Catholic Charities Los Angeles 2025 Spirit of Giving Humanitarian Award Honoree Sam Laganà and his presenter Chris Harrer with Our Lady of the Angels Regional Executive Director Armine Lalaian.
Photo by ZSUZSI STEINER
The Catholic Charities of Los Angeles honored Sam Laganà with its annual Spirit of Giving Humanitarian Award in the Region of Our Lady of the Angels in October.
Laganà was recognized for his leadership in supporting the recovery and resilience of thousands of individuals affected by the January firestorms that devastated Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu, as well as for his ongoing philanthropic work throughout Greater Los Angeles.
He said, “Bringing people together in community is something that I believe in; togetherness, relationship, those are elements that I speak to quite often – faith, family, and friends.”
Lagana is the stadium voice of the Los Angeles Rams and has served in that capacity the past 10 years. During the ceremony, he recounted how he got into announcing, which started with playing sports. “I thought that I would be the next great multi-sport athlete until in junior high, I went up for a rebound in basketball, and I got low bridged in practice and I couldn’t move on the court and then I was trying to get up.”
Lagana said it was then they discovered that he had an extra lumbar in his lower vertebra and that his muscular skeletal system was not growing at the same pace as the rest of his body.
“There was another young woman who was on the girls’ basketball team and on the golf team and she was keeping the book and so I sat next to her to announce these games and … she now is the governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jeanie Buss. That’s how I wound up getting into announcing,” said Lagana, who still plays volleyball, softball and basketball
He is chairman of the John R. Wooden Award Foundation. This past year, he was named Pacific Palisades Honorary Town Sheriff.
The Humanitarian Award, previously presented to Vin Scully, Roma Downey, and Fritz Coleman, celebrates individuals who exemplify compassion, service, and dedication to uplifting the Los Angeles community. During his acceptance speech for his award, Lagana said, “The first day when I took on the leadership of CEO and president of Notre Dame High School… Mr. (Vin) Scully called me to congratulate me and chat with me.”
He served at Pepperdine University for nearly 20 years.
About his Catholic upbringing he said, “My father was raised in the Catholic tradition, my mother immigrated to it, and they raised us in a traditional Catholic environment at Corpus Christi Parish in Pacific Palisades.” As a youth he was an altar server.
Lagana said, “Maybe even that’s how I picked up some of my announcing was doing readings, and the first reading I ever did has stayed with me and that is Corinthians thirteen.”
The awards evening in Marina del Rey also highlighted the vital work of Catholic Charities and its St. Robert’s Center, located on the border of Santa Monica and Venice near St. Clement Church. The center provides essential programs that serve families and individuals in transition, exemplifying Catholic Charities’ mission to lead with love and welcome all who seek support.
CONGRATULATIONS, SAM!! A very deserving honor
to a very deserving human being…..Sam is “special”.