Team L.A. Club members give to the team they love

By Logan Schlossberg
and Erica Schnieder
Staff Writers

Every Tuesday at lunch in room 5, it’s all about purple and gold.

Team L.A. Club on campus, led by senior presidents Ryan Siegelman and Brendan Sofen, works to raise money for the Lakers Youth Foundation. The club comes together to talk about its pride for all-things related to L.A. sports, as well as giving back to their community.

Team L.A. has entirely new leadership  this year, with Siegelman and Sofen acting as co-presidents and senior Chance Keenan and junior Alec Weaver sharing the duties of vice-president.

“Ryan Siegelman and I learned many lessons from Brett Nielson, our former president. Next year, Alec Weaver is going to run Team L.A. and further our teaching of loving our local Los Angeles sports,” Sofen said.

Team L.A. is also a club dedicated to following and supporting the Los Angeles Lakers.  Meetings consist of debriefings on recent Lakers news, including games, scores, team standing, and game schedules.  Members also share their opinions on these subjects and when possible, attend games.

“Last year, we got free tickets from the Lakers for our generous donations to The Los Angeles Lakers Foundation and attended multiple Laker games,” Siegelman said.

The goals of this non-profit community organization include using basketball to encourage education and promote self-confidence among young people in Los Angeles. The foundation specifically finances after-school programs for underprivileged youth.

“We hope to raise money by conducting car washes, Club Day proceeds and maybe even small events to reach out to those in need,” club secretary and senior Kendra Carlo said. “Specifically, we’re trying to raise money for the Lakers Youth Foundation, which was very appreciative of our donations in the previous years of this clubs.”

Those interested in learning more about the upcoming Laker events and other Team L.A. related activities, as well as donating to the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation should visit room 5 at lunch on Tuesdays.

“Team L.A. is not just a club. It’s a place where we can come together with a common interest: the fact that we bleed purple and gold,” Weaver said. “I am glad to be part of a club that represents the greatest city in the world. I love L.A.”