Wave Staff Report
INGLEWOOD — United Way of Greater Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Rams, local community and philanthropic organizations, and 7,500 participants raised nearly $1.2 million May 11 during WalkUnitedLA 2024 at SoFi Stadium. The annual family-friendly walk brought communities together from across the county to fight to break cycles of poverty and build communities of prosperity in Los Angeles.
This year’s WalkUnitedLA honorary chairs were Rams players Steve Avila, Ernest Jones, Kobie Turner and Kyren Williams. Former Ram Andrew Whitworth, the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, served as the event’s co-host. In addition, Rams fans had the opportunity to meet the Rams 2024 rookie class in their first community appearance following the NFL Draft.
“When I signed [with the Rams] in 2017, something was very clear, the Los Angeles Rams wanted to be a leader in making a positive impact in the community of Los Angeles,” Whitworth said. “I couldn’t be more happy to have been a part of what we’ve been able to do over the last few years. WalkUnitedLA has given us this platform to bring thousands of people together, all to help our most vulnerable neighbors. That is the greatest way to live life, for somebody other than just you.”
The event also featured a special Mother’s Day celebration, including photo opportunities and giveaways that honored mothers and mother figures in attendance.
“WalkUnitedLA is a powerful and unique event that brings together people from all ages, diverse backgrounds, and walks of life, joining forces to boost affordable housing, help community college students succeed, and ensure economic mobility in low-income communities,” said Elise Buik, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “I am thrilled to see the unlocked power of participants to make a real impact in building communities of prosperity across our region.”
Those joined by their mothers and mother figures were able to capture a memorable photo opportunity with Rams cheerleaders, gift flowers, and post loving messages to their moms in the big heart-shaped sign. Kids had playing time at the Rams Kids Zone, and participants could enjoy international cuisine from food trucks and the beer garden. Walkers and runners had the opportunity to enjoy live entertainment, dance and stretch routines led by the Rams cheerleaders, the team’s mascot Rampage, and more.
“Every day we strive to win on the field and to help Los Angeles win off the field,” said Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff. “This event has become one of the signatures of our offseason now in its third year.
“We are so grateful to our partners, our runners, our walkers and our community leaders who helped make WalkUnitedLA so special. Your presence here today at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park sends the message that you care and that you are committed to playing a role in the fight to end poverty.”
Since 2007, WalkUnitedLA (formerly known as HomeWalk) has brought together nearly 150,000 people from across Los Angeles County and raised over $10 million to end homelessness, becoming the single largest annual event to end homelessness nationwide.
WalkUnitedLA was made possible thanks to the support of sponsors including the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; the Annenberg Foundation; East West Bank; The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation; Health Net; SoCalGas; Deloitte, Jet Propulsion Laboratory; PwC; Waymo; Kaiser Permanente; Oaktree Capital Management; Cedars-Sinai; Edison International; ACCO Engineered Systems; City National Bank; US Bank; Enterprise Mobility; Torrance Refining Company and Media sponsor ABC-7/KABC-TV Los Angeles.
