As Californians continue to grapple with barriers to accessing care and rising costs, candidates for governor and community members gathered in Riverside for the nonpartisan forum Health Matters: A Conversation with Our Next Governor. 

The forum focused on how the candidates will address health access, affordability, and the broader conditions that shape health and well-being across the state.

Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Speaker of California State Assembly and 41 st Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty T. Yee took part in the forum.The event, organized by eleven of California&#39;s leading health-focused foundations, drew hundreds of community advocates and local leaders to UC Riverside, with watch parties held in communities across the state. NBC4 and Telemundo 52 served as livestream media partners, providing coverage in both English and Spanish. The forum was co-moderated by NBC4 News Anchor Colleen Williams and Black Voice News publisher Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, and was supported by two additional media partners: CalMatters and the Inland Empire Journalism Hub.

&quot;This forum puts health at the center of the conversation about California&#39;s future,&quot; said Richard Tate, President and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation. &quot;We hope the Health Matters Forum sparks an ongoing conversation between communities and our leaders about what it will take to build a healthier future for everyone in our state.&quot;

One major theme was the need for greater affordability and access to care. Candidates spoke to the challenges families face amid rising costs and all candidates made a commitment to prioritize access to more affordable health care if elected.

Another major theme was the growing challenge of caring for aging loved ones. All four candidates shared personal stories about supporting parents or relatives as they grew older and outlined ways to ease that burden, including compensation for family caregivers and expanded access to affordable elder care.

&quot;Today&#39;s conversation made it abundantly clear that Californians across all ages, especially older Californians, are looking for community-based, equitable solutions to access the care they need,&quot; said Rigo Saborio, President and CEO of the Archstone Foundation. &quot;The fact that every candidate today had a personal story about caring for their older adult parents or loved ones tells us we need to work together to create a long-term care system, increase in-home support and services, and support policy initiatives like California&#39;s Master Plan for Aging. We&#39;re excited to bring the voices of older adults and their caregivers to those conversations.&quot;

Candidates also tied the state&#39;s high cost of living to health and well-being, noting that stability starts with having a safe, affordable place to live. They outlined plans to expand affordable housing and reduce homelessness.

&quot;Health care access and rising costs are directly impacting families across California and will be key issues for voters in the upcoming election,&quot; said Brenda Solorzano, CEO of The California Endowment. &#39;Today, we heard from the candidates about their commitments - not only to protect California&#39;s progress, but to ensure that every Californian has the opportunity to be healthy and thrive. The California Endowment is committed to working with the next Governor to build a healthy and just California.&quot;

The Health Matters forum was organized by eleven California foundations committed to advancing health and equity across the state: Archstone Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, Inland Empire Community Foundation, Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, LA84 Foundation, Metta Fund, Sierra Health Foundation, The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, and The SCAN Foundation.

LA84 joined 10 philanthropic foundations to host forum where Community members and leaders heard candidates address health and wellness issues that shape Californians' wellbeing

Gubernatorial Candidates Address California's Most Pressing Health Challenges at Health Matters Forum

The LA84 Foundation announced 19 organizations across Southern California have received  $1,781,000 in grant awards. The recipients provide school-based and community youth sports programs in six Southern California counties – Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

The majority of the grantees focus on communities where issues such as cost, transportation, safety and lack of facilities often prevent kids from experiencing the lifelong benefits of sport and play that can lead to an enriched life for young people.

“These grants focus on access, belonging, and possibility,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “From Boyle Heights to Compton, from Imperial County to the Inland Empire, we are investing in coaches, providing safe places to play, and supporting inclusive programs that help youth succeed both in school and in life.”

While each grantee organization has a unique area of expertise in their communities, all 19 grants share a common goal of closing the play equity gap. This grant docket emphasizes a cradle-to-community pipeline by meeting kids where they are (schools and neighborhood organizations) and supporting them with inclusive coaching, safe facilities, and accessible environments with physical activity that nurture growth.<h5>
School-anchored access</h5>
Compton Unified will expand free after-school sports to 25 campuses, eliminating fees and transportation barriers for elementary and middle school students. The grant from LA84 will offset key program expenses, including stipends for coaches, staff training, equipment, and uniforms.

CUSD offers after-school enrichment daily throughout the school year for students interested in flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, baseball, and track &amp; field.  Students gain access to basic sports fundamentals, ongoing sports training, scrimmage play and league competition against other CUSD schools.
 
The initiative is offered at no cost, providing many Compton youth with their first exposure to structured athletics, team dynamics, and coaching mentorship. At least 1,700 Compton students will benefit from this investment.<h5>Community hubs</h5>
Variety Boys &amp; Girls Club in Boyle Heights and P.F. Bresee Foundation in Central LA will expand their year-round leagues and aquatic access for young people at no cost to families after these latest LA84 Foundation grants. “Every child deserves access to safe spaces where they can engage in athletic activities with their peers that build confidence and healthy habits,” said Patricia Siqueiros, Executive Director of Variety Boys &amp; Girls Club (VBGC). “This grant ensures that cost is never a barrier to joining a sports team or learning how to swim. It is an investment in a healthier and more equitable future for our community’s youth.” VBGC operates two sites, which includes its main clubhouse and a satellite location in a public housing development. Throughout the year, 900 of Variety’s members join organized teams in baseball, softball, flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, or swimming, with each following a set season.  
 
The club has a comprehensive aquatic program, using an onsite, outdoor, four-lane competitive pool. The grant will support costs related to athletic assistants, equipment, uniforms, and venue costs.  Support for the P.F. Bresee Foundation will go toward the Bresee Athletics League, which engages middle and high school students through multiple leagues offering futsal, soccer, basketball, and volleyball in Central LA. The no-cost services including Education &amp; Career Development, Gang Reduction &amp; Youth Development interventions. More than 325 youth and, by extension, their families will benefit from this investment. <h5>Girls participation and safety</h5>
Students Run LA will expand its Female Ambassador Program and provide sports bras and health products to support retention and well-being. Girls on the Run Riverside will add teams and coach stipends to maintain program quality.<h5>
Youth events that promote the ideals of Olympism</h5>
The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles’ Crenshaw Classic Track &amp; Field Youth Initiative offers free, certified competitions in South LA and Inglewood, connecting youth with Olympians and college mentors. This grant investment will benefit over 500 youth.  The program consists of free track &amp; field training during and after-school over two 8-week seasons in 15 local elementary, middle, and high schools. Youth participants can access mentorship from local track leaders and coaches, including Olympians and collegiate athletes.  
 
It culminates in the Crenshaw Classic track meet, where youth engage in a no-cost certified competition with official times and rankings while celebrating the cultural and athletic heritage of South LA and Inglewood. <h5>Reaching rural youth</h5>
AYSO’s expansion of its PLAY! model in Imperial County tackles a “recreation desert” by offering local clinics, coach training, and no- or low-cost soccer.  The grant funds will expand access to youth soccer throughout Imperial County, offsetting costs including registration fees and personnel responsible for program coordination, coaching, and professional development. Local schools and parks will serve as host sites, with this investment expected to benefit 1,000 Imperial County youth.  “With LA84’s support, AYSO PLAY! will train local leaders and engage over 1,000 kids in Imperial County at no cost, building a foundation for sustainable, low-cost soccer programs in the years ahead,” said Blane Shepard, AYSO National Director of Community Engagement &amp; Business Development.<h5>
LA84 Foundation 2026 Fall Grant Cycle at a glance</h5>
The docket includes 19 large grants totaling $1,781,000, with grants awarded in Los Angeles County and additional grants in Riverside, Orange, Imperial, Santa Barbara, and multi-county programs.  Impact reaches girls (45%) and boys (55%), with participation from Latino (43%), White (35%), Black/African American (8%), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (5%), Asian (4%), and other/multiracial youth.  Supports a diverse sports ecosystem spanning running, track &amp; field, soccer, squash, skateboarding, and multi-sport/learn-to-play programs. “Play unlocks possibility,” said Simril. “These LA84 Foundation grants strengthen the coaches, spaces, and community bonds that help young people build healthy bodies, resilient minds, and the confidence to lead.” <h5>LA84 Large Grants – October 2025 Grantees </h5>
American Youth Soccer Organization, Imperial County  
Aspire Public Schools 
Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Carson  
Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley   
Camp Fire Inland Southern California   
Compton Unified School District  
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara  
Girls on the Run Riverside County  
Home Field Advantage  
LA Promise Fund  
P.F. Bresee Foundation  
Santa Clarita Valley Boys &amp; Girls Club  
Students Run LA  
Think Together  
Variety Boys &amp; Girls Club  
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles  
Access Youth Academy Los Angeles  
Exposure Skate  
Sloane Stephens Foundation

Legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games continues to benefit kids as investments reach urban and rural communities to expand safe, affordable sports and movement for girls and boys

 LA84 Foundation Awards Over $1.78 Million to 19 Organizations To Advance Play Equity In Communities Across Southern California

On Friday, November 7, 2025, candidates in California’s 2026 governor’s race will gather in the Inland Empire for <a href="https://healthmattersforum.org/">Health Matters: A Conversation with Our Next Governo</a>r. This nonpartisan forum will focus on the health and well-being of Californians. Confirmed participants include former U.S. Secretary of Health &amp; Human Services Xavier Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Speaker of California State Assembly and 41st Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California State Controller Betty T. Yee.The event is organized by eleven of California’s leading health-focused foundations and will be held in person in the Inland Empire, bringing together more than 300 community leaders, nonprofit partners, local residents, and elected officials.By hosting the forum in the Inland Empire, the foundations are centering a region that reflects both California’s diversity and the challenges many communities face in accessing affordable, high-quality care and the foundational conditions needed for long-term health. In 2023, more than half of Californians (53%) reported skipping or delaying care because of cost, a number that jumps to 74% for those with low incomes. And <a href="https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Documents/OMII-Chartbook-3-Near-Medi-Cal-Income-Eligible.pdf">1 in 8 Californians with Medicare</a>, mostly people of color, are just over income eligibility for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private care at home.This conversation comes at a pivotal moment for California, where nearly 15 million residents rely on Medi-Cal, including <a href="https://www.iehp.org/en/our-organization/newsroom/newsroom-archive/2025/iehp--proposed-cuts-to-medicare-put-families--health-care-at-ris">over 40% of the population</a> in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. As health care costs rise and disparities deepen, voters are looking to the next governor for bold, actionable solutions that can deliver meaningful change.“Everyone in California deserves to enjoy good health and experience wellness,” said Richard Tate, President &amp; Chief Executive Officer of The California Wellness Foundation. “We need a state leader with a vision and plan to bridge divides and engage partners in government, business, and philanthropy to protect and improve everyone&#39;s access to care and our collective well-being.”Candidates will address community-driven questions about the most pressing health and equity issues facing Californians today including access to care, housing, aging well, climate, safety and economic opportunity.&quot;As a regional host of the Health Matters Gubernatorial Forum, we are proud to lift up the Inland Empire—California’s fastest-growing yet too often overlooked region,” said Michelle Decker, Chief Executive Officer of the Inland Empire Community Foundation. “Forums like these matter because they bring our priorities into dialogue with state leaders. We are grateful to our partners for recognizing the importance of placing a community foundation at the center—bridging philanthropy, policy, and community voice.&quot;To ensure broad access, NBC4 and Telemundo 52 will be the livestream media partners for the forum, offering millions of Californians a unique opportunity to hear directly from gubernatorial candidates on the issues most vital to their well-being.The live event will stream on <a href="http://www.nbcla.com/">NBCLA.com</a>, <a href="http://www.telemundo52.com/">Telemundo52.com</a>, on the free NBCLA and Telemundo 52 mobile apps, on the stations’ YouTube channels <a href="https://www.youtube.com/nbcla">@NBCLA</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/telemundo52">@Telemundo52</a>, and on the stations’ 24/7 local news streaming channels <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/how-to-watch-nbc-los-angeles-news-live-stream-on-peacock-roku-samsung-tv-xumo/3083389/">NBC Los Angeles News</a> and <a href="https://www.telemundo52.com/noticias/local/como-ver-programcion-telemundo-52-en-vivo-plataformas-transmision-digital/2368045/">Noticias Telemundo California</a> which are accessible on the stations’ digital platforms and across leading streaming services and connect-TV devices. The event is also supported by our additional media partners, CalMatters and the Inland Empire Journalism Hub.The forum will begin at 1 p.m. PT, with the livestream starting at 1:30 p.m. Journalists can request press credentials <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4o1KrL85uMRuIpjJzu9aQvBs_H6EF7zwN3h8JuARbTVNARw/viewform?usp=dialog">here</a>. Spanish-language access will be available for attendees and via livestream. For any on-site press needs, please contact <a href="mailto:jon@brysongillette.com">Jon Koriel</a>.Health Matters is organized by 11 foundations committed to advancing health and equity across California, including Archstone Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, California Health Care Foundation, Inland Empire Community Foundation, Inland Empire Health Plan Foundation, LA84 Foundation, Metta Fund, Sierra Health Foundation, The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, and The SCAN Foundation. Collectively, these organizations invest billions in communities across the state each year to improve health outcomes and expand opportunity.<h4>EVENT DETAILS</h4><ul><li>DATE: November 7, 2025</li><li>TIME: 1:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. PST</li><li>LOCATION: UC Riverside</li><li>In-person attendance by invite only, but all Californians are invited to tune in via the links below or on-demand replay. View participating candidates <a href="https://healthmattersforum.org/">here</a>. </li></ul>

NBC4 and Telemundo 52 to Livestream the Forum on Health Costs, Coverage, and Individual & Community Well-Being

California Gubernatorial Candidates Convene in Inland Empire for Crucial Forum on Health, Equity and Opportunity

The LA84 Foundation awarded $1.8 million in grants to community-based organizations that support play equity and continue to advance the Foundation’s mission to increase access for youth to be involved in sport, play, and movement programming in six counties in Southern California. The LA84’s Board of Directors approved a docket of 26 grants. This funding reaches organizations in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties.The grants support positive youth development through sport, encourage engagement in sport and play in an inclusive setting with young people participating with their peers, and expand opportunities for physical activity for kids who live in marginalized communities – as well as during their after-school hours. All are priorities of the legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles – to invest in local communities and help prepare kids to be “Life Ready Through Sport.” These latest grants will reach organizations that support 188,720 youth.“We have a deep understanding through our research where the gaps in play equity exist, and these grants are targeted to help remove the barriers to physical activity that kids and families in our region are experiencing,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “Sport, play, and healthy movement are critical to the well-being and success of our youth – and can be key in supporting their aspirations in life.”Four grants are focused on providing increased opportunities utilizing the adaptive and inclusive sports approaches for youth with disabilities. A grant to The Help Group will support an inclusive sports league pilot program for youth who are neurodiverse in Los Angeles County. This grant will help to build a community-based, year-round league pairing youth with disabilities with a peer mentor, the first of its kind in LA County.“We’re deeply grateful for the generous support of the LA84 Foundation, which is making it possible for us to launch a year-round inclusive sports league that unites neurodivergent and neurotypical youth through the transformative power of play,” said Dr. Susan Berman, CEO and President of The Help Group. “Across our four Los Angeles campuses, students will have opportunities to build confidence, form lasting friendships, and experience the joy of being part of a team—during school, after school, and on weekends.”A grant awarded to Orange County Makapo Aquatics Project supports inclusive outrigger paddling initiatives for youth with disabilities and their typically abled peers that will reach 450 young people. LA84 supports after-school youth sports programs as a resource that positively engages kids and builds their academic, social, and emotional skills. A grant to Teens Rise Foundation supports 1,100 youth in after-school and in-school tennis programs in San Diego County.“Partnering with the LA84 Foundation is a game changer for Teens Rise Foundation and the youth of South County, San Diego,” said Gaby Millan, Executive Director of Teens Rise Foundation. “This grant allows us to expand our reach, deepen community connections, and bring tennis to an area where access to the sport is historically limited. By making tennis accessible to all – regardless of ability or background – we’re breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities for youth in our binational community.”Seven grants support Boys and Girls Clubs across Southern California – including in Burbank, North County, Greater Redlands-Riverside, Santa Clara Valley, West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica. Boys and Girls Clubs are a primary asset in many communities for providing a safe space for young people to develop confidence, life skills, and build connections through sports. This grant support helps fund free recreation and leagues, inter-club competitions in multiple sports, coach trainings, and in North County, the repair of the gym roof. The Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club grant included funds for the renovation of the swimming pool for the Northeast community of LA.In Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties, three grants support greater youth access to and involvement in golf. A grant awarded to First Tee Inland Empire supports golf programming in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, both of which have limited access to sports activities for young people. The First Tee program reaches 30,000 youth through its programming. A golf-related grant to the Southern California Golf Association will support Girls and Golf chapters in Southeast and Southwest Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, as well as Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.The grant funding followed public outreach to increase awareness of the opportunities and an informative webinar explaining the application process. If organizations are interested in applying for future grants, they are encouraged to visit the <a href="https://www.la84.org/grants">LA84 Grants &amp; Programs Home Page</a> for guidelines.A Place Called Home
County: Los AngelesA World Fit For Kids
County: Los AngelesAfter-School All-Stars Los Angeles
County: Los AngelesAthletes For Life Foundation
Counties: MultipleBoys &amp; Girls Club of Burbank, Inc.
County: Los AngelesBoys &amp; Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley
County: VenturaBoys &amp; Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside
County: Los AngelesBoys &amp; Girls Club of Greater Redlands-Riverside
Counties: MultipleBoys &amp; Girls Club of Santa Monica, Inc.
County: Los AngelesBoys &amp; Girls Club of North County
County: San DiegoBrighton Hill Academy Sports &amp; Learning Center DBA First Tee – Inland Empire
Counties: MultipleFORE LA Kids, Inc. DBA First Tee – Los Angeles
County: Los AngelesLos Angeles Boys &amp; Girls Club
County: Los AngelesOrange County Makapo Aquatics Project
Counties: MultipleRainbow Labs
County: Los AngelesRio Hondo Education Consortium
County: Los AngelesSan Bernardino Valley College Foundation
County: San BernardinoSanta Barbara School of Squash, Inc.
County: Santa BarbaraSCGA Foundation
Counties: MultipleSouthern California Tennis Association
Counties: MultipleTeam Prime Time, Inc.
Counties: MultipleTeens Rise Foundation
County: San DiegoThe Help Group Child and Family Center
County: Los AngelesVolo Kids Foundation
County: San DiegoWoodcraft Rangers
County: Los Angeles

Funding Supports Adaptive and Inclusive Sports For Youth With Disabilities, Seven Boys & Girls Clubs Across the Region, And Youth Golf Programs in Four Counties

LA84 Awards $1.8 Million in Grants Focused on Access for All to Youth Sports

Play equity is a new narrative about why sports and play matter.

