Homeboy Industries Named First LA28 Licensing Partner
The local organization will produce and sell branded T-shirts to support job training and community programs.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy
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LA28 has selected Homeboy Industries as the inaugural local licensing partner for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The organization will manufacture T-shirts featuring official branding, with proceeds benefiting its mission to provide gang intervention and counseling services.
Why it matters
This partnership aims to integrate the economic impact of the Olympic Games into local neighborhoods while funding vital social services. By sourcing and selling locally, the initiative seeks to ensure that the 2028 Games generate tangible benefits for Los Angeles residents.
Homeboy Industries will sell branded T-shirts at its headquarters and several city locations, including L.A. City Hall and LAX Terminal 2. The organization draws on 40 years of community service experience to support its new role as an Olympic licensee.
The players
LA28
This is the organizing committee responsible for the planning and execution of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Homeboy Industries
Based in Los Angeles, this organization provides job training, tattoo removal, and counseling services for formerly gang-involved and incarcerated individuals.
The details
Homeboy Silkscreen & Embroidery will produce the shirts using blanks sourced from manufacturers based in the downtown and East Los Angeles areas. The merchandise will be available for purchase at designated sites and through the group's official online portal.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: The application window for the licensing program opens for interested businesses.
February 2027: The application period for the Made for Two-Eight program closes.
July 2027: LA28 will announce the successful local business partners.
July 2028: The 2028 Summer Olympics officially begin.
Market Landscape
This partnership functions as a pilot for the Made for Two-Eight program, designed to integrate small, local operations into the global merchandising supply chain typically reserved for major brands like Nike. It creates a new procurement model that shifts Olympic commercial focus toward neighborhood-based manufacturing.
Consumers can support local social services by purchasing licensed Olympic merchandise directly at the Homeboy Industries headquarters or its various city diners. These purchases provide direct funding for job training and counseling programs for individuals in the community.
The takeaway
This collaboration demonstrates how major global events can be leveraged to provide direct financial support for community-based social initiatives. Residents and visitors are encouraged to source official merchandise from local partners to help sustain these long-term neighborhood programs.
What happens next
The application window for local businesses and nonprofits to join the Made for Two-Eight program remains open until February 2027, with the official selection of partners scheduled for July 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest charitable efforts in the region by visiting Philanthropy.
More information
For information on how to participate in local business opportunities, visit the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement.
Live Poll
Should local businesses be prioritized to sell official merchandise for major international events in your area?
