Wave Staff and Wire Reports
INGLEWOOD — Prior to the team’s opening game at SoFi Stadium Sept. 13, the Rams announced a $100,000 donation to provide a City Year educational-support team at Crozier Middle School.
“As we continue to focus on addressing social injustice, we know one of the greatest injustices is education inequity that prevents upward mobility for students in under-resourced school districts,” said Rams Vice President of Community Affairs and Engagement Molly Higgins. “We are committed to working with Inglewood Unified to improve student success, and we are excited about the partnership with City Year to provide access to holistic educational and social emotional support for the students of Crozier.”
The donation will finance the creation of a City Year team of “student success coaches,” who will provide social and academic support for students, including efforts to provide personalized learning while encouraging attendance and understanding of the virtual learning environment.
City Year targets its services to traditionally under-resourced schools.
The Rams have sponsored a City Year team at Grape Street Elementary School in Watts since 2017.
In addition to the team’s support of City Year’s efforts at Crozier Middle School, stadium naming-rights partner SoFi will be donating $1,000 to the organization for every field goal and point-after-touchdown scored at SoFi Stadium.
“We are grateful to the Rams for their continued commitment to build education equity and support L.A. students at a time when they need it most,” said City Year Los Angeles Executive Director Mary Jane Stevenson. “To know that they not only have the support of City Year and Crozier staff but also that of the Rams will mean the world to students as they return to the virtual classroom.”
SoFi also will be donating $20,000 to supply Wi-Fi hot spots to Inglewood Unified School District households without access to wireless internet.
“We are honored and grateful that the Rams organization is sponsoring Crozier Middle School with City Year for the 2020-21 school year,” Erika Torres, Inglewood Unified School District county administrator, said in a statement. “The program’s design to help students remain engaged to perform better academically, along with their commitment to support student’s social emotional learning, is a vital part of our district’s vision to build educational equity and ensure students are successful in college, career and life.”
Earlier in the week, Rams quarterback Jared Goff donated new Rams T-shirts to every student in the Inglewood Unified School District.