June 27, 2025 - Tara Badie, a seasoned toy marketer at Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America spoke to the interns of Angel City Football Club’s SOAR internship program.
Earlier this year, in March, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America (BNTCA) announced a four-year partnership with Angel City Football Club (ACFC), marking Bandai Namco as the first toy brand to sponsor a major U.S. professional women's sports team.
ACFC competes in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women's professional soccer league globally, and has recently been recognized as the most valuable women's sports team worldwide. This Founding Level partnership transcends the goal posts, aligning two organizations driven by creativity, community, and a shared vision for excellence.
Under ACFC’s signature Angel City Sponsorship Model—where 10% of each sponsorship’s value is reinvested back into the community—Bandai Namco and ACFC collaborate to support the SOAR internship program. This initiative provides high school-age young women from communities across Los Angeles with grants and mentorship opportunities.
On the very first day of 2025 SOAR internship program, Tara Badie, Senior Director at BNTCA’s Toy Dept, showed up and shared her career journey, passion for toy marketing, and the challenges and accomplishments at Bandai Namco with the interns. She also emphasized the importance of communication, drawing from her experiences of collaborating with colleagues in Japan.
ACFC’s SOAR internship will culminate in a celebration on July 23 and interns will be invited to the Toy Night presented by Bandai Namco on August 21.
Learn more about ACFC at www.angelcity.com and follow the team on social media @weareangelcity.
2025 ACFC SOAR Internship Program Participants
Photo by Alex Yawata
Tara Badie (center) & ACFC SOAR Internship Participants
Photo by Alex Yawata