Modernizing Olympism Through Play Equity

The California Science Center will premiere GAME ON! Science, Sports &amp; Play on May 15, 2025 – a uniquely Los Angeles exhibition that will inspire people of all ages, backgrounds, genders and abilities through an array of exciting and immersive activities.Designed by the California Science Center with the generous support and collaboration of the LA84 Foundation, Walter Family Foundation and Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, this dynamic exhibition showcases the powerful connection between science, sports and play, while celebrating the joy of the human body in motion. The new exhibition will give guests the opportunity to explore both new and popular sports through a multitude of interactive experiences. GAME ON! will help visitors discover that understanding the scientific principles behind sports can empower their lives and elevate performance. Spanning 17,000 square feet, the groundbreaking exhibition offers hands-on activities and virtual guidance from a diverse team of well-loved Los Angeles-based mentor athletes.“I am looking forward to kids experiencing the transformational power of sports through this unique exhibit and learning the science behind the games they love to play,” said Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “I appreciate the California Science Center for taking an idea and developing an immersive experience, and I am grateful for our partnership with the Walter Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation as we conceptualized an interactive exhibit that will give visitors of all ages memories that last a lifetime.”Guests can try a range of activities including baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, swimming, yoga, dance, snowboarding, climbing and more. Among the many activities, visitors can:• Learn how to synchronize their swing with a simulated pitch at speeds varying from 30 to 60 mph.
• Discover how to kick a soccer ball with proper positioning and movement through technology-enhanced kicking drills.
• Swim with an elite Para athlete in a virtual pool.
• Explore the mind-body connection through visual perception and controlled breathing.
• Understand the importance of food and nutrition for lifelong health.
• Explore diverse careers in the sports industry extending beyond the field of play.“We’re excited to bring this innovative exhibition to our guests, exploring the intersection between science and sports,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, President and CEO of the California Science Center. “GAME ON! presents a unique opportunity to inspire fans and participants to explore the science behind their favorite sports, empowering athletes at all levels to improve their performance and prioritize their wellness.”GAME ON! kicks off on May 15 and is included in free general admission to the Science Center. It will remain on view at least through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.“Sports have the power to inspire, educate, and create opportunities for young people. GAME ON! aligns perfectly with our mission to provide access to new experiences that promote physical activity, learning, and well-being,&quot; said Nichol Whiteman, Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. &quot;We’re proud that this exhibition will engage youth and families across Los Angeles, reinforcing the vital role sports play in education and community development – especially as we look ahead to the world’s greatest athletes competing in Los Angeles during the 2028 Games.&quot;All groups of 15 or more guests will require a GAME ON! exhibition timed reservation along with a timed reservation to the Science Center. Reservations must be made by calling 213-744-2019.

New Exhibit to Debut at the California Science Center on May 15

GAME ON! Science, Sports & Play Exhibit Coming to Los Angeles

By working with national coalitions and advancing the power of collective action, the recent National Sports Equity Convening at Oracle Park in San Francisco was a transformative gathering for the future of youth sports across the country. The day-long convening reinforced how equitable practices can build pathways to youth sports, and have a greater impact in more young lives by removing systemic barriers to access. Hosted by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), the LA84 Foundation and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, the event brought together sport equity practitioners, advocates, athletes, policymakers, sports executives, and grassroots organizations. The convening was held with support from the San Francisco Giants Foundation.The panels and discussions were centered around producing a more equitable future in youth sports to benefit kids from all backgrounds, and forged meaningful connections among attendees. The convening emphasized that local organizers and community advocates are integral in leading positive change in youth sports across the nation. &quot;Real change in sports equity starts with the communities most impacted,” said Robert Marcus, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Positive Coaching Alliance. “Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, and when grassroots leaders drive the movement, we’re not just expanding access – we’re building lasting power and impact.&quot; LA84 Foundation President &amp; CEO Renata Simril announced at the the convening that efforts have commenced with Assemblymember Tina McKinnor to introduce legislation in the California State Legislature to study the creation of a California Commission/Department of Youth Sports. This body’s goal would be to create a unified, equitable, and sustainable framework for youth sports in California, to ensure all children have an opportunity to engage in sports for its physical, mental, and academic benefits.“The convening was a day of inspiration and it showed the collective impact we can have to build pathways together for a brighter future for students and youth through access to sports,” said Simril. “We are grateful to Assemblymember McKinnor for her commitment to advance our shared work to remove barriers to sports for all children. Driven by our belief in the value of sports, play and movement, we are envisioning a future where all kids can thrive.” There were over 150 attendees from 80 organizations from across the United States at the convening. PCA’s Sports Equity Framework informed the agenda, with each session reflecting these core strategies: Using Research and Community Organizing, Collective Action &amp; Capacity Building, and Advocacy, Policy &amp; Evaluation. Youth sports coalitions have a crucial role in building a movement for play equity nationally. A panel at the convening featured the <a href="https://coalitionsforsportequity.org/">Coalitions for Sport Equity</a>, which coordinates and connects a nationwide network of sport equity coalitions working to expand equitable access to sports, play, and movement for all young people.A highlight in the day of action and collaboration – which included a multitude of influential figures from across sectors sharing their insights – was Simril’s keynote conversation with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who serves as co-chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being. Their conversation stressed the urgent need for policy-driven solutions to ensure sports access is a right, not a privilege, among children. It includes advocating for policy reforms at the state level that prioritize youth sports access in school districts and public spaces. “Through Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind, the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-being is making it clear: youth sports should be open to all and designed to keep kids engaged so they can reap the full benefits – better lifelong health, confidence, and a sense of community,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “The current hyper-competitive youth sports culture pushes kids to specialize too early, burning them out and stifling their joy. Instead, we’re working to ensure sports foster a culture of fun, growth, and skill building to ensure every child has the chance to thrive.”Former NBA player Antonio Davis – and current National Basketball Retired Players Association CEO – provided another memorable moment in his conversation with Festus Ezeli, a first-round pick by Golden State in 2012 who currently serves as an analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area. Their discussion centered on the impact sports can have on young people’s personal development as well as community transformation, and they shared stories on the impact of sports on their lives as today they use their platforms to increase access to youth sports. Said Davis: “Sports changed my life, not just as an athlete, but as a person. We have to make sure every kid gets that same opportunity, no matter where they come from.”“If we want real change, we have to invest in the next generation,” said Ezeli, who also serves as a community ambassador for the Warriors and NBA Africa. “Not just financially, but through mentorship, resources, and belief in their potential.”This work for equitable sports opportunities for young people will continue, as the convening was another step forward to bolster statewide and nationwide efforts, and to be more responsive to the needs of children on the margins. It was a launch point to unlock the potential of California sports equity organizations to reimagine the future of youth sports nationally. The realities kids are facing were informed by the <a href="https://2024report.la84.org/">2024 California Play Equity Report</a>, which was released recently by the LA84 Foundation, and set the stage for the convening’s conversations about youth sports access and participation across California. The report’s research found three in five youth (65%) in California are not meeting the CDC’s recommended guidelines of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Low-income youth – those from households earning under $30,000 annually – are far less active (22%) than their peers (50%) from more affluent households.

Real change in sports equity starts with the communities most impacted

National Sports Equity Convening Highlighted Key Initiatives for Play Equity in Youth Sports

Play Equity

Why & How Renata Simril of the LA84 Foundation Is Helping To Change Our World

Social Impact Heroes

The LA84 Foundation’s CEO and president is making a lasting impact

Renata Simril Leads to Transform Youth Sports in Southern California

Activity and play are crucial for youth mental health and equity.

Sports and play are even more essential for mental health after the pandemic

The Play Equity Fund’s Quest To Level the Playing Field

A Beacon of Hope

The Enduring Legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games

 The 2024 Olympics highlighted sports' joy, a mission echoed by efforts to make play accessible for all children.

Celebration of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Power of Play

Innovating Through Play Equity

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 24, 2024) – The LA84 Foundation has awarded $2.3 million in grants to community- and school-based organizations that support play equity. The grants advance the foundation’s goal of ensuring equality of access to sport, play and movement programming in marginalized communities.
The LA84 Foundation’s Board of Directors approved the docket of 31 grants to support sports-based youth development programs in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
The grant funding expands access to 31 sports. This includes grants that focus on expanding access to sports for children living with disabilities through adaptive and inclusive sports programming, nurture girls’ sports participation, and support coaching education. All of which are part of the enduring legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.
“We believe the power of sport and play is lost if it’s only available to the privileged,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “These grants are helping to address the gaps in play equity, the barriers to youth sports participation, and challenges youth and their parents face to engage in physical activity for their physical, mental and social needs.”
A large grant that will impact 1,200 youth at multiple locations across Southern California was awarded to Inter Tribal Sports, which aims to unify tribal youth and communities through athletic programs and enrichment. The LA84 grant will support the costs associated with year-round youth sports leagues for 26 Native American tribes in San Diego, San Bernadino, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties.
&quot;The LA84 Foundation grant is instrumental in supporting our mission in unifying over 26 Native American tribes in Southern California through structured athletic programs while providing necessary resources, and developing a strong foundation in culture, leadership and mental wellness,&quot; said Tribal Sports Executive Director, Bridget Young. “This grant will directly support over 1,200 Native youth in multiple sports during after-school hours and weekends, as we aim to keep our Native youth actively engaged through sports while being rooted culturally.&quot;
Four grants support youth living with disabilities by providing access to multiple sports, including basketball, tennis, soccer, as well as instructional and recreational swimming. A grant to Angel City Alliance will support youth with disabilities engaging in numerous adaptive sports – including track &amp; field, basketball, fencing, lacrosse, tennis, weightlifting and volleyball – in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and Ventura Counties.Pools of Hope, a nonprofit providing programming for youth living with a physical or developmental disability in several communities located in South Los Angeles County, received a grant to help support their specialized staffing and operational needs. It will provide recreational and therapeutic swimming opportunities for at least 100 young people.
“We’re committed to providing accessible physical activity for under-resourced youth with disabilities in the North Long Beach, Compton and Paramount communities,” said Patricia Dixon, Pools of Hope Executive Director. “This partnership with the LA84 Foundation helps us bring opportunities to develop kids’ life skills through aquatics therapy, rehabilitative exercise and recreational swimming.”
A grant will support the Weingart YMCA’s girls’ golf program in East LA and Boyle Heights. The program promotes golf and leadership skills, and will support an estimated 100 golfers over the next two seasons. Another grant that encourages girls to participate in sports was awarded to the Football For Her (FFH) program in Pacoima and Gardena. FFH offers free soccer weekly and couples the programming with sports-based mental health and wellness workshops. At least 983 female and non-binary youth will benefit from the LA84 investment.
As we look to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, LA84 awarded a grant to California State Soccer Association (Cal South) to support coaching education focused on trainings for female and Spanish-speaking coaches. The funds will help to not only grow but diversify local coaching talent to improve the quality and accessibility of youth soccer programs in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.
&quot;Through LA84&#39;s generous grants over the years, we have been able to continue to provide learning opportunities and resources to coaches throughout Southern California,” said Michael Chin, Cal South&#39;s Technical Director. “This grant will aid us greatly in supporting a diverse group of coaches through our program, specifically 100 female coaches and 200 Spanish-speaking coaches. Grants like this not only allow us to invest in coaches but also the young people we impact through our coaches to provide resources, 
positive experiences, and a safe environment to play soccer.&quot;
The LA84 Foundation is celebrating 40 years of impact this year. As Los Angeles is poised to host several major sporting events over the next four years – including another Olympic Games – the LA84 Foundation is deepening its commitment to play equity and hopes to inspire other foundations to do the same. Play equity ensures that all children, regardless of their background, have equal access to play opportunities, sports programs, and healthy movement.

 
ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATION
The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of the role of sports in positive youth development. As a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of organizations in Southern California through grant making, funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research and serving as a national thought leader. The LA84 Foundation levels the playing field to ensure all kids have access. To learn more, visit www.la84.org and @LA84Foundation on X and Instagram.

The LA84 Foundation awards $2.3 million in grants focused on equality of access to youth sports, supporting 26 Native American tribes, adaptive and inclusive sports for youth with disabilities, and increasing girls' participation.

