesses in Inglewood.LA Promise Fund Internship ProgramIn 2018 the Rams created a summer internship program with a local high school that gave youngsters, summer work-based learning opportunities. The program saw applicants subjected to a professional interview process meant to mimic college and real workplace interviews.In addition to that, successful applicants were given exciting and engaging work to develop their social and professional skills. Following a successful first year, the scheme was rolled out high schools from all across the city.

Rams Night for WishesThe Make-A-WISH Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1980, with the sole aim of helping to fulfil the wishes of seriously ill children. Since its foundation 44 years ago, the charity has made kids royalty for a day, arranged for them to meet their sporting heroes and even sent them to Lapland to meet Santa.Every year the Rams team up with Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties to raise funds for local children who are looking to have their wishes fulfilled. Over the past four years the Rams Night for Wishes has helped to raise more than $2 million, granting over 200 wishes in the process.In SummaryThere are a great many more initiatives, big and small, led by the Rams each year that allow them to give back to the local community. Whether that be in the form of grand events like Kickoff for Charity, or lesser known initiatives like the Rams Academic Challenge.Which, perhaps more than anything that happens on the field, is why the Los Angeles Rams hold such a special place in all of our hearts.