News & Updates

For Immediate Release
May 6, 2026
 
Media Contact:
office@expositionparkfoundation.org
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Foundation to foster philanthropic and public/private partnerships for community programming and legacy projects
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 Los Angeles, California – California First Partner Jennifer Seibel Newsom celebrated the launch of the Exposition Park Foundation (the Foundation), a 501(c)(3) non-profit to foster philanthropic and public-private partnerships to help meet Exposition Park’s community development and programming, infrastructure, and sustainability goals before and after the Park hosts the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
The Foundation’s mission is to reimagine Exposition Park for the next 100 years, while enhancing its role as a community resource, and sports, cultural, educational, and entertainment world-class destination.

“It was an honor to celebrate the launch of the Exposition Park Foundation, which advances wellness and safe, accessible spaces for all -- core to our California Love, California Strong initiative to strengthen social connection,” said California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom. “Through investments in community programming and expanded access to green spaces, the Foundation will create opportunities for Californians to connect, explore our natural beauty, and engage with our shared history.”

As Exposition Park prepares to be the only institution in history to host three active Olympiads, it is also experiencing a historic transformation, with over $2 billion invested in the past decade in new attractions including the future Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the California Science Center’s Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, and the Natural History Museum’s Commons expansion.
 
“With the launch of the Exposition Park Foundation, we are catapulting the Park into the future through powerful public-private partnerships,” said Andrea Ambriz, Exposition Park Foundation President and Park General Manager. “By polishing this historic gem, we are building unprecedented opportunities for a community-focused transformation based on our storied past with a clear vision towards a legacy for the next 100 years”

The South Los Angeles community that neighbors Exposition Park is one of the most densely populated and park-deficient, urban heat island areas in California. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the community has asked for more mental health resources, including safe, opengreen spaces and recreational programs.

The Foundation was launched as part of the California Love, California Strong initiative, a statewide initiative launched by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to strengthen social connection and foster a greater sense of belonging for Californians, much of which can be accomplished through creative programming and opportunities within third spaces like Exposition Park.

“Exposition Park is one of Los Angeles’ most important civic platforms—bringing together culture, education, sports, and community on a global stage,” said Andrew Tavakoli, Chair of the Exposition Park Foundation. “The Foundation was established to help unlock the Park’s full potential by mobilizing private investment, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that the scale and quality of the public realm match the significance of the events it hosts. With the World Cup and Olympic Games ahead, we have a unique window to invest thoughtfully, creating a lasting legacy for the city and for generations to come.”

Since 2019, the state has proposed more than $450 million to support Exposition Park’s transformation. In 2024, the state allocated $351.5 million to fund the construction of a nearly six-acre park and underground parking structure development related to Exposition Park’s Master Plan. Earlier this year, Exposition Park announced Governor Newsom’s proposed state budget of $96.5 million and an additional $1.04 million in federal funding to implement critical safety and accessibility projects necessary to meet the upcoming surge in park visitors.

The Foundation will supplement the State of California’s investments to ensure a lasting legacy of infrastructure, sustainability, green space, economic growth, and inclusive community programming before and after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
 
The Founding Board of the Exposition Park Foundation includes:
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About the Exposition Park Foundation
The Exposition Park Foundation was established in 2024 with a mission to enhance Exposition Park’s role as a world-class regional and global destination, and to reimagine the Park for the next 100 years.
For more information, please visit expositionparkfoundation.org