The LA84 Foundation awards $2.3 million in grants

<h3>Introduction</h3>On April 15, 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers opened their season against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. Starting at first base was a 28-year old African American by the name of Jack Roosevelt Robinson. With the game’s first pitch, Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play in the modern major leagues, breaking the color barrier that had surrounded baseball for over a half century and symbolizing the racial integration of American society.Robinson’s character, courage, and talent have secured his place in history. Less known are Larry Doby, Henry Thompson, Willard Brown and Dan Bankhead, the four other African American men who played in the major leagues in 1947. Like Jackie Robinson, these men used their talent and determination to overcome decades of racial discrimination in the sport that has stood as “America’s pastime.” The LA84 Foundation honors the five men who first crossed the color barrier of major league baseball.<h2>Jackie Robinson: The First Man In</h2>Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born the youngest of five children near Cairo, Georgia on January 31, 1919. Soon afterwards, his sharecropper father left the family. His mother, Mallie McGriff Robinson, then moved the family to Pasadena, California to find work as a domestic.Jackie Robinson excelled in four sports at Pasadena’s John Muir Technical High: football, basketball, baseball and track. He went on to Pasadena Junior College, where he set a National Junior College record in the long jump of 25′ 6 1/2″ before accepting an athletic scholarship to
UCLA. There, he became the first Bruin athlete to earn varsity letters in four sports.Robinson left UCLA in the spring of 1941 hoping to work to support his mother. Several months later, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and Robinson enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed Officer Candidate School and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. Robinson faced a court-martial in 1944 for refusing to move to the rear of an army bus. He was cleared of all charges and shortly afterwards received an honorable discharge from the army.Jackie Robinson joined professional baseball in the spring of 1945 with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. He spent his rookie season touring the country with the Monarchs for $400 a month. In August he met with Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, who had been scouring the country to find a black ball player he felt could best withstand the pressure of being the first black man in the major leagues. Jackie Robinson crossed the threshold into white professional baseball at that meeting signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers’ farm club, the Montreal Royals.The following season Jackie Robinson was promoted to the Brooklyn Dodgers. He entered the history books on April 15 as the Dodgers opened the 1947 season against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. In his first season he hit for a .296 average and was selected Rookie of the Year. Robinson won the batting title in 1949 with an outstanding .346 batting average. He was voted the League’s Most Valuable Player and led the Dodgers to the World Series.Jackie Robinson, over a 10-year major league career, had a lifetime batting average of .311. He appeared in six All-Star Games and six World Series with the Dodgers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.Jackie Robinson died in 1972 at the young age of 53. His legacy is the inspiration he gives to athletes and people of all colors. His pathbreaking entry into the major leagues, seven years before the US Supreme Court’s ruling on Brown vs. Board of Education, stands as a brilliant symbol of America’s struggle with racism and the hope of racial harmony.<blockquote>“I know that I am a black man in a white world. . . I know that I never had it made.” — Jackie Robinson“Although he did not get a hit in three official times at bat, Jackie Robinson, first Negro to play in modern big-league ball, signalized his official debut as a Dodger by sprinting home with the deciding run…” — Los Angeles Times, April 16, 1947“It was just another ball game and that’s the way they’re all going to be. If I make good – well that will be perfectly wonderful.” — Jackie Robinson, quoted in the The Sporting News, April 23, 1947.</blockquote><h2>Larry Doby: The First World Champion</h2>Less than three months after Robinson’s major league debut, Larry Doby became the first African American to play in the American League. Larry Doby appeared as a seventh-inning pinch hitter for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox only three hours after signing his contract on July 5, 1947.Doby, like Robinson, was a superb all-around athlete. Born in Camden, South Carolina, he moved at age eight with his mother to Paterson, New Jersey. He starred in four sports at East Side High School and briefly attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship before enlisting in the Navy.Larry Doby returned to play for the Negro League Newark Eagles after World War II ended. Doby was leading the Negro National League with a batting average of .458 and 13 home runs when Cleveland owner Bill Veeck called Doby to the Indians.The 1947 season was difficult for Larry Doby. He did not hit well, and it soon became clear that he was not best-suited as an infielder. He played little throughout most of his first season in the majors. He batted only 30 times, striking out 11 times for a poor .156 average.The 1948 season was different altogether. The quiet Doby was determined to improve upon his disappointing first season. After hitting .356 in spring training, Doby took the field on opening day as the Indians starting right fielder. Doby batted an impressive .301 with 14 home runs and 65 runs batted in during the regular season to help the Indians win the American League pennant. In the World Series, Doby paced the Indians with .318 average as the Indians took the Series in six games over the Boston Braves. Larry Doby became the first African American to play on a World Series Champion team.Doby played 13 seasons in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers, hitting a career average of .283 with 253 home runs. He served a short stint as manager of the White Sox in 1978 becoming only the second African American manager in the major leagues. He has not yet been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the only black major leaguer from 1947 still living.<blockquote>“Just remember that they play with a little white ball and a stick of wood up here just like they did in your league.” – Cleveland owner Bill Veeck to Larry Doby before his first major league game.</blockquote><h2>Willard Brown &amp; Henry Thompson: The First Teammates</h2>n July 1947 the St. Louis Browns were the worst team in major league baseball. In hopes of improving their fortunes, the Browns purchased the contracts of Henry Thompson and Willard Brown from the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs. The St. Louis Gazette-Democrat called the move “an eyebrow-lifting experiment.” Thompson and Brown became the first black teammates in the major leagues. The move provoked a mixed response in a city many considered part of the South. Several observers considered the inclusion of Brown and Thompson on the Browns roster a desperate attempt to improve attendance without any real commitment to integrating the major leagues. A headline from The Sporting News read “Gates Rusting, Browns Rush in 2 Negro Players.” An afternoon home game a few days before Thompson and Brown arrived drew just 478 people.Thompson, a 21-year-old infielder from Los Angeles, California, was ranked as a true major league prospect. Before coming to the Browns, he was hitting .347 for the Monarchs.Willard Brown had already spent a legendary career as one of the best players in the Negro Leagues. A powerful and fast slugger with a 40-ounce bat, Brown had grown up in Shreveport, Louisiana and had once been the Monarchs’ spring training bat boy. He played his first games for the Monarchs in 1935. Although he had hit .353 for the Monarchs in 1946, some thought his best days as a player had passed.Brown and Thompson, unlike Robinson and Doby, faced a mostly hostile reception by their fellow players and did not receive strong support from the white management. Many of the Browns players refused to speak to them. Thompson and Brown were greeted with silence when introduced to the team. The Browns refused to warm up with their new teammates on the field.Henry Thompson made his first appearance in the majors on July 17. Willard Brown started in the outfield two days later on July 19. Neither of the two hit well in their initial outings; after a few weeks both had batting averages less than .200.Still, Thompson and Brown had their moments of inspired play. Thompson continued to improve, raising his average to .256 and earning a place as the starting second baseman. Though Brown could not live up to his legendary batting skill, he did manage to achieve one measurable place in the history books. On August 13 he blasted a drive off the 426-foot marker at Sportsman’s Park and raced around the bases for an inside the park home run. It was the first home run ever hit by an African American in the American League.Nonetheless, the club soon realized that Thompson and Brown were not the answer to sagging attendance at home. Thompson and Brown were dismissed from the Browns just over one month after being signed to the major leagues. When Thompson asked why, general manager Bill DeWitt simply replied “There are things I can’t discuss.” The first black teammates in the majors became the first black men cut from a major league roster.Being cut from the Browns, though, didn’t end Thompson’s and Brown’s playing days. Less than three years after he played with the Browns, Henry Thompson joined the New York Giants making him the first black man to play in both the National and American Leagues. That year he set a major league record for the greatest number (43) of double plays started by a third baseman. Thompson spent 9 years in the majors hitting .267 with 129 home runs. He died at age 44 in 1969.Willard Brown let his bat speak for him in the winter following his release from the Browns. In the Puerto Rican Winter League, Brown hit 27 home runs while winning the league’s Triple Crown. He won the Negro American League batting title in 1951 with a .417 average. In 22 years of professional baseball, Willard Brown hit for a combined average of .305 including .352 in the Negro Leagues. He is often considered the best home run hitter not included in the Baseball Hall of Fame.<h2>Dan Bankhead: The First Pitcher</h2>Dan Bankhead, of Empire, Alabama, was one of five brothers that played professional baseball in the Negro Leagues.He signed his first baseball contract with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1940. By 1947, he was a dominating pitcher for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League often compared to fireballer Bob Feller.He also was an outstanding hitter boasting a .385 average that season.Branch Rickey, in sore need of solid pitching for his Brooklyn Dodgers, purchased Bankhead’s contract from Memphis in late August.On August 26, 1947, the 6’1″ right-hander took the mound in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately, Bankhead was hit hard yielding 10 hits in three innnings.He salvaged some of his pride at the plate, though. Bankead smacked a home run in his first major league at bat becoming the only National League pitcher ever to do so at the time.Dan Bankhead appeared in three more games before the Dodgers sent him down to the minor leagues. He was called back to the major leagues in 1950 and pitched in a total of 52 major league games.He continued to play pro baseball in Canada and Mexico through 1965. He died in May, 1976 in Houston, Texas.<h2>Links to Other Jackie Robinson &amp; Baseball Sites</h2><a href="http://www.loc.gov/topics/baseball/featured/jackierobinson.html">Library of Congress’ Featured Baseball Personality: Jackie Robinson</a>
Materials on Jackie Robinson from our national library.<a href="http://jackierobinson.com/">The Official Jackie Robinson Site</a>
Site of the exclusive business representative for the Jackie Robinson estate.<a href="http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/">Negro Leagues Baseball Page</a>
Learn about the leagues where African American ballplayers competed before tumbling the color barrier.<a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/home">Major League Baseball</a>
The official site of major league baseball. Extensive news and information on all of baseball; check out the <a href="http://m.mlb.com/player/121314/jackie-robinson">Jackie Robinson</a> section.<a href="http://www.dodgers.com/">The Los Angeles Dodgers</a>
See the Blue Crew’s tribute to one of their own. Teachers should see the educational <a href="http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/history/jackie_robinson_timeline/timeline_1.jsp">Jackie Robinson timeline</a>.<a href="http://www.ballparks.com/">BallParks.com</a>
Learn about the old ballparks where the first African American major leaguers played.<a href="http://baseballhall.org/">The Baseball Hall of Fame</a>
The Mecca of baseball information and history. Explore the <a href="http://baseballhall.org/hof/robinson-jackie">Jackie Robinson page</a> and the Hall of Fame’s <a href="http://baseballhall.org/discover/remembering-jackie">Remembering Jackie page</a>.<a href="http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/jackie-robinson/">The National Archives Feature Document on Jackie Robinson</a>
Fascinating information and lesson plans for teachers including correspondence between Jackie and Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson.<h2>Sources &amp; Suggested reading</h2>Stealing Home: An Intimate Family Portrait by the Daughter of Jackie Robinson by Sharon Robinson, Harper Collins, 1996.The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley, Carroll &amp; Graf Publishers, 1994.The Jackie Robinson Story by Arthur Mann, Grosset &amp; Dunlap, 1951.The Negro Baseball Leagues, 1867-1955: A Photographic History by Phil Dixon and Patrick J. Hannigan, Amereon House, 1992.Wait Till Next Year: The Life Story of Jackie Robinson by Carl T.Rowan with Jackie Robinson, Random House, 1960.

Crossing the Color Barrier: Jackie Robinson and the Men Who Integrated Major League Baseball

PRINCETON, NJ, September 25, 2013 – The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) today named the LA84 Foundation, San Francisco 49ers and Tony Hawk Foundation recipients of the 2013 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy. The award celebrates and promotes those in the sports world who are improving lives by leveraging the unique influence of sports. The class of 2013 winners joins an elite list of past honorees who are unwavering in their commitment to give back to their communities. RWJF established the award in 2005 in memory of Steve Patterson, the UCLA basketball star, NBA player, and college coach who became known for his belief in and practice of using the power of sports philanthropy to make a difference. Patterson died of cancer in July 2004 at the age of 56.“It is an honor to present the Patterson Award to these three outstanding sports philanthropic organizations and celebrate the positive impact they make in their communities,” said RWJF President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD. “The core values of these sports philanthropies align with the core values we espouse — dedication to community and improving the health of everyone in America. It is genuinely inspiring to see their commitment to advancing health and wellness and we are proud to recognize their impact.”In sports philanthropy, the LA84 Foundation is unique. The Foundation is the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. There is no other organization like it that has been created from the Olympic Games, the largest multi-sport event in the world held every four years. Through their grant making and programming, they have reached approximately three million youngsters, fostering the growth of youth sports by providing grants to more than 1,100 individual organizations. In addition, the Foundation’s coaching education programs have improved the skills of more than 70,000 youth sports coaches, and have gone on to become models for similar programs nationwide.“As we near our thirtieth year of providing grants to youth sports organizations across Southern California, it’s truly an honor to be selected as a winner for the Steve Patterson Award,” said LA84 Foundation President Anita L. DeFrantz. “The programs that we support play a vital role in keeping our youth active and healthy, which is key to building strong and safe communities.”The San Francisco 49ers community initiatives demonstrate the team’s commitment to creating strong families, schools, and communities through hands-on community service and numerous in-kind donations. The 49ers have continually displayed their commitment to creating measurable results through transformational grants and impact programs, donating nearly $20 million over the past 20 years. Their partnership with the 49ers Academy, a school for low income middle school youth, which provides not only funding but visits from players and ownership, in which they build facilities, play sports, donate supplies and educate about exercise and the importance of education is a true example of the transformative and lasting impact of their work.
“The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Steve Patterson Award embody what we strive for at the 49ers Foundation, and that’s to improve our community by using sports as a platform to connect with other things that make the Bay Area a better place,” said John York, chairman of the 49ers Foundation and co-chairman of the 49ers. “To be recognized for the difference we make in the community, through the interactions and connections of our players, coaches, family and fans, is truly an honor.”The Tony Hawk Foundation is the ONLY national organization focused solely on empowering at-risk youth and improving disadvantaged communities through the development of public skateboard parks. The Foundation’s work has been a driving force in overcoming negative stereotypes associated with the sport in which youth skateboarders are at times banned, fined and criminalized for practicing the sport they love. Since 2002, THF has implemented youth development and leadership training, resulting in the creation of 537 public skateparks in all 50 states. These skateparks collectively service more than 4.6-million youth annually and represent $91-million dollars in leveraged parks-and-recreation community improvements across the U.S.“For us to receive the Steve Patterson Award is a huge validation of our years of work,” said Hawk. “It really puts us on the radar of bigger philanthropy, and we are hugely proud of it. It definitely gives my staff the recognition they deserve.”“The winners that were announced today prove that there is still so much good in sports,” said Carlette Patterson, Steve’s widow and president of Patterson Sports Ventures. “Steve’s passion for improving the health and wellness of his communities knew no borders. And the three winners today embody his same tireless dedication and hard work to make a difference in the quality of life of their respective communities locally and nationally.”<a href="http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/features-and-articles/steve-patterson/past-winners.html">Previous winners of the Patterson Award have included</a>:<a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=56230">Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership (2005) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=56229">Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation (2006) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=56228">Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation (2007) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=56228">The Moyer Foundation (2007) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=56209">San Francisco Giants Community Fund (2008) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=56209">Steve Nash Foundation (2008) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/pr/product.jsp?id=56208">Marvin Lewis Community Fund (2009) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=56208">Red Sox Foundation (2009) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=71435">Dikembe Mutombo Foundation (2010) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=71435">U.S. Soccer Foundation (2010) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=72885">Cincinnati Reds Community Fund (2011) </a><a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson/product.jsp?id=72947">Brian Griese and Judi’s House (2011) </a>Chicago White Sox Foundation (2012)
Notah Begay Foundation (2012)
Women’s Sports Foundation (2012)For more information about the Steve Patterson Award and past winners, please visit <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/patterson">www.rwjf.org/patterson</a>.About the Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy
<a href="http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/features-and-articles/steve-patterson/about-steve.html">The Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy</a> is presented annually by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The award acknowledges sports organizations and individual sports philanthropies that have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and a sustained commitment toward a mission that serves and improves the lives of others. Follow the award on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/PattersonAward">www.twitter.com/PattersonAward</a> or Facebook <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/facebook">www.facebook.com/pattersonaward</a>.About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change. For more than 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/">www.rwjf.org</a>. Follow the Foundation on Twitter <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/twitter">www.rwjf.org/twitter</a> or Facebook <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/facebook">www.rwjf.org/facebook</a>.About LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California’s share of the surplus from the successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Foundation received an endowment of $93 million. Since it began operations in 1985, it has invested $214 million in sports programs serving more than 3 million youth in the eight Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Its headquarters is the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles where it houses the world’s premier sports library and meeting facilities. The Foundation provides grants to youth sports organizations, manages programs, including a coaching education program, and convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. Visit LA84 Foundation’s website at <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a>. You can also visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/LA84-Foundation/135796917696">www.facebook.com/pages/LA84-Foundation</a> and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/LA84Foundation">@LA84Foundation</a>.About the San Francisco 49ers Foundation
The San Francisco 49ers Foundation is the non-profit community funding extension of the San Francisco 49ers. Now in its 21st year, the 49ers Foundation supports development programs for underserved youth that keep them, “Safe, On Track, and In School.” The San Francisco 49ers are promoting RESPECT for schools and community by donating a significant portion of the foundation’s funding toward family violence prevention programs and activities that teach youth leadership and respect. Since 1992, the Foundation has donated over $20 million to support non-profits, including $2.9 million in 2012.To learn more visit their website at <a href="http://www.49ers.com/community/">www.49ers.com/community</a>. You can also visit the 49ers on Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/SanFranciso49ers">www.facebook.com/pages/SanFranciso49ers</a> and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/49ers">@49ers</a>.About the Tony Hawk Foundation
A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States that promote healthy, active lifestyles. Since then, the Foundation has awarded over $4.5-million to 537 communities in all 50 states, and has provided critical technical assistance to skatepark projects throughout the world. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks.The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children-related charities, as chosen by its Board of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s website at <a href="http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/">www.tonyhawkfoundation.org</a>. You can also visit THF on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tonyhawkfoundation">www.facebook.com/tonyhawkfoundation</a>, on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/THawkFoundation">@THawkFoundation</a>, and on Instagram at <a href="http://instagram.com/tonyhawkfoundation">tonyhawkfoundation</a>.

