LOS ANGELES (KNX) — An empty parking inspired our KNX Helpful Honda Hero of the Week to build one of the biggest soccer clubs in the metro!
Tony Marcelli is an Army veteran who is leading a team of nurses at Dignity Health in downtown Los Angeles. Outside of the hospital, Tony leads a group of coaches and aspiring young soccer players.
"Here at this hospital, there used to be a parking lot where the new building is being built. And, I used to play soccer with the neighborhood kids here!" explains Dignity’s Director of Nursing. "Then I had my son, and we decided to enroll him in a rec program (for soccer)."
However, Tony wanted more for his son and other kids in the neighborhood.
"So, I made my own team and my own club!" says Tony. "One club merged into another club, into a bigger club. And, now we have one of the biggest fútbol academies in LA!"
Tony says over the years, over a thousand kids have participated.
"It's called LA United Fútbol Academy, LAUFA for short. We have multiple levels of competition. We have MSL Next, we have an elite academy group, and we have a club group. All total, we have about thirty teams."
One of the most important parts about this soccer academy is that it caters to kids who are underserved. "Ninety-nine percent of our kids are low-income," says Tony. "We got together to see how we can help out the neighborhood kids, and (how to) give them the opportunity to play the high club level without the costs."
That guidance extends past the field. "We want to prepare them for college or a trade, so we have SAT testing help, we have tutoring. Because, we want to give them the best opportunity!"
He's the Director of Nurses at Dignity Health in downtown Los Angeles. He's influencing young people all over the metro with the academy he founded. Tony Marcelli of La Crescenta is our KNX Hero of the Week!
KNX Heroes is brought to you by California Resources Corporation, saluting our military veterans, and all of our heroes! Go to https://www.crc.com/ for more information.
Connect with Tony and LAUFA at https://www.laufa.org/
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