Oscar De La Hoya & Holly Sonders Volunteer at Project Angel Food
De La Hoya’s Birthday, Friday, Feb. 4.
LOS ANGELES, CA — February 4, 2022. Ten-time world champion, Hall of Fame boxer, Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Oscar De La Hoya volunteered in the Project Angel Food kitchen on his birthday on Friday, Feb. 4, to give back to Los Angeles. He was joined by girlfriend Holly Sonders — influencer, golfer, and former Fox Sports broadcaster.
De La Hoya was hospitalized with COVID for three days in September and, grateful for his recovery, wanted to celebrate his 49th birthday showing up for his beloved Los Angeles community by volunteering with an organization on the frontlines of L.A.’s COVID relief — Project Angel Food.
CEO Richard Ayoub welcomed the couple to the kitchen. He said, “We’ve had some big stars and even royalty in our kitchen, but to see the volunteer and staff light up like this — some even coming in on their days off to wish Oscar a happy birthday — is pretty amazing.”
The Olympic gold medalist credits his mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 1990, for instilling helping others a young age, but it is his battle with COVID in September 2021, that Oscar says makes volunteering on his birthday that much more special.
Oscar says, “Being hospitalized by COVID really opened up my eyes and my heart to give back even more. So, the fact that I’m here on my birthday really is a blessing and reminds me of how many people there are in need."
Oscar and Holly brought a custom-made birthday cake to share with volunteers and staff. They cut vegetables and put special labels on meals to let clients know Oscar De La Hoya made their meal. He boxed a pinata, posed for photos, signed autographs and joined Richard Ayoub for Project Angel Food’s Lead with Love Instagram Live series.
The Oscar De La Hoya Foundation was first established in 1995 and helps improve the quality of life for his hometown community of East Los Angeles. The foundation created and maintains a state-of-the-art cancer center, a charter high school, a labor and delivery center, and a neonatal intensive care unit. The foundation serves thousands of people annually.
Project Angel Food prepares and delivers Medically Tailored Meals to 2,400 critically ill men, women, and children each day in the 4,700 square miles of Los Angeles County. Project Angel Food delivered over 1,144,346 meals in 2021.
Still Photos (credit Noe Garcia): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pmtkz6eize1lcde/AAAnkH0udYwnMqzyU99vLRp0a?dl=0
Getty Images: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/2/image?family=editorial&events=775767951