RWJF Announces LA84 as a Winner of the 2013 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy

LOS ANGELES (July 29, 2014) – Thirty years to the day after he ascended the Coliseum steps and lit the flame to open the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, track and field legend Rafer Johnson joined with fellow Olympians, city leaders and young soccer players in Griffith Park to announce the $10.5 million renovation of the John Ferraro Athletic Fields, the city’s largest soccer facility. The project will transform the 26-acre site into a state-of-the-art soccer complex, able to serve nearly 340,000 players each year – triple its current capacity – without expanding its footprint. More than 35,000 youth in local soccer programs live within minutes of the site, and are expected to benefit from the brand-new synthetic turf fields, updated lighting, improved parking, concessions and more.At the groundbreaking ceremony, project backers announced that $3.5 million has already been raised, including $1 million from the LA84 Foundation and $1 million from the City of Los Angeles. Supporters are reaching out to public, private and foundation donors to provide the rest.“Thirty years later, the impact of the 1984 Olympic Games lives on in projects such as Ferraro Fields,” said LA84 Foundation President Anita DeFrantz, whose organization was endowed with surplus funds from the 1984 Games that are used to support local youth sports programs. “Those Olympic Games were fueled by a successful public-private partnership, and we look forward to once again partnering with generous donors across the region to open more opportunities for our youth to participate in sports.”The Ferraro Fields renovation project will significantly expand the site’s capacity for practices, games and tournaments; currently, the conditions of several of the fields render them unusable for some team and tournament play throughout the year. The renovation will restore the fields for regulation use, and will broaden the range of uses, including local team practices, games and tournaments.The existing collection of seven dirt fields will be converted to synthetic turf. Other physical improvements will include updated lighting, walking paths, picnic tables, playground equipment and ADA-compliant restroom and concession facilities. Finally, the renovation will improve existing parking infrastructure, allowing visitors to park safely in the lot rather than on the street flanking the facility.Several of the most iconic athletes from 1984 Olympic Games celebrated this city-wide commitment to transforming the run-down fields into a state-of-the-art facility for hundreds of thousands of Angelenos.Four-time Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis, 400-meter hurdling champion Edwin Moses and cycling silver medalist Nelson Vails joined Johnson to participate in the dedication ceremony.“This project will provide a safe, state-of-the-art venue for hundreds of thousands of kids and adults from all over the city to enjoy— a fitting tribute to the fine athletes who competed here in Los Angeles 30 years ago and a reminder of the enormous benefits the ’84 Games continue to bring to our city,” said Johnson, who holds the gold medal for the decathlon from the 1960 Olympic Games.The project will be built in two phases, with the four smaller fields designed for use by youth leagues slated for completion in July 2015.The three remaining fields will be large enough to accommodate adult play, and can also be converted into a larger number of youth fields, further expanding the number of players who can make use of the site. The expected final completion date is July 2016.City officials praised the public-private partnership that will benefit local youth as well as soccer players from across the city. “Thanks to a dream team led by the LA84 Foundation, our city’s rich and vibrant Olympic history has enabled us to pass the torch to the next generation of athletes,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “It is my hope that some of the young Angelenos playing here at Ferraro Fields will be part of future Olympic and Paralympic Games in the years ahead.”Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes the site and who played a lead role in securing the city’s funding for the project, pointed to the lasting legacy of his predecessor, John Ferraro. “Councilman Ferraro was instrumental in bringing the 1984 Olympic Games to Los Angeles, and he would be proud to see that we are carrying forward the spirit of those Games today by making these soccer fields accessible to so many Angelenos.”Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, whose district includes many nearby neighborhoods, noted the environmental benefits of the renovation: by installing artificial turf, the facility will cut its water usage by 95 percent. “These upgrades will save our city 9.5 million gallons of water per year,” he said. “Given the drought conditions and calls to reduce water consumption statewide, this will be a huge step forward for this facility and for Los Angeles as a whole.”“Today, thousands of young Angelenos are greatly in need of adequate facilities for soccer practices and tournaments, and incur huge costs to travel long distances,” said Michael Shull, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks “This beautiful new complex will be easily accessible to leagues in the heart of our city, allowing them to practice and compete in their own neighborhood.”Among the organizations that have committed financial support to date are the Wasserman Foundation, Mr. Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and the Annenberg Foundation, the Cal South Foundation and the Andy Barth Family Trust. The remainder of the funds will be raised from private foundations, corporations, individual donors and public agencies. “Today’s event illustrates the wide support this project already enjoys, and we hope that many more private and public partners will step up and join us in seeing it through to completion,” said Barry A. Sanders, Chairman of the LA Parks Foundation, which will serve as the project manager for the renovation along with the Department of Recreation and Parks. Olympians and City Leaders Celebrate the Next Chapter of Ferraro FieldsAbout the LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California’s share of the surplus from the successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Foundation received an endowment of $93 million. Since it began operations in 1985, it has invested $220 million back into the communities that supported the Games, supporting more than 3 million youth in the eight Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Its headquarters is the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles where it houses the world’s premier sports library and meeting facilities. The Foundation provides grants to youth sports organizations, manages programs, including a coaching education program, and convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a>.

Olympic Legends Join L.A. Leaders To Celebrate Ferraro Fields Renewal In Honor Of 30th Anniversary Of The 1984 Games

Mayor Eric Garcetti, 1984 LA Olympic Organizing Committee President Peter Ueberroth, LA24 Chairman Casey Wasserman, Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson and USOC CEO Scott Blackmun joined 250 other guests Thursday night, at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles, to honor Anita DeFrantz following her retirement as foundation president. Ms. DeFrantz passed an Olympic torch from the 1984 Games to new LA84 Foundation President Renata Simril in a symbolic gesture representing the next generation of LA84 leadership.As LA84 begins its next chapter, the Foundation will continue to build on its legacy as the leading supporter of youth sports, education and outreach that impact millions of children each year
from diverse communities across this region and beyond.In the first quarter of 2016, the foundation will invest $1.3 million to fund 26 nonprofit organizations across Southern California. Among them is LA’s Best, an after-school sports program active in 188 Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools, which received funds to help fund equipment and athlete expenses.LA84 has the potential to impact even more young people in the years to come by encouraging their love of sport and providing a national model for how positive sports programming and coaching can positively impact youth development.

Anita DeFrantz Passes Torch to New LA84 President Renata Simril

LOS ANGELES – The <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.la84.org%2F&esheet=51432232&newsitemid=20161003006491&lan=en-US&anchor=LA84+Foundation&index=1&md5=a72d418a22dd36d16d90066f351f57d3">LA84 Foundation</a> releases the results of a new survey of youth sports participation in Los Angeles County. The survey found that the LA youth sports participation rate was higher than the national average in 16 of the 20 sports analyzed and more than 80 percent of youth between the ages of 6-17 in the Los Angeles area are active in sports.<a href="https://www.la84.org/survey/">Download and view the full survey here</a>“The LA84 Foundation Youth Sports Survey: Los Angeles County, 2016” conducted by Sports Marketing Surveys USA, reveals that outdoor soccer is played by more kids in Los Angeles County than any other sport. Skateboarding was found to have the highest “play frequency,” with an average of 90 times played per year.Despite these impressive participation results, issues emerge from the report that point to inequities. For example, African American and Latino children are most likely to be inactive and girls are less likely than boys to play a sport. Consistent with previous national studies, the survey also found that households with the lowest incomes have the lowest sports participation rates.“LA84 is committed to leveling and elevating the playing field in youth sports so that all children have access to the transformative nature of sports,” said Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “We commissioned this survey to identify areas of need in our home county. Now that we have these baseline results, we have a roadmap that will assist the LA84 Foundation and our many constituencies to set priorities for the year ahead.”The survey, which is the first of its kind to analyze youth sports on a local level in LA County, will be released in full by Simril on October 27 at the <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.la84summit.org&esheet=51432232&newsitemid=20161003006491&lan=en-US&anchor=LA84+Foundation%27s+5th+Annual+Youth+Sports+Summit&index=2&md5=8ca4a33c5736f9957f8a464a39d80233">LA84 Foundation’s 5th Annual Youth Sports Summit</a>. The summit will focus on the theme, #PLAYINGFORWARD and topics include the youth sports dropout problem, girls in sport, resource equity, and the impact of the Olympics and other major sports events on youth sports.Headlining the list of Summit speakers and panelists are Casey Wasserman, Chairman, LA2024 Bid Committee, Chairman &amp; CEO, Wasserman Media; Luc Robitaille, President, Business Operations and Alternative Governor, LA Kings; and Laura Gentile, Vice President, espnW. Sage Steele, host of NBA Countdown, will emcee the summit.“The LA84 Foundation Youth Sports Survey: Los Angeles County, 2016” will be published in full on the LA84 website the morning of the summit.To learn more about the LA84 Foundation and for more information about the LA84 Foundation Summit, please visit <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.la84summit.org&esheet=51432232&newsitemid=20161003006491&lan=en-US&anchor=LA84Summit.org&index=3&md5=f05a9242dc0442ebc5aebd9749cb2897">LA84Summit.org</a>.Sponsors for the summit include: The Los Angeles Times, Fox Sports West, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, County of Los Angeles District 2 and the Los Angeles Football Club. The LA84 Foundation Summit will be held at the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live on October 27, 2016.About the LA84 FoundationAs a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, the LA84 Foundation continues to be a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and elevating the importance of sports in positive youth development. LA84 seeks to provide an opportunity for every child to participate in sports and experience the wide range of positive outcomes associated with youth sport participation. Since its launch in 1985, LA84 has invested millions in the communities that supported the Games, reaching more than 3 million youth throughout Southern California, from Santa Barbara to San Diego County. The LA84 Foundation continues to promote the spirit of the 1984 Olympic Games by convening and engaging local, national and international audiences about the role of sport in society, and the impact of the Olympic Games on host cities, especially as we look ahead to the 2024 Games. LA84’s headquarters is located in the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles, where it houses meeting facilities and the world’s premier sports library. For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a>.

LA84 Releases First Of Its Kind Youth Sports Survey

“The race is not one for the swift, but he who endures until the end.”On an afternoon like any other at Holly Park in South Los Angeles, it was these words that were imparted from an old man to a boy entering his second year of playing football. The man’s identity will forever be a mystery, but that boy was Caylin Moore. He’s been enduring, and achieving, ever since.—At 6:30am on the morning of Sunday, November 20, Keith Johnson began screaming as he drove down the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles. Johnson, the executive director of Falcons Youth and Family Services, a nonprofit that provides free or low-cost football programs to at-risk children in South LA, has received one-too-many somber phone calls about the tragic fate of a former player. But this was different. This news came on the radio, and it was that Moore had been named <a href="http://www.gofrogs.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112016aaa.html">a 2017 Rhodes Scholar</a>.For Moore, a senior safety on the Texas Christian University football team, the achievement is momentous. Life-altering really, as Moore will head to Oxford University in England for the next two years to study public policy. For Moore, it’s not just an opportunity to learn among the world’s best and brightest, but the next step in paying it forward to the Southern California community he calls home. “When you take the elevator to the top, you make sure you press the No. 1 button to send it back down,” Moore said. His words are anything but hollow; few know the struggle on the proverbial ground floor more than the soft-spoken 22-year-old.—Moore grew up encountering domestic abuse. When he was 6 years old, his mother, facing tireless verbal abuse and constant threats of violence from her husband and Moore’s father, was forced to move he and his two siblings out of their five-bedroom home in the eastern Southern California suburb of Moreno Valley and to the South LA city of Carson.From there, Moore and his family of four still lived in fear from his father, who would stalk and intimidate the family long following their physical and legal separation. That chapter only came to an end when Moore’s father killed his live-in girlfriend in 2009. Louis Moore is currently serving life in prison.In Carson, Moore grew up in a neighborhood where gang violence, drugs and poverty were often simply a part of everyday life. Every day became a constant reminder of the nearly impossible path out. “The trials and tribulations we went through were insurmountable,” said Moore’s mother, Calynn (CJ) Taylor-Moore. “Any one of these events would have killed a lesser person.”In 2004, another event turned Moore’s life on its axis. This was when Taylor-Moore brought Caylin and her younger son Chase to the park to sign them up for football with Falcons Youth and Family Services, an organization that has been a grantee recipient of the LA84 Foundation.“He was a skinny little kid,” said Johnson, the co-founder of Falcons. “Very quiet. Very reserved. But man, was he determined.”From Day One, the program fueled Moore’s relentless drive to succeed. His first year was also the team’s first participating in the <a href="http://snoopyfl.net/">Snoop Youth Football League</a>, run by the famous rapper and actor. Moore not only played two years above his grade level with a group that hadn’t played together before, but he also happened to be the team’s quarterback. “I said ‘his coach has lost his mind. Caylin has lost his mind. His mother has lost her mind,’” Johnson recalled about the first year. “They got beat badly, but he learned so much. By the end of the year, my nickname for him was ‘Big Heart.’”At the same time he flourished on the field, Moore still faced the problem so many youth in low-income communities must grapple with: life without a father. While Falcons provided almost all of its participants with jerseys, cleats, equipment, post-game meals and other items they would otherwise be unable to afford, the true value was in the life lessons Johnson and his staff taught through sport.Moore soon became involved in Falcons’ MIT (Men in Training) program. Falcons staff would take the football players to Dodgers games, the beach and on other activities to show the youth a world outside the insulated streets of South LA and give them goals to achieve through academic success.“It was such a great environment to be around positive male role models. Seeing how they interacted with others and conducted their lives was quite impactful for my masculinity and manhood,” Moore said, recalling his early Falcons experiences. “It is extremely difficult in the inner city for a single mother to take a young boy from boyhood to manhood,” added Taylor-Moore. “That’s where the Falcons came in. They had men of honor that mentored my sons.”For the Moore family, Falcons soon become a family affair. Chase followed his brother onto the football field. Moore’s sister, Mi-Calynn, became a cheerleader for the youth football teams. Ms. Taylor-Moore started a summer conditioning camp for the teams in order to keep the kids active and safe during the months they were out of school, and later became the first female coach in the history of the Snoop League.After his time playing for Falcons, Caylin attended Verbum Dei High School as his football star continued to shine. As a high-schooler, Moore balanced quarterbacking the Verbum Dei Eagles and returning the Falcons to serve as the offensive coordinator for his mother’s football squad at Jackie Tatum Park. Even as a teenager, Moore not only prepared himself for life through the power of sport, but took the lessons he learned to give back to his community. “Being involved in sports expands and enriches your life,” Taylor-Moore said. “You serve a purpose. You keep burning the torch.”After graduation came a full scholarship to play football at Marist College, and in 2015 Moore transferred to TCU for a chance at playing college football on the highest level. In the classroom, he earned a scholarship in 2014 to attend the Fulbright Summer Institute in England before being named a 2017 Rhodes Scholar in November, with Johnson writing letters of recommendation for both awards.READ MORE: <a href="https://www.la84.org/2016/10/06/la84-announces-youth-ambassadors-program-sams/">LA84 Announces Youth Ambassadors Program</a>With the Falcons, Moore not only gives back with his time, but continues to make an impact through his story. “Pain does one of two things: It paralyzes you or it empowers you,” Johnson said about Moore’s path. “Caylin’s story is one we continue to tell to kids from hard, abusive backgrounds. If you want to give up, you just can’t give up. This is not the end-all for Caylin; this is just another step in his journey.”—As the reality of moving across the pond for the next two years sets in, Moore can now reflect on how youth sports has changed not only his, but the lives of hundreds of teammates and classmates he’s met along his journey. “I wish that programs like LA84 had even more funds and people working with them to show them where their funds can be allocated to be the most effective,” he said. “I think it’s so important, especially in communities where I come from where people don’t always have those opportunities. Youth sports are invaluable. Life-changing, actually.”With a father in prison for life, a mother being a victim of domestic abuse, and a daily environment filled with drugs, gangs and crime, Caylin Moore was almost set up to become a statistic. Yet, sports and the support it brought helped flip the narrative. “In an environment where we had gangs and crime and poverty all around us, we had a diamond in the rough at that park during the hours of six to eight o’clock during football practice,” he said.Twelve years after a mother looking for a healthy place for her children showed up at Holly Park, the next youth sports difference-maker is well on his way to building lives ready through sport for the thousands of future Caylin Moores in Los Angeles and beyond. “Be unrealistic,” he says. “In your expectations of yourself.”Learn more about Falcons Youth and Family Services <a href="http://www.falconsyouthservices.com/">here</a>.

