Pier 400 in the community: Investing in local people, places and futures

For neighbors in San Pedro and Wilmington, APM Terminals Los Angeles – Pier 400 – is part of everyday life. Cranes rise above the harbor, traffic moves in and out of the port and hundreds of jobs depend on the terminal’s performance.

What matters just as much is what happens beyond the quay. Families look for safe spaces for children to learn, support during difficult times and partners who stand by them when crises hit. That is where Pier 400 aims to show up – in classrooms, food pantries, youth centers and community halls across the harbor.

Investment that reflects local priorities

In 2025, Pier 400 directed more than $400,000 to over 40 non-profit partners in the Los Angeles area. Funding supported after-school programs, environmental stewardship, youth leadership, veteran support and disaster relief.

Colleagues at Pier 400 added more than 750 volunteer hours, supported by paid time each year to contribute to local organizations.

When the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires struck, support for the LA Rises wildfire recovery fund reached USD 2 million. The decision was made quickly – reflecting a belief that true partners respond at the pace of the community’s need.

These figures are important, yet the real impact is best heard in the voices of local organizations and the people they serve.

Watch the story

Director of Community Relations & Corporate Responsibility Ashley Esparza and local partners share what this support means in practice.

A program built around people

Pier 400’s Esparza, grew up in San Pedro. The same streets, schools and community centers that shaped her childhood now shape the focus of the terminal’s community work.

Esparza leads Pier 400’s first dedicated community engagement function. The role reflects a shift in how the terminal approaches its neighbors. The program is not built around visibility or brand awareness – it is built around local need and long-term partnership.

Five pillars – one shared goal

Community giving at Pier 400 is structured around five strategic pillars. Each aligns with A.P. Møller – Maersk’s global responsibility goals and is tailored to the priorities of the surrounding harbor communities.

1. Education and training
   Nearly half of Pier 400’s community investment supports education and training. The aim is simple: to help young people gain skills and confidence long before they fill in a job application.
   
   Partners include Boys & Girls Club of the LA Harbor, Friendship Foundation, San Pedro Education Foundation, Girls Inc. LA and Wilmington YMCA. Together, these organizations create safe spaces for homework help, mentoring, inclusive education and enrichment activities.
2. Environmental protection
   Environmental protection links the terminal’s decarbonization and sustainability ambitions with community life along the waterfront. Support reaches organizations such as Marine Mammal Care Center, Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and California Least Terns habitat protection.
   
   Pier 400’s Managing Director, Jon Poelma, serves on the board of Marine Mammal Care Center – a visible sign that environmental commitments extend beyond financial support.
3. Economic opportunity
   Harbor communities are closely tied to the port economy. Investments in economic opportunity help small businesses grow and create pathways into quality jobs.
   
   Support for the Wilmington Teen Center and LA Rises helps young people and families access job-readiness resources, financial coaching and programs that connect local talent with opportunities in and around the port.
4. Community health, safety and inclusion
   Strong communities depend on safety, inclusion and access to basic needs. Under this pillar, Pier 400 supports organizations such as Toberman Neighborhood Center, which provides food security, gang violence prevention programming and youth leadership development.
   
   Additional partners include the LAFD Foundation, Pacific Battleship Center veterans programming and seasonal efforts such as holiday toy drives and school supply campaigns.
5. Disaster relief and preparedness
   Harbor residents live with the reality of wildfires, public health emergencies and severe weather. Disaster relief and preparedness support reflects a core belief: a trusted partner does not wait to be asked.
   
   Funding and volunteer time are directed where they are most needed – from emergency response to longer-term recovery and resilience-building.

Rooted in the harbor

More than 50 local non-profits across San Pedro, Wilmington and surrounding neighborhoods have been identified as current or potential partners. Relationships deepen over time based on alignment with the five pillars and direct feedback from community leaders.

Every contribution – whether a grant, sponsorship or hour of volunteering – is guided by a straightforward conviction: when local communities thrive, the port and the wider region thrive too.
Learn more about Pier 400’s community and sustainability commitments in the 2025 Annual Impact Report.