LA Galaxy players visit CVUSD migrant students, donate $5,000 to the district

Two LA Galaxy players, Edwin Cerrillo and Mauricio Cuevas, met with Coachella Valley Unified School District migrant students at Palm View Elementary School on Monday. It was an event Cuevas said he didn't want to miss.

"We all have the same backgrounds, w all have, you know, the same upbringing," said Cuevas. "Similar backstories to these kids as well, and just for them to be able to hear from one migrant to another I just pray and hope that I can impact them."

The pair took part in the team's 3rd annual event, donating a $5,000 check to the district's migrant program.

"It's a surreal feeling, being a kid from LA as well, and being able to play in front of my family means everything to me," said Cuevas. "It's a feeling I still can't describe to this day. It's just, it's amazing.”

Cerrillo agreed, and says as a migrant kid growing up, his parents inspired him to surpass them, and shoot for the stars.

"My parents, like their parents, also came to the United States for a better life and for better opportunities," said Cerrillo. My mom and dad have always told me to dream big and and to really work for our goals, because anything is possible in this life."

LA Galaxy broadcaster Joe Tutino also hosted a conversation with the two players about their personal experiences from youth sports to professional soccer, and the importance of giving back to the community. The players took part in a Q&A session with the students, and following the conversation, the LA Galaxy hosted a soccer clinic with the attendees.

The event was held to inspire the students of migrant families, and to show them to dream big.

"Maybe you feel a little shame, maybe you're a little shy, or timid coming from a migrant family," said Cerrillo. "But I think you need to be proud of where you come from, because it's who you are. I'm just proud of my Latino culture, and I hope that all these kids are proud of where they come.”