As United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Rams gear up for WalkUnitedLA on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at SoFi Stadium, they are excited to announce offensive lineman Steve Avila, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, defensive tackle Kobie Turner and running back Kyren Williams will serve as the honorary chairs for the family-friendly walk/run to end poverty. Rams Legend, Super Bowl Champion and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Andrew Whitworth, will serve as the event's host.
Rams fans are encouraged to join their favorite players and alumni at the Rams House, supporting United Way's efforts to break the cycle of poverty through housing, education and economic opportunity. The honorary chairs will participate in a celebration following the walk/run featuring live entertainment, food trucks, hands-on volunteer opportunities, family activities and much more. In addition, when participants cross the finish line, they will have the opportunity to meet the Rams 2024 rookie class, marking the first time the team's rookies will make a community appearance following the NFL Draft.
"When I joined the Rams, I made a commitment to lead positive change in Los Angeles, and WalkUnitedLA allows me to help unite thousands of Angelenos to help support our most vulnerable neighbors," said Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams Legend, winner of the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and Super Bowl LVI Champion. "I'm incredibly proud to be joined this year by some of our emerging leaders on the field and in the community in Ernest, Kyren, Kobie and Steve. I'm hopeful that Rams fans throughout Los Angeles will register for 'Team Rams' and show up with their families as we all come together to help working families and students facing housing and food insecurity."
United Way of Greater Los Angeles, in partnership with the Rams, brought WalkUnitedLA to SoFi Stadium in 2021 to address the intersectional root causes of poverty and benefit the diverse community organizations working to build a more equitable Los Angeles. The annual walk is back after its 2022 edition, which gathered 10,000 people and raised more than $1.3M. WalkUnitedLA evolved from United Way of Greater L.A.'s flagship event HomeWalk established in 2007. Since its inception, the walk has brought together more than 125,000 people from across Los Angeles County and raised over $10 million to end homelessness.
This year, the Rams are joining WalkUnitedLA to support over 75,500 people experiencing homelessness, as well as those facing housing and food insecurity across the region.
"WalkUnitedLA is such a beautiful event that shows the best of what we can do when we come together," said Elise Buik, United Way of Greater Los Angeles President and CEO. "We are so grateful for our deep and collaborative partnership with the Los Angeles Rams. Together we have encouraged thousands of people to come out to support students, working families, and people experiencing homelessness across greater Los Angeles, and we expect this year's edition of the walk to inspire even more people to step up for Los Angeles."
Registration for WalkUnitedLA is open at therams.com/walkunitedla where people can sign up to join "Team Rams" and raise funds to create a better Los Angeles. Fans who join "Team Rams" by Friday, April 12 will receive a complimentary Ram-branded t-shirt to wear during WalkUnitedLA on Saturday, May 11 at SoFi Stadium.
