The Los Angeles Rams teamed up with community partners to wrap up their five-week 'Season of Giving' campaign. The culmination efforts included Rams safety John Johnson III joining the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) annual sleigh ride through the neighborhoods of Pueblo Del Rio and Watts, a toy distribution and youth football clinic at Nickerson Gardens, partnering with Rams Chosen Legal Partner Call Jacob for a shopping spree for children served by The Salvation Army, a drive-through food distribution at SoFi Stadium with Pechanga Resort Casino, and participation in ABC7's annual Spark of Love toy drive.
Johnson III, Rams Cheerleaders and mascot Rampage joined LAPD officers and Watts Rams youth football players for a ride on Santa's sleigh through Pueblo Del Rio and Watts to spread holiday cheer to community members. The LAPD's Santa Sleigh Ride has evolved into an annual tradition around the holidays and serves as an opportunity for LAPD officers to form relationships with people in the community and bridge communication gaps. This was the seventh year the Rams and the Watts Rams participated in the sleigh ride. Since 2017, Rams players and Watts Rams participants have joined LAPD officers to distribute candy and gifts to community members.
"Seeing the joy and laughter people had, giving away toys, candy, plushies, t-shirts, especially around the holidays, you never know the type of impact you'll have on someone by doing things like this," said Johnson III.
The team also hosted a toy distribution drive and youth football clinic at the 60-yard turf field they installed at the Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts in September of 2024.
The Los Angeles Rams teamed up with community partners to wrap up their five-week 'Season of Giving' campaign.
To kick off the final week of 'Season of Giving', the organization teamed up with their Chosen Legal Partner Call Jacob for a shopping spree with The Salvation Army. Over 20 Rams players including offensive lineman Steve Avila, running back Blake Corum, punter Ethan Evans, defensive end Braden Fiske, linebacker Brennan Jackson, kicker Joshua Karty, safety Kamren Kinchens, linebacker Christian Rozeboom, linebacker Jared Verse, running back Kyren Williams and Rams front office staff paired with a child and was provided a $200 gift card to take the kids on a shopping spree at Walmart in West Hills.
"It means everything to give back to the community," said Jackson. "We were all kids at one time and hoping to be around our favorite athletes, so to have an opportunity to help make their Christmas and hear their stories, it's priceless."
For the fifth consecutive year, the Rams, Pechanga Resort Casino and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB) teamed up to host a drive-through food distribution for the Greater Los Angeles community in the parking lots of SoFi Stadium. Rams defensive tackle Neville Gallimorejoined Rams Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson alongside Rams Cheerleaders, Rampage and Rams front office staff at the event. Each household received roughly 45 lbs. of groceries, enough to feed a family of six for more than a week and volunteers distributed enough food for more than 20,000 meals during the event.
This 'Season of Giving' wrapped up at ABC7’s 32nd Spark of Love toy distribution at SoFi Stadium. The event hosted 500 foster youth and under-resourced children at SoFi Stadium for a special holiday event. Children had a chance to play with Johnson III, defensive end Larrell Murchison, cornerback Derion Kendrick and visit the Rams locker room prior to picking up their new, unwrapped toys.
"Growing up like these kids, with just enough to get by, for someone to come through and give back to the community, it always goes far," said Kendrick. "You never know which kid is going to be the next one of us."
The Rams volunteered over 1,500 hours of service and partnered with over 20 organizations throughout this year's 'Season of Giving'. Since 2018, Rams players, cheerleaders, mascot Rampage, and front office staff have participated in the annual Community Blitz and Season of Giving days of service that have helped to address food insecurity, provide gifts to those in need and uplift the Los Angeles community during the holiday season.
For more information about the Rams' community outreach efforts, visit www.therams.com/community.
