San Diego's New MLS Team Donates $100,000 to San Diego Foundation

by Darius Boamah

San Diego’s new MLS team presented a check for $100,000 to the San Diego Foundation to support youth athletics. The event was held at Modern Times Bar in Point Loma on July 11th, 2023.

Since its inception, San Diego’s incoming MLS team has made it it’s goal to support the community. It started by offering fans the chance to donate $18 to be placed on a priority list for season tickets. These donations from the fans were part of the $100,000 donated to the San Diego Foundation on the 11th. 

The goal of the donation is to support and enrich the culture of youth soccer in all of San Diego County. There is already a bustling soccer scene in Southern California, and with the popularity of soccer growing in the U.S., ”by working together, we will create a brighter future for our youth and create a lasting legacy through soccer”, said Mark Stuart, President and CEO of the San Diego Foundation.

Tom Penn, CEO of San Diego’s MLS team, and Cody Martinez, co-owner of San Diego’s MLS team and Sycuan Tribal Chairman, talked about the importance of working with the San Diego Foundation. 



“We are thrilled to collaborate with San Diego Foundation,” said Penn. “A pillar of this club is to invest in local youth, by doing so we aim to provide opportunities for children not only to learn and enjoy the sport but also develop valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and leadership.”

Penn and Martinez then held a Q&A with fans after the check presentation. Fans were excited to ask about the future of the team, like jersey colors, the team name, player and coach options, and much more. While Penn and Martinez were excited to answer their questions, they could not give much away in terms of the future. However, they stressed the importance of communication with the fans and their want for fan involvement while moving forward.