CARSON, Calif. - Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Chivas USA of Major League Soccer, and the Los Angeles Unified School District announced the Career Panel Program, a series of events aimed at encouraging high school students to stay in school and inspiring them to continue their education after graduation. The Career Panel Program officially launched today, Thursday, Sept. 24, with a kick-off event at Santee Education Complex in South Los Angeles immediately preceding the first of the Career Panels.
The Career Panel Program will consist of a total of five events this summer and fall, where thousands of students at LAUSD high schools will hear first-hand accounts from professionals and clients of Pillsbury, a full-service law firm, as well as Chivas USA players and executives, about the important role education has played in their lives. A pilot program held this summer at Franklin High School met with overwhelming success, as nearly 900 students attended the event, and hundreds more attended today's session at Santee.
"Pillsbury has a rich tradition of involvement in community outreach, especially as it relates to education, but it is particularly rewarding to be a part of such an important program from its formation," said Bill Waller, Managing Partner of Pillsbury's Los Angeles office, who also served as a panelist at today's Santee program. "We are so pleased to be partnering with Chivas USA and the LAUSD on this exciting new initiative."
Pillsbury and Chivas USA worked with LAUSD's Director of Dropout Prevention to develop the series of panels and the Fall schedule, which will include events at Garfield High School on Sept. 30, Roosevelt High School on Oct. 4, and Bell High School at a date to be determined. At Santee Education Complex on Thursday, the panelists included Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, Chivas USA Chief Financial Officer Clem Gatmaitan, Pillsbury partners William Waller and Sheryl Stein, and Pillsbury associate Semma Arzapalo.
"Education has played a huge role in the lives of everyone at Chivas USA, including players, coaches, staff, and executives," said Gatmaitan, who spoke to students at Santee today. "Through these Career Panels, we hope to encourage students from our community to make a difference in their lives by staying in school."
Chivas USA takes on the New York Red Bulls this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., as the team continues to push for a fourth consecutive playoff berth. For more information on the game, or to purchase tickets, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with market-leading strengths in the energy, financial services, real estate and technology sectors. With a presence in the world's major financial and technology centers, Pillsbury counsels clients on all aspects of global business and litigation. We work in multidisciplinary teams that allow us to anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree perspective to complex business and legal issues-helping clients to take greater advantage of new opportunities and better mitigate risk. This collaborative work style helps produce the results our clients seek.
About Chivas USA
Founded in 2004, Los Angeles-based Club Deportivo Chivas USA has achieved remarkable success in just four full seasons in Major League Soccer. In 2008, the Mexican-owned club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row, to the delight of its passionate supporters. In addition, Chivas USA's innovative grassroots programs demonstrate its deep commitment to the Southern California community, while the club's youth teams and Soccer Academies offer unprecedented opportunities to the region's best young talent. For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com.