Caylin Moore: From South LA Baller to Rhodes Scholar

Olympians Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the 1st ever Women’s Olympic Marathon, and Anita L. DeFrantz, Olympic medalist, IOC member, and LA84 Foundation President Emeritus, were honored today with plaques in the LA Memorial Coliseum’s Court of Honor. They were celebrated for their impact on the history, growth and glory of the Coliseum, with ceremonies led by Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation and Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Supervisor and moderated by NBC4 Southern California’s Lolita Lopez.The two pioneers are the first female athletes commemorated in the Court of Honor since Babe Didrikson in 1961, the first woman to gain inclusion. LA84’s tireless efforts to level the playing field in women’s sport are reflected here, more than 50 years later, as the new plaques honoring two game-changers in women’s sport join the nearly 60 already etched in Coliseum lore. The LA84 Foundation serves as a thought leader as well and has established and funded programs to increase the number and engagement of girls in youth sports.Both honorees are directly connected to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Benoit Samuelson won the inaugural Women’s Olympic Marathon, finishing inside the Coliseum. DeFrantz was a vice president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and ran the Olympic Village at the University of Southern California, near the Coliseum. She later served as president of the LA84 Foundation, the legacy of those Games.<a href="https://la84.org/our-story/">Learn more about LA84’s story</a>The event was co-sponsored by the Office of County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Benoit Samuelson was introduced to the stage by Yvette Carbajal, a young athlete in the LA84-funded Students Run LA program that trains high schoolers to run the LA8 Marathon. DeFrantz was introduced by Michelle Castanaza Gudiel, a young rower in the LA84-funded RowLA program that continues to carry to teach young girls to row. “If you have the passion and the support, then anything is possible,” Benoit Samuelson said alongside DeFrantz in an onstage interview conducted by Lopez. “We at LA84 are proud to honor not one, but two pioneering women athletes whose contributions on and off the field are nothing short of transcendent. Joan Benoit Samuelson and Anita DeFrantz showed girls across the world how a sporting dream can spring into reality, and inspire our work every day to keep closing the gender gap in sports,” said Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation.<a href="https://la84.org/our-work/">Find out how the legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games continues to give back to millions of Southern California youth</a>“The Coliseum Court of Honor welcomes two extraordinary athletes who exemplify the Olympic spirit and paved the way for women to excel in sports at the highest level,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor and Board Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas. “We celebrate Joan Benoit Samuelson and Anita DeFrantz for their achievements as Olympians and as role models.”Joan Benoit Samuelson has a name synonymous with women’s running. In 1984, she became the first woman to win the inaugural Women’s Olympic Marathon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 2009, she was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame. Currently, she serves as a consultant to Nike and as a clinician. She is also an experienced motivational speaker and has authored two books, Running Tide and Joan Samuelson’s Running for Women.“Crossing the finish line in the LA Coliseum in the first women’s Olympic Marathon was an opportunity that I had only dreamed of as a young girl. Today, we celebrate the many women pioneers who made that moment possible while celebrating the accomplishments of women who live their dreams through access to sport,” said Benoit Samuelson.Anita DeFrantz is a 1976 Olympic rowing bronze medalist and 1980 U.S. Olympic Team member. From 1981-1984, DeFrantz became vice president of the Olympic Village for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. Following the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, she joined the staff of the LA84 Foundation, which was established to manage the surplus from those Olympic Games. She then served as LA84 Foundation’s president from 1987-2015 and remains President Emeritus. In 1986, she was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee and has remained one ever since. Today, DeFrantz is the Senior Advisor for Legacy at LA 2024, LA’s bid to bring the Games back to the US for the first time in 28 years, where she uses her experience with the LA84 Foundation to inform the 2024 Games’ potential legacy. She is also a member of four IOC commissions – Finances, Legal Affairs, Olympic Channel and the Coordination for the Tokyo 2020 Games. DeFrantz also serves on the board of directors for the Los Angeles Sports Council.“We all know that women’s sport historically has been underreported. I’m thrilled that women’s accomplishments will be celebrated at the Coliseum with these plaques,” said DeFrantz.

LA84 Welcomes Sporting Pioneers Benoit Samuelson, DeFrantz to Los Angeles Coliseum Court of Honor

Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson and the LA84 Foundation partnered on August 14 to celebrate the launch of Street Soccer USA’s pilot program in Los Angeles. Street Soccer USA aims to fight poverty and empower underserved communities through soccer by providing free-of-cost access to youth sports, with the LA program expecting to have nearly one-third of its team members be youth experiencing homelessness. The Los Angeles pilot program is being established in part thanks to a $75,000 grant from the LA84 Foundation.The event was made possible in part by Council President Wesson and took place at the LA84 Foundation headquarters. Participating youth were from the Children’s Institute, Street Soccer USA’s first on-the-ground partner and a non-profit organization serving over 22,000 children in mental health, early education and foster youth programs throughout Los Angeles. The event featured a press conference, games, soccer drills, speakers and a check presentation.The Los Angeles Unified School District notes that over 15,000 of its students are homeless at any given time. This number is not static, and many more youth and families live on the verge of homelessness at all times or experiencing homelessness for a period of time once or more during a given year in Los Angeles County.Council President Wesson has presided over policy initiatives addressing this issue, including the passage of Measure HHH in 2016 to allocate over $1.2 billion to homeless services, as well as Measure H in March 2017.Street Soccer USA’s Street Soccer LA Pilot Program creates front-end engagement through community soccer clubs targeting the least-served youth and young adults in Los Angeles, including homeless youth. Employing a sport-for-development methodology, the program promotes soccer-based life skills and a social emotional learning curriculum, which teaches eight progressive life and job readiness skills with age-appropriate content. The goal of the curriculum is personal empowerment by teaching participants to be problem solvers in their individual lives and in their community. “The LA84 Foundation thanks Council President Wesson for his leadership on this issue,” said LA84 Foundation President and CEO Renata Simril. She added: “The transformational power of sport is saving lives in our communities. The physical and emotional benefits of sport and structured play gives kids confidence and hope, and the LA84 Foundation strongly supports programs like Street Soccer USA providing #PlayForAll access to improve the quality of life for our youth who need it most.”“We believe in the promise of our community and all it as members. We believe that relationships change lives and in the unique power of soccer to create those relationship. We want to thank the LA84 Foundation and Herb Wesson for showing up for the community. Together we will help realize the promise of our participants starting this Fall and over the long term,” said Rob and Lawrence Cann, Founders of Street Soccer USA.See <a href="https://www.facebook.com/la84.org/posts/10155945649992697">additional photos</a> from the event.

LA84, City Council President Wesson Launch Street Soccer USA in LA

When we work together, we Play For All. The LA84 Foundation brought together more than 400 difference-makers at its <a href="https://la84.org/summit/">Sixth Annual Summit</a> on Friday, October 27, at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. Themed The New Era of Youth Sports: Play For All, the day featured keynotes, panels, and power talks all centered around equity, inclusion, and innovative ways to ensure that all youth have equal access to sport as a way to promote positive development and life-long wellbeing.The event featured keynote addresses by Allyson Felix, the most decorated athlete in Track &amp; Field history, three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, and four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist, and LA 2028 chair Janet Evans and an address from LA84 Foundation President &amp; CEO Renata Simril. More than 20 Olympians and Paralympians attended the daylong event, and were joined by civic leaders, sports executives, nonprofit leaders, national sports experts and professional athletes.Simril’s address kicked off a day focused on play equity and using sport as a vehicle for youth development. “I’m confident that with the power, experience and influence of people in this room, we can make sure no kid gets left behind. We’ll make sure that the dreams of our youth are not defined by their zip code,” Simril said. Janet Evans followed the opening remarks with an update on the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, which were awarded to Los Angeles on September 13, 2017. The Games will be LA’s first since 1984, and Evans emphasized that the 11 years leading up to the event will forge a legacy beyond Los Angeles. “We want to generate new sports legacy for young Americans young Angelenos everywhere. While we are partial to Los Angeles, this is a statewide bid and a national bid. We hope to inspire athletes and young people from all over our country,” Evans said.Throughout the day, panels and speakers inspired with sports-related messages of equality, inclusion, perseverance and activism.2017 Rhodes Scholar and former LA84 grantee youth Caylin Moore brought a standing-room only crowd to tears as he reflected on his journey from a childhood that included homelessness and domestic violence into success on the football and academic fields. Paralympic gold medalist Mallory Weggemann’s powerful message of inclusion for adaptive athletes showed Summit attendees about sport’s power to help an individual recover and find empowerment after a traumatic accident. Allyson Felix, the most decorated track &amp; field athlete of all time, illustrated how she did not begin her sprinting pursuits until high school and expounded on the value of sport-sampling and not having youth over-train in one specific sport.The Voices from the Field panel also listened to the insights of those impacted most by the changing landscape of youth sports: young athletes. Moderated by two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis, the panel of five shed light on the issues kids face every day in youth sports. Blind USC Football long snapper Jake Olson touched the audience as he shared how football gives him a chance to showcase his talent and be respected and seen as a normal player, while Brotherhood Crusade member Sarah Robinson went into how playing basketball helped her improve her grades by providing something to work toward.The day ended with a keynote interview from three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings, being interviewed by two-time Olympic gold medalist, World Cup Champion and Summit emcee Julie Foudy. As she touched on her career in conjunction with her young children, Walsh Jennings’ reflections summed up the day seamlessly. “I look at my kids play, and it’s not about the end results,” she said. “It’s about the joy of playing, and the chance to grow through experience.”Sponsors of the Summit included: The Los Angeles Times, Verizon, Fox Sports West, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Los Angeles Galaxy, KCRW, the Los Angeles Chargers, The Foundation for Global Sports Development and City National Bank.About the LA84 FoundationFor over 30 years, the LA84 Foundation has experienced first-hand the power of sport to change lives. The foundation’s funding, focus and advocacy has positively impacted more than 3 million under-served and under-resourced youth, supported over 2,200 organizations and trained 80,000 coaches. With a third Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles coming in 2028, the LA84 Foundation is ready to take their work to even greater heights as they begin to build a new legacy for the next generation.

LA84, 400+ Attendees Celebrate Play For All Movement At 2017 LA84 Foundation Summit

Last week, some 200 people gathered at LA84 Foundation headquarters to celebrate the publication of a unique book and to celebrate the retirement of a unique staff member.LA Sports: Play, Games, and Community in the City of Angels (University of Arkansas Press) is co-edited by Wayne Wilson, LA84 Foundation’s vice president for education services, and George Mason University professor of sport history David K. Wiggins. According to Wilson, LA Sports is the first-ever general collection of scholarly articles to examine the ever-morphing sports scene in Los Angeles.“While there have been scholarly books that focused on specific aspects of sport in Los Angeles, there’s never been a general approach to the topic like the one we’re taking here,” he said. “There are books that are specifically on the 1932 or 1984 Olympic Games or the Dodgers’ moving to Los Angeles, but there’s no scholarly work that I’m aware of that looks at sport in Los Angeles in a comprehensive way.”As the book’s introductory essay notes, Los Angeles is synonymous with major events. The city and its SoCal environs have hosted two Olympic Games (with a third on the horizon in 2028), Super Bowls, World Cup finals, Rose Bowls, and the X Games, not to mention multiple World Series, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup games. Chapters in the book examine both the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games and show how their successes managed to silence critics and naysayers.But L.A.’s athletic tapestry resonates well beyond these headline-making events: it’s an entertainment hub that has produced beloved sports films that use SoCal as location like Bad News Bears, Karate Kid and Love and Basketball; sports films like Tin Cup and Kingpin; it invented and/or popularized sports such as BMX, skateboarding, and beach volleyball; it has served as the setting for Fernando-mania and the “Dogtown and Z-Boys” skateboarding scene.What makes Los Angeles different, Wiggins said, is “the rich diversity of sports at all levels of competition. I think the climate is conducive to having a large number of activities: you’ve got beach volleyball, Muscle Beach, car racing, bicycling and surfing. You’ve got the elite professional sports franchises, from the Dodgers to the Lakers to the Kings to the Galaxy, and it’s also remarkable in terms of intercollegiate athletics.”The region’s racial and ethnic diversity, Wilson said, is another component that differentiates L.A. from other places. The chapter “On Los Chorizeros, the Classic, and El Tri,” written by associate professor of history at UC San Diego Luis Alvarez, addresses how Mexicans in Los Angeles built community and claimed belonging through sport activities and fandom. “This is a city where half the population is Latino,” said Wilson, “and most of the Latinos are Mexican-Americans. We wanted to be sure that we talked about Latinos in sport in Los Angeles because that tends to be overlooked by the mainstream media.”Said Wilson: “Sport has the ability both to divide people and to bring them together. In the chapter about [Dodgers announcer] Vin Scully, one of the points the authors [Elliott Gorn and Allison Lauterbach Dale] make is that Scully had the remarkable ability to unite people across all kinds of ethnic groups and income brackets. In that sense sport was a unifying factor.”The evening also gave friends, family, scholars, Olympians, and co-workers the chance to say farewell to Wilson, who is retiring after more than 30 years at the LA84 Foundation. Speakers saluted Wilson’s extraordinary contributions to the field and to the organization. And, they tried to roast him with a list of the top ten things they will miss most about Wilson. (#1: “Everything!”)Wilson joined the LA84 Foundation (known then as the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles) in December of 1987, six years after earning his Master’s Degree in Library Science from Syracuse University. His charge was to turn an assortment of books, periodicals, scrapbooks, memorabilia, and Olympic-related documents into a bona fide sports library of national and international significance.The library opened to the public in 1988 and, thanks to Wilson’s selfless dedication and encyclopedic knowledge of all forms of sports history and culture, the sleek site next to the landmark Britt House quickly became a must-visit destination for sports scholars, researchers, and authors. Wilson exceeded expectations by amassing a treasure-trove of rare books, hard-to-find periodicals, instructional videos and documentary films, tens of thousands of photographs, and the voluminous Olympic collection that soon became the envy of other institutions.“I have worked in libraries and archives all over the world, but nowhere have I come across anyone better at this job than Wayne,” said Dr. Robert Edelman, professor of sport history at the University of California San Diego. “Countless times I have come to the library to research a topic. I would get started on something I had seen in the online catalogue. Then, after an hour or two, a cart would quietly be rolled next to my desk. It would be filled with things I had never even imagined existed. Indeed, it is the quality of Wayne’s imagination and professionalism that makes him so great at this task.”Wilson leaned heavily on the support of two longtime colleagues at the library. Shirley Ito recently started her 30th year at the Foundation, while Michael Salmon is about to begin his 29th year. “Michael and Shirley are consummate professionals,” Wilson said. “Their commitment to providing researchers with the correct answer and correct information resources is amazing. I hear compliments about the quality of their service from people from around the country and world. They are outstanding ambassadors for the LA84 Foundation.”The reputation of the library grew exponentially in the mid-1990s thanks to Wilson’s prescient bet on nascent digital technology. One example: Wilson negotiated an agreement with the International Olympic Committee to digitize their archival material; in return, the LA84 Foundation was permitted to post the material on its website, available to the public for free. Last year, a whopping total of 6.5 million page-views of the digital collection were registered.Meanwhile, Wilson’s reputation as an expert on Olympic matters was steadily growing. He has attended six Olympic Games, three while working for NBC. “I worked in the NBC Olympic Research Room in 1996, 2000 and 2006,” he said. “Our job was to answer specific questions from members of the broadcast team, anticipate meaningful stories and facts as the Games progressed, and to prepare a daily newsletter that was delivered to every member of the NBC team. NBC had a great rule that I’ve never forgotten: If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t guess. Say, ‘I don’t know.’ You can look up the answer later, but never pretend that you know it if you don’t.”In 2014, the International Society of Olympic Historians recognized Wilson’s accomplishments in preserving and sharing the history of the Olympic Movement – which included the digitization of more than 120,000 sports-related articles, books, monographs, and other documents — with its Lifetime Achievement Award.“Wayne took that small collection and the kernel of a strategic plan and built this incredible library,” LA84 Foundation president and CEO Renata Simril said. “He was able to be so forward-thinking and say, ‘Let’s digitize our collection and we’ll have a greater and farther reach.’”“Wayne was one of the first people that I know of to begin digitizing everything,” Wiggins, the book’s co-editor, said. “He digitized the Journal of Sport History as well as other scholarly journals long ago. He’s quite innovative and creative in that way. He was way ahead of the game on that, and that’s been very, very helpful for those of us looking for such arcane material.”Wilson’s portfolio at LA84 Foundation soon expanded beyond the research center and the Olympics. For the past ten years, he administered the Foundation’s coaching education program, a key building block in providing positive experiences for youth in sports (and one that the Foundation has partnered with several stakeholders). Wilson also spearheaded countless research projects that the Foundation either commissioned or supported through grantmaking. One of the earliest efforts involved tracking the relative amount of media coverage men’s and women’s sports received in the mainstream media. The study conclusively proved that there was very little women’s sports coverage in mainstream media.Related to this were the many conferences and symposia that Wilson organized throughout the years for the Foundation. These events brought together thought-leaders, athletes, Olympians, and key scholars in their respective fields to discuss and debate the most pressing issues in the sport realm, including doping in elite sport and the concussion epidemic. Today, Wilson continues to work with CEO Simril and team to curate the major annual <a href="https://la84.org/summit-2017">LA84 Foundation Summit</a>.“More recently, we have focused on youth-sports topics,” Wilson said. “Right now we are looking closely at the benefits of a middle-school sports program called Beyond the Bell that is implemented in every LAUSD school [through funding support from LA84 Foundation]. That’s a work-in-progress, and we expect that there will be some interesting findings that demonstrate how valuable sport can be for young people.”The LA84 Foundation, according to Wilson, “is in great hands with Renata Simril as president. My hope and expectation is that the foundation’s influence as a regional funder of youth sports, and as a national knowledge center and thought leader will continue to grow.”Wilson’s lengthy resume and myriad accomplishments notwithstanding, it’s his spirit that will be missed most. “Wayne has been the constant here and he is the conscience and the brain and, to a large measure, the heartbeat of this organization,” Renata Simril said. “LA84 Foundation would not be the national thought leader we are without Wayne. I call it, The World According to Wayne. He cannot be replaced.”For more information about the book, LA Sports, <a href="https://www.uapress.com/product/la-sports/">visit the publisher’s webpage</a> or visit your favorite bookseller.

