Chivas USA Defines Leadership

The club is a model organization that embraces its fans and surrounding community in a manner that deserves recognition by the general populous. On any given week, including the off season, Chivas USA players can be found at a variety of events throughout the greater L.A. area.

Some of the events include low cost soccer clinics for kids via the popular Chivas at the Park program, but the club's focus extends beyond the sport and it is not uncommon to find Chivas USA participating at toy giveaways or fund raisers for local charities such as THINK Together.

The latter was paid a visit by one of the younger members of the Chivas USA roster, midfielder Gerson Mayen, in support of their Miles of Change fundraiser earlier this year. Mayen was on hand at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana when THINK Together officially broke the Guiness World Record for the largest chain of pennies. Mayen signed autographs, took pictures and mingled with the kids as they worked to string all the pennies together for a distance totaling 65 miles.

THINK Together's Nadia Flores later expressed her gratitude towards Chivas USA and Mayen, stating that his presence "really encouraged the students to pursue their education and show them that there are positive role models in the community who care about them." For his part, when asked about the matter, Mayen humbly responds with a simple "it is important and good to help out," a bit reminiscent of the one for all and all for one attitude that seems to follow the team on and off the field.

This week, Chivas USA has teamed up with another worthy cause, 826LA. Students from the group have been selling tickets to this Saturday's match versus D.C. United in order to raise funds. Part of the proceeds from those sales will go directly to 826LA and you can help by simply buying a ticket or two. If you can't make the game, donate a few tickets to 826LA and they will raffle them off to students.

To purchase tickets, visit the Ticketmaster site and use the following special offer code: 826.

As is customary, that is not the only activity in which the red-and-whites are participating this week. Chivas at the Park visits Griffith Park this Saturday and various players are appearing at other places. The ongoing efforts by Chivas USA demonstrate that they are leaders both on and off the field and fans should take great pride in the club that they support as it provides them with plenty of reasons to do so.