Herbalife announced an individual multi-year sponsorship deal with LA Galaxy forward and US National Team member Gyasi Zardes.
The sponsorship includes a year-long promotion and community-oriented initiatives with A Place Called Home (APCH) designed to keep fans engaged all season long.
Through the sponsorship, which lasts through the 2019 MLS season, Herbalife will exclusively provide Zardes with nutrition and sports performance products and support.
“We welcome Gyasi Zardes to the Herbalife family of sponsored athletes and are proud to be his exclusive nutrition and sports performance partner,” said Michael O. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer, Herbalife.
As part of the sponsorship, Herbalife and the LA Galaxy, through their Joint Community Program, will make an initial donation of $10,000 to the APCH Laptops for Scholars program, which provides laptops to freshmen college students from South Los Angeles. For every goal Gyasi scores this season, Herbalife and the LA Galaxy will donate $2,000 towards laptops for APCH’s college-bound students. And, for every assist made by him, Herbalife and the LA Galaxy will donate $500 to APCH, up to $25,000 total. At the end of the season, APCH children will be eligible to meet Gyasi or participate in a clinic with him.
Having grown up in a rough neighborhood, the Los Angeles native turned to soccer at the age of four to stay on the right path. He dyes his hair blonde so his elderly grandparents can identify him when he is on the field.
“I am honored to be playing for my hometown team and be sponsored by Herbalife which is focused on nutrition,” said Gyasi. “I’ve been using Herbalife’s full suite of products and have been very pleased with the results. I look forward to working with Herbalife’s staff of nutritionists as they help me achieve the competitive advantage I need.”
Herbalife and the LA Galaxy have a longstanding relationship with Los Angeles-based APCH, a local non-profit that provides educational tools to low-income children in South Central Los Angeles.
“I want to thank the Herbalife Family Foundation and the LA Galaxy for this generous donation,” said Jonathan Zeichner, executive director, A Place Called Home. “Our laptops for scholars program is filling a critical gap for first-generation college students from South Central Los Angeles, and it is always nice to see teams and companies investing in our future leaders by ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed in life.”