Wayne Wilson, Scholar and Friend, Leaves Legacy

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — LA84 Foundation President and CEO Renata Simril is one of only four people from around the world to be selected to participate in the Sports at the Service of Humanity Young Leaders Mentoring Program.Simril will serve as a mentor to Chantal Sathi, a Canadian of Sri Lankan heritage, for the program that aims to be a “transformational one-year journey under the mentorship of four distinguished sport and business champions.”Japanese religious leader and businessman, Dr. Haruhisa Handa, helped launch the program through the International Sports Promotion Society, a non-profit organization he co-founded.“We are very proud to be part of the Youth Mentoring Program that aims to cultivate and nurture young athletes and sports leaders who embody the values and principles shared by ISPS and SSH,” <a href="https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1070785/bach-meets-athletes-involved-in-sport-at-the-service-of-humanitys-young-leaders-mentoring-program">Handa said</a>. “I am hugely impressed by the caliber and enthusiasm of the young mentees and very grateful that people of the stature and reputation of the mentors are willing to share their knowledge, experience and time with the mentees.”The four mentors connected with their mentees for the first time in Buenos Aires, where they met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, who was in Argentina for the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.“Young people are the future of our Olympic Movement and this inspirational group of young leaders give us all confidence for tomorrow, <a href="http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__74723/Title__IOC-President--praises-Young-Leaders-Mentoring-Program/292/Articles">Bach said.</a> “I’m so pleased that so many senior figures in sport can help them on their way.”Earlier this year, LA84 co-sponsored the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu4OtM9KXhjvjRdYYPfbdVUZgJ6AvSRG7">Sport at the Service of Humanity Second Regional Conference</a> at Loyola Marymount University, which brought together leaders in college athletics, education, faith communities, and youth sports to discuss the power of sport to effect positive social change.Simril was also a delegate at the inaugural Sport at the Service of Humanity Conference, held in 2016 at the Vatican.Below is more information from the official press release:Sport at the Service of Humanity today launched its Young Leaders Mentoring Program, which aims to prepare athletes and young leaders in sport to “Win in Life” and inspire their communities through the power of their example.The program, launched with the support of ISPS Handa, will see four young leaders from South Sudan, Canada, Philippines and Israel embark on a transformational one-year journey under the mentorship of four distinguished sport and business champions.The four young leaders taking part in the first year’s program as mentees are:<ul><li>Anjelina Nadai – A 23-year-old track runner from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in South Sudan. She was a member of the Refugee Olympic Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.</li><li>Chantal Sathi – A Canadian of Sri Lankan Heritage; she is a kick boxer, a personal trainer and a community youth leader and has a degree in Kinesiology and a Masters in Theology in Urban and International Development</li><li>John Paul Masubay – A 24-year-old football player, coach, mentor and youth leader from Tacloban, Philippines.</li><li>Shahid Bishara – A 15-year-old female squash player who lives with her family in an Arab town in Israel. She got involved in squash at age 10 as part of a special project that that aimed to help bridge gaps between Jewish and Arab cultures in Israel.</li></ul>These mentees will have the privilege of being mentored by the following four mentors:<ul><li>HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein – IOC Member, President of Jordan Olympic Committee, Founder/Chairman of Generations for Peace</li><li>Victor Montagliani – FIFA Vice President, President CONCACAF</li><li>Renata Simril – President and CEO of LA84 Foundation</li><li>Jon Tibbs OBE – Founder/Chairman of JTA</li></ul>The mentees and mentors met for the first time earlier today during an interaction session, in which the mentors shared their experience, stories and vision of how they see the mentorship relationship unfolding. Tomorrow, the mentees will meet with IOC President Thomas Bach who has regularly shown his support for the Sport at the Service of Humanity, most notably at its first Global Conference on Faith &amp; Sport in 2016 where he was one of the featured speakers.Msgr. Melchor Sanchez de Toca, Undersecretary, Pontifical Council for Culture and Sport at the Service of Humanity Foundation Board Director said:“We are delighted to have four very driven and talented young leaders and four highly experienced and distinguished mentors take part in the first Young Leaders Mentoring Program.“Sport at the Service of Humanity is a global movement which uses the inspirational, unifying power of Sport and Faith to change the world. Through the Young Leaders Mentoring Program, we strongly believe that we can help young leaders in sport become international role models with the power and the passion to change sport and the world for the better.”The first cohort of mentees will become the inaugural Sport at the Service of Humanity Global Youth Ambassadors – the faith of the movement at home and internationallyEvery year, new athletes and young leaders in sport will be selected as mentees and carry the Sport at the Service of Humanity message to new parts of the world.

Renata Simril Named Global Mentor

<h1>The LA84 Foundation Releases Youth Sports Participation Survey</h1>LOS ANGELES — Today, the <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.la84.org%2F&esheet=51432232&newsitemid=20161003006491&lan=en-US&anchor=LA84+Foundation&index=1&md5=a72d418a22dd36d16d90066f351f57d3">LA84 Foundation</a> released the results of the LA84 Foundation Youth Sports Survey, Los Angeles County 2018. The survey measures progress in the effort to make youth sports available to all young people in our community. The report updates and expands the foundation’s <a href="https://la84.org/la84-releases-first-kind-youth-sports-survey/">inaugural 2016 survey</a>. The 2018 report presents a comprehensive view of youth sports in Los Angeles County, detailing participation rates, types of play, locations, sport participant profiles, and total player projections, while highlighting changes to the youth sports landscape since 2016.The 2018 survey results show that more than 1.2 million young people, 82.3% of all kids, in Los Angeles County participate in sports and that in most sports the participation rates in Los Angeles County exceed national rates, often by wide margins. Although the number of young people playing sports is impressive, we should not lose sight of two key points. First, youth sports participation remains closely tied to household income, with children from the lowest-income households participating at the lowest rate. Parents from low-income households are most likely to agree that youth sports are too expensive, and most likely to call for more school-based sports programs, which typically involve lower costs for participation and less travel than other sports options. “In Los Angeles County, and nationally, there is a crisis hiding in plain sight,” said Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “That crisis is Play Inequity, and this new study documents the urgent need to close the Play Equity Gap and make sure every child has the opportunity to play.”Second, 39% of Los Angeles County youth sports participation takes the form of casual/pick-up play. While the LA84 Foundation believes in the value of all physical activity, we believe that the greatest benefits come from structured sports programs that involve the purposeful mentoring of young people.The LA84 Foundation, for over three decades, has used the power of sport to create access and opportunity for those who need it most. But hiding in plain sight,there is a national crisis in play. Simply stated, kids from affluent families play sports at a significantly higher rate than young people from less wealthy households, and boys continue to play at a higher rate than girls. And that is why we coined the phrase Play Equity and why we are leading the #PlayforAll Movement. Play Equity means that the amount of exercise kids get must not be determine by their income,geography, gender or ability. Play Equity means that the dreams of our youth must not be determined by their zip codes. Play is a basic human right and all of our youth deserve equal access. The LA84 Foundation is committed to closing the Play Equity Gap to ensure that all of our children have the access and opportunity to enjoy the social, emotional, health, and educational benefits of youth sports and structured play. Clearly, we still need to do more work in Los Angeles County to close the Play Equity Gap. The new survey, which the LA84 Foundation commissioned SMSUSA to conduct, replicates the 2016 survey, but expands it to ask new questions about perceptions of cost, availability and access. The responses to those questions provide insights on how socioeconomic inequity affects youth sports participation inLos Angeles. The survey involved 703 households representing 1,095 youngsters ages 6-17, with interviews conducted in English and Spanish. Below is a summary of the key finding’s of the LA84 Foundation Youth Sports Survey, Los Angeles County 2018.PARTICIPATION<ul><li>82.3% of Los Angeles County youth, ages 6-17, participate in a sport, a slight improvement over the 2016 activity rate of 81.5%. More than 1.2 million young people, ages 6-17, play sports in Los Angeles County.</li><li>Family income continues to be associated with youth sport participation. Kids from households with annual incomes greater than $150k participate at a rate of 90%, while only 71% of kids from households earning below $35k play sports. However, from 2016 to 2018, activity increased in households under $75k, while actually declining in households earning over $75k. </li><li>Youth activity correlates to parental activity levels. Children in households with regularly-active parents showed an increase in activity, rising from 84% to 90%. Meanwhile, kids from households with occasionally-active or inactive parents participate at a rate of 77%, a slight decline from 2016. Regular physical activity among parents, in turn, corresponds to income, with affluent households showing the highest parental activity level. </li><li>Girls’ participation indicates an increase from 73% in 2016 to 79% in 2018. This positive finding, however, may be influenced by the addition of “Cheer/dance” as a separate, selectable sport choice. The 2016 survey also documented this activity, but did so under the rubric of “Other sports.” In any case, girls’ participation rate still trails that of boys, with 85% of boys participating in sport compared to 79% of girls. </li><li>The youngest age group of boys and girls, 6-8-year-olds, has a higher participation rate than in 2016, reflecting an increase from 72% to 81%. However, younger children ages 6-11 remain slightly less active than older kids.</li><li>Soccer, as in 2016, has the highest participation rate among youth ages 6-17 in Los Angeles County, with 27% of children having played in the past 12 months. Swimming (26.7%), basketball (25.7%), running (16.9%), and baseball (16.1%) follow. When baseball is combined with slow-pitch softball (6.4% and fast-pitch softball (5.6%) the result is 28.1%. Only running, track &amp; field, and rugby saw youth participation rates increase from 2016 to 2018. </li><li>Skateboarding again has the highest play frequency of all youth sports with an average of 77 participation days a year, followed by basketball (63), martial arts (62), running (59), and cheer/dance (59).</li><li>Los Angeles County youth played sports an average of 112 times in the past year, similar to the 2016 average of 114. </li><li>The most frequently cited reason for not participating in sport is Not interested (35%). Other reasons cited are Doesn’t like sport (18%), Other non-sport interests (10% – double the percentage in 2016), Too busy with school work (5%), Sports not offered at school (4%), Cost/Too expensive (4%), Health concerns (3%), and Too young (2%). </li><li>Kids played fewer sports in 2018, indicating somewhat greater sports specialization, with youngsters averaging 2.21 sports compared to 2.7 in 2016.</li><li>64% of Los Angeles County youth would like to play a sport in the next year. Soccer is the most desired sport, followed by basketball, baseball, football, and tennis.</li></ul>TYPE AND LOCATION OF PLAY<ul><li>Among youth sports participants, casual pickup play declined 8% while there was a corresponding increase in organized play, with the biggest increase in organized non-school sports.</li><li>53% of youngsters participate in sports at public fields, pools or gyms, with 33% at schools or colleges and 13% at private facilities </li></ul>P.E.ENROLLMENT<ul><li>79% of Los Angeles County youth are enrolled in P.E./physical activity classes, down from 88% in 2016, with Hispanic/Latino and African-American households experiencing the biggest decline among race/ethnic groups.</li><li>Whites and Asian/Pacific Islanders are slightly more likely to be in P.E. than children from other racial or ethnic groups.</li></ul>SPECIAL NEEDS STATUS<ul><li>6% of Los Angeles County households report having a special needs child. </li><li>Of households reporting a special needs child, 30% state that their child had a physical disability; 46% intellectual/emotional, and 31% emotional.</li></ul>HOUSEHOLD ADULT FITNESS STATUS<ul><li>Overall, the percentage of active parents in households with children ages 6-17 increased modestly from 88% in 2016 to 90% in 2018. However, there was a 7% drop in adults who regularly participate in physical activity/sports, while the percentage of occasionally active parents increased. </li><li>Asian/Pacific Islanders are the only group of parents to show an increase in regular physical activity. All other racial/ethnic groups declined. </li><li>All income groups declined in regular physical activity, with a greater decline in households below $75k than in those above $75k.</li><li>Parents from affluent households earning more than $150k are more than twice as likely to take part in physical activity regularly than parents from households of under $35k. </li></ul>MEDIA<ul><li>YouTube is again the social media platform most often used by Los Angeles County youth, with nearly half (46%) using it regularly – followed by Instagram (26%), Snapchat (24%), Facebook (21%), and Twitter (13%). </li><li>Overall there is less social media use reported than in 2016.</li><li>Interestingly, active youth are more likely to use social media frequently than less active youngsters. </li><li>The overwhelming majority of young people in Los Angeles County never use sports websites. The most-used sports website is ESPN, but only 36% of young people use it regularly or occasionally. </li></ul>INEQUITY<ul><li>“I wish more sports were available at my child/children’s school” is the most-agreed with statement in the survey among parents of youth in Los Angeles County. Demand for sports at schools is especially evident among lower-income households, households with younger children, and households in the Metro Service Planning Area, which includes central Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Hollywood, and Echo Park. </li><li>Lower-income households tend to agree that youth sports in Los Angeles are too expensive. Higher-income groups tend to disagree with that statement and are more concerned with sport specialization and the amount of time taken by youth sports. </li><li>Respondents generally agree that finding a place to play in Los Angeles County is not an issue, although low-income households are most likely to say that they are unsure about the issue. </li></ul><table><tr><td>Making Progress </td><td>Still Needs Improvement</td></tr><tr><td>Increased activity among Females Youth ages 6-8 Those with active parents</td><td>Lower-income households still fall behind others in activity rate and play occasions.</td></tr><tr><td>Interest in future sport participation stable, reflecting an existing latent demand. </td><td>Sports increasingly compete with other activities for time; % of those not interested in sports due to other non-sport interests doubled since 2016. </td></tr><tr><td>The use of schools as a sports location increased slightly, a key insight as parents wish that more sports were available at their children’s schools.</td><td>Participation at public facilities has decreased , potentially hindering access to sports. Low-income youngsters played less at schools than in 2016.</td></tr><tr><td>Households generally disagreed that it is difficult to find places to play sports in LA County.</td><td>The cost of participation is still a concern, with agreement increasing as household income decreases. </td></tr></table>POLICY DISCUSSIONFor funders and policy makers seeking to make youth sports universally available,the survey responses from low-income households are instructive. It is clear that for low-income parents cost remains an issue. Parents of young athletes must meet the costs of registration, equipment, travel, and in some cases child care and lost work time. These parents’ call for more school-based sports programs represents a rational solution to closing the PlayEquity Gap. School sports typically provide a lower-cost option than other sport programs. Moreover, they require less travel and therefore lower transportation costs plus fewer lost work hours. Schools also provide a built-in sports infrastructure, a relatively safe environment, and a ready-made population of potential athletes. In short, school is an ideal setting for meeting kids where they are.Obviously, the LA84 Foundation recognizes the value of sport in all settings and will continue to support them, but moving forward the foundation will redouble its efforts to promote school-based youth sports programming. The ultimate goal will be not only to provide sports for kids, but to utilize and integrate into sports program many of the other learning and support services that schools offer so that youth sports becomes an even more important part of positive youth development.About the LA84 FoundationThe LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. The foundation, with 30 years of on-the-ground experience, has supported thousands of Southern California youth sports organizations through grant making, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and acting as a national thought leader on important youth sports issues. LA84 levels the playing field to ensure playequity so that sport is accessible to all children, while elevating the field of youth sports as an integral part of American life. To learn more and join the #PlayForAll movement, visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org </a>and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.

<a href="https://cdm17103.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17103coll9/id/1275/rec/35">Click here to read the full LA84 Foundation Youth Sports Survey, Los Angeles County 2018 report.</a>

The LA84 Foundation Releases Youth Sports Participation Survey

LOS ANGELES – Olympic decathlon gold medalist and legend, Rafer Johnson, will be the subject of a new exhibit opening at the LA84 Foundation Library on Monday, April 29. Entitled Rafer Johnson. His Life. His Impact., the exhibit is curated in collaboration with Rafer himself and the entire Johnson family.On display through December 2019, the exhibit is the first-ever to explore the totality of Rafer Johnson’s life – one of humility, loyalty, service, and achievement – including chronicling the development and success of his athletic endeavors.Items on display will include Johnson’s 1955 Pan American Games jersey and competitor number, 1958 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year trophy, bronze shoes from 1960 Olympic Games decathlon, the 1960 US Olympic Team travel bag, 1994 Theodore Roosevelt Award, 2016 UCLA Medal, 1984 Fair Play Award from the Fair Housing Council of the San Fernando Valley, the 1987 US Constitution “Spirit of America” Award, letters written to Rafer Johnson by notable figures such as Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Eunice Shriver, Coach Elvin “Ducky” Drake, and much more.“It is an honor for the LA84 Foundation to present this look at the life and impact of Rafer Johnson, as we thank him for his 34 years of service to the communities we support,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “Rafer has lived his life in the service of others, and his humanitarian, civil rights and civic achievements are even more powerful than the status he held as the ‘world’s greatest athlete.”“The depth of his life and service goes from a small town in Texas to Kingsburg, California… to the glamour of acting, broadcasting, politics to of course an athletic career that took him to not just competing in the Olympics but lighting the cauldron in 1984 which helped to create a legacy that still endures and one for which we will forever be grateful”, said Debra Duncan LA84 Foundation Board Chair.Born to humble beginnings in segregated Hillsboro, Texas, Rafer Johnson would eventually move west and become the second African American student body president at UCLA. He was a true big man on campus: served as an Air Force ROTC officer; became the first African American member of the Upsilon Chapter of Pi Lambda Phi; played hoops for legendary coach John Wooden; and was a superstar on the track and field team coached by Elvin “Ducky” Drake. Johnson has remained allied with UCLA for decades, and remains a hero to many in the Bruin diaspora.His bond with the Kennedy family is eternal: Johnson was on Robert F. Kennedy’s last campaign and wound up wrestling the gun from his assassin. Soon after, Johnson was collaborating with Eunice Kennedy Shriver to grow the Special Olympics. For fifty years since, Johnson has been a leading voice and presence in the movement to normalize the lives of and perception of people with intellectual disabilities.Rafer Johnson’s sporting prowess was so outstanding that he was widely recognized as “The World’s Greatest Athlete.” He was the first African American man to serve as flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. During his Olympic tenure Johnson won two medals, one silver medal in Melbourne in 1956 and a gold medal in Rome in 1960, both in the decathlon. On July 28, 1984, Johnson carried the Olympic torch up ninety-nine Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum steps. He put the lit torch to a cauldron and ignited not just a flame, but a legacy that has endured for more than three decades and counting. Under the leadership of Peter V. Ueberroth, chairman of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, the ’84 Games ended with a surplus of $232.5 million. The money was divided, with 60% going to the United States Olympic committee in order to support and train elite athletes, and 40%, or approximately $90 million, staying in Southern California to help benefit the youth of the region. The non-profit Amateur Athletic Foundation was created to oversee this work. Rafer Johnson was a founding board member, along with Ueberroth and a who’s who of the region’s leaders. In 2007, the AAF name changed to the LA84 Foundation.Johnson remained an active board member until 2018, when he transferred to Board Emeritus status. Johnson’s influence at the LA84 Foundation remains strong as ever – his unyielding longtime commitment to the concept of Play Equity and Play For All Movement have helped lead the Foundation to positively impact the lives of more than 3.5 million kids since the 1984 Olympic Games.Public viewing of the exhibition will be available by appointment and during open house. More information will be posted to la84.org and on the organization’s social media platforms.To view a digital version of the exhibit, visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/exhibitions/raferjohnson">la84.org/exhibitions/raferjohnson</a>.The exhibit will be open based on timed tickets for select days and by appointment otherwise. To see available timed tickets click <a href="https://bit.ly/2VI1aoY">here</a>The LA84 Foundation gives special thanks to Betsy Johnson, Jenny Johnson Jordan, Josh Johnson, the Johnson family archives, Special Olympics Southern California archives, and Lawrence Schiller for their assistance.

Rafer Johnson Exhibit Explored Impact of Legend’s Life

LOS ANGELES – (August 21, 2020) – With schools starting this week regionally, over the spring and summer months the Play Equity Fund and LA84 Foundation collectively have given away 120,000 play equipment products to families and children at 60 sites across Los Angeles through the #StayActiveStayStrong program.The goal of the program prior to schools beginning their fall semesters was to reach and support communities that lacked access to play equipment – particularly during the isolation and economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.A review of the program over recent months indicates:<ul><li>The Play Equity Fund and LA84 Foundation gave away 120,000 play equipment products at 60 sites – including balls, racquet sets, jump ropes and other gear families and children could use to play at home. Also printed and distributed were 120,000 individual cards that included additional Play at Home resources.</li><li>The play equipment was purchased or donated through partnerships the Play Equity Fund and LA84 Foundation developed, including with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Jack Nadel International, Kole Imports, Nike, Score Sports and WSS.</li><li>To distribute the equipment, the Play Equity Fund and LA84 Foundation forged partnerships with school districts feeding thousands of families in this time of need – including LAUSD, Compton, Pasadena and the schools of the L.A. Archdiocese – as well as community centers, family centers and recreation centers.</li><li>To inspire healthy activity, the Play Equity Fund produced a series of instructional videos by Olympians and sports figures including Sarah Cahill (U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Strength &amp; Conditioning Coach), Michael Cooper (Los Angeles Lakers alumnus), Sebastian Joseph-Day (Los Angeles Rams), Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams), Austin Ekeler (Los Angeles Chargers) Kiké Hernandez (Los Angeles Dodgers), Cassidy Krug (U.S. Olympic Diver), Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams Head Coach), Katelyn Ohashi (former UCLA gymnast), Kyla Ross (U.S. Olympic Gold-Medal Gymnast), Angela Ruggiero (four-time U.S. Olympic Hockey player), Molly Schaus (U.S. Hockey Olympic player) and Jordyn Wieber (U.S. Olympic Gold-Medal gymnast). These videos are available on PlayEquityFund.org and were posted on social media. Children posted exercise videos responding to the athletes and were awarded prizes as the #PlayEquityMVP.</li><li>Because of the generosity of residents, institutions and organizations across the region and nationally, the program generated supportive fundraising for the Play Equity Fund throughout the spring and summer to help keep children physically and mentally healthy, despite the closure of parks and sports programs. Also, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Rams contributed to on-site play equipment distributions.</li></ul>“This program of putting play equipment that encourages activity and movement directly into the hands of kids and families shows the strength of collaboration and generosity that thrives in our communities across all sectors,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the Play Equity Fund. “We are grateful for the cooperation of the school districts, the pro sports organizations, athletes, manufacturers, vendors and those who shipped the equipment between sites who joined with us to help as many kids as possible get the benefits of exercise in this time of need.”While as an ongoing effort the goal was to continue the #StayActiveStayStrong program until schools restarted in August to keep kids active through the summer months, there is the potential for additional equipment distributions periodically.ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATION
The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. The foundation, with 35 years of on-the-ground experience, has supported thousands of Southern California youth sports organizations through grantmaking and funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and acting as a national thought leader on important issues in the youth sports industry. LA84 levels the playing field to ensure all youth have access and opportunity despite economics, gender or ability, while elevating the field of youth sports as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a> and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.ABOUT THE PLAY EQUITY FUND
A 501(c)3 public charity, the Play Equity Fund is focused on bringing the transformational power of sport and play to all children, regardless of their race, gender, zip code or socioeconomic status. To learn more about the Play Equity Fund, visit <a href="http://www.playequityfund.org/">www.PlayEquityFund.org</a> or visit @PlayEquityFund on Twitter and Instagram.

Play equipment was distributed to students at over 60 sites, including school food centers, local family centers, community centers and recreation centers

LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund Have Provided 120,000 Play Equipment Products to Angelenos

LOS ANGELES – The LA84 Foundation is pleased to announce that Stephen Kaplan, Lisa M. Wehrly and Bart Williams have joined the nonprofit organization’s Board of Directors.“The LA84 Foundation is honored to welcome Stephen Kaplan, Lisa M. Wehrly and Bart Williams as Board Members,” said Debra Kay Duncan, Chair of the Board. “We are inspired by their commitment to improving the quality of life in our communities and supporting positive youth development. They are dedicated to collaboration, helping others and building innovative opportunities to increase the impact of our work.”The LA84 Foundation – a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development – levels the playing field so that sport is accessible to all children. For over three decades, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth sports organizations across Southern California through grant making, while also training coaches, commissioning research, renovating sports facilities and refurbishing fields of play.Stephen Kaplan is the Co-Chairman of D.C. United, a Major League Soccer team. In addition, Kaplan serves as Co-Managing Partner of Swansea City Football Club. He is an owner of multiple other sports franchises and sports related investments, and is a founding owner of the esports organization, Immortals.After graduating with a B.S. degree in political science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a J.D. from the New York University School of Law, Kaplan was a Co-Founder of Oaktree Capital Group LLC in 1995, a global alternative investment management firm. He retired from day to day activities at Oaktree in 2016 to focus on personal investments and philanthropy with a particular emphasis on sports and entertainment.Kaplan is the Chairman of Nalpak Capital, LLC, the family office he created with his wife, Jean. He has served on numerous public and private boards and presently serves on the board of Townsquare Media, Inc., the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Foundation, the MLS Board of Governors and the New York University School of Law Foundation.Lisa Wehrly is the Chief Operating Officer and one of the original partners at Wedgewood, a real estate investment company. She established Wedgewood’s acquisition hub while developing banking and investor relations. Beginning her career at Wedgewood in 1987, Lisa now heads Human Resources, Investor Relations, Information Technologies and guides the other shared services in the business. She helped create their mission statement: Revitalizing Communities, and their values: Wedgewood starts with “WE”, inspire excellence, give back, act with honor, create opportunities, and above all, be a good neighbor.While taking a 10-year hiatus from Wedgewood to raise her three children, Lisa volunteered extensively. She founded the Margheritas Guild, a women’s group supporting St. John Bosco High School, where she served as President for five years.She is also currently Chief Financial Officer of Bendita Corporation, a company founded in 2013 with her husband, David. Together they received the Legacy award at St John Bosco for their philanthropic contributions. Lisa studied Management Science at UC San Diego then graduated from UCLA in 1988.Bart Williams, leader of the Proskauer Los Angeles office, is one of the nation’s most sought after trial lawyers and commercial litigators. He has served as a counselor and trial lawyer for many Fortune 500 corporations in a variety of industries, including: media and entertainment, financial services, consumer products, telecommunications and technology, pharmaceuticals, and private equity. He has represented multiple major law firms in legal malpractice cases, as well as celebrities, government officials and corporate executives individually.A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Williams has been featured in publications such as Law360, The American Lawyer, Black Enterprise, Chambers USA and the Daily Journal, including being repeatedly honored as one of the top 100 lawyers in California. In 2018, Williams was named a finalist for National Trial Lawyer of the Year by both Benchmark Litigation and Chambers and Partners.Williams previously served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California. He received several special commendations while concentrating on complex criminal prosecutions involving allegations of fraud or business crimes, including one from the Honorable Louis J. Freeh, then-director of the FBI.Williams is a graduate of Yale and Yale Law School. He was a starting guard for four years on Yale’s basketball team, and as a senior he received the George McReynolds Award as the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.The trio joins a distinguished group of continuing Board Members. These include Duncan, Vice Chair Robert V. Graziano, Yvonne B. Burke, John F. Chavez, Jonathan Glaser, Phyllis Easton, Mariann Harris, Stan Kasten, Maureen Kindel, William O’Brien, Frank Sanchez, LA84 Foundation President &amp; CEO Renata Simril, Peter V. Ueberroth, Walter F. Ulloa and Gilbert R. Vasquez.

Civic-Minded Business and Sports Leaders Join Sports Youth Development Organization

Stephen Kaplan, Lisa M. Wehrly and Bart Williams Named to LA84 Foundation Board of Directors

LOS ANGELES (Dec. 2, 2020) – It is with great sadness that the LA84 Foundation shares the news that Rafer Johnson passed away Wednesday in Sherman Oaks.Johnson, 86, was surrounded by his family upon his passing. A private memorial service will be held.Johnson served on the executive committee of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee and was chosen to ignite the Olympic flame at the Los Angeles Coliseum during the 1984 Olympic Games opening ceremonies. His contributions to the Olympic movement and the Games in Los Angeles are immeasurable. His involvement ignited not just a flame, but a legacy that has endured for more than three decades.Among his lifetime of legendary accomplishments, Johnson was a two-time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon, a founding board member of the LA84 Foundation, co-founder of the Special Olympics in Southern California and civil rights icon.“Our sense of loss is only eclipsed by the gratitude we will always feel for the opportunity to work so closely with Rafer. He embodied the Olympic Movement,” said Peter Ueberroth, CEO of the 1984 Summer Olympics and longtime board member of the LA84 Foundation. “There are so many lives he touched and improved as a true hero who cared deeply for others. Each day we are focused on honoring his legacy. His DNA will always be embedded in our work. Today, we offer our love and support to his wife Betsy and family.”Since 2019, the “Rafer Johnson. His Life. His Impact” <a href="https://la84.org/exhibitions/raferjohnson/">exhibit has been displayed at the LA84 Foundation Sports Library</a>, featuring memorabilia, rare artifacts and personal photos from Johnson’s remarkable career. His guidance helped shepherd the LA84 Foundation into awarding grants and developing programs that have impacted more than 3.5 million youth. “Across Southern California and beyond, we are all beneficiaries of Rafer’s philanthropic efforts and his lifetime commitment to people of all ages,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “He is an eternal example of what is possible. I will miss him, but his influence will endure, and we will always celebrate his legacy.”LA84 Foundation Board Chair Debra Duncan echoed these sentiments: “Rafer’s character and generosity are weaved throughout his lifetime accomplishments. He will always be our guiding light on how to be of service to others. He inspires us to search for ways to make a lasting impact and have a grateful heart for the opportunity to help others. Our prayers are with his wife, Betsy, his family and many friends.”Johnson was the second Black student body president at UCLA, played basketball for John Wooden for the Bruins and was the first Black man to serve as the flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic Team. Johnson won gold in Rome in 1960 in the decathlon, and silver in the event in Melbourne in 1956.In 1960, he also won the AAU James E. Sullivan Award as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States, he broke the decathlon world record, he appeared on the cover of Time magazine, and the Associated Press voted him Athlete of the Year. In 1968, he was on Robert F. Kennedy’s last campaign and wrestled the gun from his assassin. That year, Johnson began collaborating with Eunice Kennedy Shriver to grow the Special Olympics.Each of these are amazing achievements individually, but what is most notable is Johnson used his athletic accomplishments as a platform for social justice and social change. Rafer Johnson lived a life of service as impressive as it has been impactful. In his best-selling book, “The Best That I Can Be,” he is quoted as saying he was “doing his very best to use his God-given talents to help those who need help in developing their own abilities to become the best that they can be.”

Iconic figure in sports, civil rights and philanthropy forged a lasting legacy

THE LA84 FOUNDATION MOURNS THE PASSING OF RAFER JOHNSON

Through sports and play equity, Renata Simril aims to break down barriers in order to ensure every child has the chance to succeed.

Renata Simril on Fighting Systemic Racism Through Sports, Play

LOS ANGELES (Mar. 2, 2021) – The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund have partnered with the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee (LASBHC) and the NFL Foundation in launching the official Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program – Champions Live Here, which will recognize 56 “unsung hero” grassroots organizations and nonprofits making a transformative impact in underserved communities across the Los Angeles region.Champions Live Here seeks to shine a spotlight on the achievements of local community organizations who often go unrecognized and provide grants to help these nonprofits continue fulfilling their missions.The <a href="https://la84.org/">LA84 Foundation</a> is committed to building a positive connection to major events for lasting impact for communities and youth to promote the role of sport in lifelong well-being similar to its decades of work across the eight counties of Southern California since the 1984 Summer Olympics.The Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program will honor each of the selected “Champion organizations” with a $10,000 grant award, a professionally produced marketing video spotlighting their organization, and public recognition of their work in the lead up to the Super Bowl.Additionally, six of these 56 organizations will be selected to each receive a total grant award of $50,000, to make an even bigger impact in their community.The public nomination process kicks off March 2 and runs through March 31, 2021. Those interested in learning more about the Champions Live Here program and how to nominate an organization are encouraged to visit <a href="https://form.jotform.com/210326435297051">LASuperBowlHC.com</a>“The Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee’s Champions Live Here legacy program is more evidence of the concentrated efforts that our partners at the Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission have put forth to bring major sports events to our region that establish a positive legacy for our community and the families who are most in need,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation and President of the Play Equity Fund.“By using the extraordinary visibility that the Super Bowl generates and the investment of the NFL, its partners and the LA84 Foundation, this program will support multiple organizations working directly with local young people and providing kids with opportunities to be healthier.”The committee is seeking organizations that are focused on creating real change and reaching the many neighborhoods in need across the region. Qualified organizations must be inclusive, collaborative, resourceful, innovative and be focused on driving impact in the following areas:<ul><li>Youth Development – Organizations creating greater access and opportunity for youth to participate in sports, leadership and educational programs; improving and upgrading fields, parks and play facilities and promoting the overall wellbeing of children and teens (physical, mental, emotional health).</li><li>Jobs and Economic Opportunity – Organizations working to expand the landscape of jobs and economic opportunity, increasing and improving opportunities for training, internships, job placement, entrepreneurship, and independent contracts/vendor relationships within the sports sector.</li><li>Social Justice – Organizations that are working to promote equity and positive change in areas such as education, juvenile justice, food insecurity, housing and homelessness, environmental justice and climate change, civil rights, health and wellness, and community safety.</li></ul>Only 501(c)(3) public charities or government entities, not individuals, based in Los Angeles County are eligible to receive the recognition and grant.“In less than 12 months, Los Angeles will take center stage as the host of Super Bowl LVI. Our goal is to make sure once the game is over and the fans go home, local kids and families continue to reap the benefits of the game’s economic impact and lasting philanthropic legacy,” said Casey Wasserman, Chairman of the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee, which is led by the Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and includes SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers.“Each year, the NFL Foundation looks to leave a lasting impact on the Super Bowl host city both before and long after the game is played through the Super Bowl Legacy Grant Program,” said Alexia Gallagher, Vice President of Philanthropy and Executive Director, NFL Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee, the Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission, the LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund to support this year’s legacy program, Champions Live Here, and help make a positive impact across the Los Angeles area for years to come.”“The Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee’s legacy program, Champions Live Here, is another example of the high-profile impactful events we bring to our community. The Super Bowl provides a tremendous opportunity to focus the spotlight on our local champions and organizations who work tirelessly toward improving the lives of our city’s residents,” said Kathryn Schloessman, Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission President &amp; CEO. “Our ability to bring programs like this to life is the result of the support provided to us by other champions in the community including our ChampionLA donors, the NFL Foundation, the LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund.”About the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee
The Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee has been established to deliver a premier Super Bowl LVI experience and drive lasting social, cultural, and economic impact for the region. We serve as the liaison between the National Football League and Los Angeles to harness the opportunities surrounding the Super Bowl to elevate our community. The Host Committee is led by the Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and Host Committee Chairman Casey Wasserman and includes SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. For more information, visit <a href="https://lasuperbowlhc.com/">LASuperBowlHC.com</a>.About the NFL Foundation
The National Football League Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those touched by the game of football – from players at all levels to communities across the country. The NFL Foundation represents the 32 NFL clubs and supports the health, safety and wellness of athletes, youth football, and the communities that support our game. For more information on the NFL Foundation, visit: <a href="https://www.nflfoundation.org/">www.NFLFoundation.org</a>.About the LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. For more than 35 years, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth sports organizations in Southern California through grant making, funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and serving as a national thought leader on issues in the youth sports industry. The LA84 Foundation levels the playing field to ensure all youth have access and opportunity, regardless of income, gender or ability, while elevating youth sports as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being.About the Play Equity Fund
A 501(c)3 public charity, the Play Equity Fund was established by the LA84 Foundation in 2014 as its charitable partner and supports programs and actions to ensure all children have equal access to the transformative power of sport and structured play. The Play Equity Fund supports the sports-based youth development ecosystem for greater impact, raises awareness of inequities and develops partnerships to advocate for funding and sustainable solutions to ensure children in communities of color have access to pathways for lifelong well-being. The Play Equity Fund is the only nonprofit focused solely on Play Equity as a social justice issue.

The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund have partnered with the Los Angeles Super Bowl Host Committee (LASBHC) and the NFL Foundation in launching the official Super Bowl LVI Legacy Program – Champions Live Here.

LA84 Foundation Partners With LA Super Bowl Host Committee To Honor “Unsung Hero” Organizations

LOS ANGELES (2021) – The LA84 Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandra J. Martínez as Vice President/Chief of Staff.In her new role, Martínez will be a strategic advisor and provide counsel to the President &amp; CEO to inform long-term decisions. She will also use her extensive leadership experience to expand cross-departmental relationships that accelerate collaboration and responsiveness in achieving the organization’s goals of advancing sport and play as essential in the well-being of children and communities.In addition to overseeing the LA84 Foundation’s grantmaking priorities and uplifting leadership development, Martínez will utilize her deep background in advocacy to help mobilize key stakeholders toward equitable policies and programs for youth, as well as advocate to build support for the value of sport and play in overall public health. Martínez joins the LA84 Foundation after serving as the Director of Public Policy for the California Wellness Foundation since 2011. In this position, she planned, coordinated and oversaw the public policy activities of Cal Wellness to advance its mission and amplify the impact of its grantmaking. Her efforts addressed health issues from a systemic perspective and focused on improving policies or conditions using activities such as education, advocacy, civic engagement and policy analysis.“As an organization, from our board to our staff we are thrilled to welcome Sandra,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “Throughout an extensive search, we sought a leader to help us strengthen our strategy to center the value of sports and play programs in supporting childhood development and community well-being. Sandra has also demonstrated an ability to manage teams and develop focused plans that positively impact communities. Sandra will enhance our work and capacity to serve our partners as our efforts continue to evolve to reach more young people.”The LA84 Foundation – a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development – levels the playing field so that sport is accessible to all children. For over 35 years, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth sports organizations across Southern California through grantmaking, while also training coaches, commissioning research, renovating sports facilities and refurbishing fields of play.Martínez joined Cal Wellness as a program director in January 2002 and became the director of public policy in 2011. Previously, she directed the Progressive Los Angeles Network and directed other community-organizing efforts at the Community Coalition in South Los Angeles. Martínez has also conducted extensive research on health-related issues such as the effects of the AIDS epidemic on teens, co-authoring a chapter of “The AIDS Challenge: Prevention Education for Young People” and “The Los Angeles County Adolescent HIV Strategic Plan.”Currently she serves on the board of Neighborhood Funders Group. In 2010, she was a fellow in the inaugural class of Grantmakers In Health’s Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy, and also completed a four-year term as a commissioner for the city of Los Angeles’ Commission for Children, Youth and Their Families (2006-2010).Martínez is a past member of the board for the Los Angeles Trade Tech College Foundation; community-funding board member for the Liberty Hill Seed Fund; past president of the board of the Echo Park Film Center; and a former board member of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, Women and Youth Supporting Each Other, and the California Child, Youth and Family Coalition.She received a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley.ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATION
The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. For more than 35 years, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth sports organizations in Southern California through grantmaking, funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and serving as a national thought leader on issues in youth sports. The LA84 Foundation levels the playing field to ensure all youth have access and opportunity, regardless of income, gender or ability, while elevating youth sports as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a> and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.

Leader In Philanthropy, Grantmaking & Advocacy Joins Sports Youth Development Organization

Sandra J. Martinez Joins LA84 Foundation as Vice President/Chief of Staff

Inland Empire schools will offer more afterschool sports programs thanks to a new grant.

Grant expands afterschool sports in Inland Empire schools

Governor Newsom named 15 members to an Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being

California Governor Promotes Fitness & Well-Being with New Advisory Council

LOS ANGELES – The LA84 Foundation awarded more than $1 million in grants recently in Southern California, providing support to 13 youth-serving organizations that will reach over 100 schools and are projected to serve more than 23,000 kids in six counties across the region.These grants continue in the LA84 Foundation’s longstanding effort to support a healthy balance of school- and community-based organizations that provide a wide range of sports-based youth development programs“These efforts illustrate the impact on community health and childhood well-being that sports programs and structured play have collectively across our region,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “The work of these organizations has never been more important than it is today helping create play equity for all kids.”This round of grants also aims to be responsive to the evolving needs of our partner organizations in their work with children and young people, who are still contending with the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about our partners below.The LA84 Foundation awarded $254,768 to the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, to support the Los Angeles County Intramural Novice Swim Team.This program will serve youth ages 7-17, with a goal to reach at least 1,000 youth and introduce them to competitive swimming. It will operate at Belvedere Aquatic Center, Jesse Owens Park Pool, Franklin D. Roosevelt Park Pool, San Fernando Park Pool, and Castaic Aquatic Center. Support of swimming programs has been a cornerstone of LA84 Foundation grant making since its inception.The LA84 Foundation awarded McKinley’s Children’s Center in San Dimas a $25,000 grant to support a pool renovation project for a program serving 200 foster and special needs youth. A grant of $35,000 was also awarded to Pools of Hope in Long Beach, to fund additional personnel for an adaptive swim program for children and youth with disabilities.Playworks received a $135,000 grant to support sport and youth leadership programs at 42 schools in Southern California during the 2022-23 school years. Playworks will reach approximately 21,645 children through multi-sport programming that increases physical activity and social emotional skills.A $54,000 grant will help the Sloane Stephens Foundation provide quality tennis instruction to children at elementary schools in the Compton Unified School District. With after-school programs in demand at these schools, sports and structured play opportunities are particularly valued.Street Soccer USA in Los Angeles, which focuses on fighting poverty and empowering underserved communities through soccer, was awarded a $100,000 grant. In LA, Street Soccer is focused on nutritional programs, healthy eating habits, tutoring services and after-school education.The GRYD Foundation was awarded a $100,000 grant to support personnel and athlete expenses for a multi-sport summer program. The GRYD Foundation’s mission is to create safer and healthier communities in Los Angeles that are heavily impacted by gang violence.The Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center which has an indoor pool, a full-size gym, education center, day camp, and includes athletic programs for youth, was awarded a $75,000 grant. Located in the Pico-Union District, these funds will support a multi-sport program in the community.To help continue providing high-quality coaching education programs for youth organizations, Up2Us Sports – which focuses on low-income communities – was awarded a $30,000 grant.Woodcraft Rangers, a mainstay in expanded learning for youth in the LA region for nearly a century, was awarded a $100,000 grant. This support will help with 440 students participating in their after-school running program at 22 middle schools across Los Angeles County.

Latest Grants Support 13 Organizations, Reach Six Counties & Over 100 Schools

Youth sports programs across Southern California benefit from LA84 Foundation grants.

To solve our mental health crisis, give more children equal access to play

LA84 Foundation & Play Equity Fund partners with Rams head coach Sean McVay for new playground in Ramona Gardens

Boxing coach earns her school a $20,000 grant

How Peter Ueberroth saved the Olympics and revolutionized the Games

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 13, 2023) – The LA84 Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in grants to advance foundation priorities including increasing access to sports, play and movement across Southern California to support childhood well-being and lifelong success.These grants increase access to sports and movement programming in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino, Santa Barbara, Riverside and Ventura Counties and continue to nurture girls’ participation in sports.The LA84 Foundation Board of Directors met in October and approved 17 grants that are expected to impact over 30,000 children in the region. In an investment that continues to fulfill the foundation’s vision to serve youth today as well as future generations, the LA84 Foundation also awarded a $300,000 grant to the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (LACDPR) for the development of the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area soccer complex for the future.“We are committed to removing barriers for kids to have access to the benefits of sport and play, and by advancing play equity giving kids a pathway to success and well-being,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “These grants shine a light on a wide range of communities as well as our support of soccer, and we also work with after-school and girls’ programs that enrich educational experiences of students through sport.”Although there are 22 sports and activities supported in this round of grants, the LA84 Foundation continues to invest in the future of soccer in the region with the participation rates of the sport ranking among the most popular activities according to the results in the 2022 Los Angeles County Play Equity Youth Sports Survey. Despite this popularity, soccer programs and infrastructure do not meet the rising demand. Learn more about some of these recent grants and our partners’ work below.A pair of grants align with the LA84 Foundation priority to increase the participation of girls and young women in sports. A grant to Southern California Golf Association Foundation will support the Girls Golf chapters in southwest LA, the San Fernando Valley, and communities in Orange and Riverside Counties. Another grant will support Peace Players Los Angeles Girls Leadership Development Program in South Los Angeles, which includes basketball training and support for girls to help build their self-confidence and leadership skills.Three grants were awarded to Boys and Girls Clubs in the region, including in the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, Santa Paula – which serves children and youth residing in rural Ventura County – the Boys &amp; Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside, and the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Metro Los Angeles, which serves Bell Gardens, Venice, Watts/Willowbrook and South Los Angeles.The Whittier Narrows Recreation Area is in the West San Gabriel Valley, where the population is 900,000, approximately 160,000 of which are children between ages 5-19. LACDPR will use the LA84 Foundation grant for an initial feasibility analysis, an environmental impact analysis, as well as jurisdictional analysis which will include consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers. Analysis of parking, traffic, security and accessibility also must be completed. After these steps, the project will move into the creation of conceptual designs, graphics and a cost estimate.“The LA84 Foundation is excited that this grant to the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will begin the planning for the Whittier Narrows Recreation soccer complex. Soccer has been the fastest-growing sport among youth in LA County for several years, yet we lack facilities where kids can play,” said Simril. “This complex will help improve the health and wellness of young people, enhance the quality of life in San Gabriel Valley, and create connections in the community for generations. The LA84 Foundation has a legacy of developing recreational infrastructure that increases access, and this project illustrates philanthropy working with government for the benefit of all.”There are four soccer fields per 1,000 residents in Los Angeles, as compared to an average of 16.7 fields per 1,000 residents in other major metropolitan cities. Within a five-mile radius of Whittier Narrows there are nearly 85,000 students enrolled in schools. LACDPR has a long-term lease from the Army Corps of Engineers and operates and maintains the property.Additional funding was also awarded to the California Science Center for its “Science of Sport” exhibit. It is part of a special exhibit that will use sports to teach STEM education.ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATION The LA84 Foundation is a national leader in the role of sports in positive youth development. As a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of organizations in Southern California through grant making, funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and as a national thought leader on issues ensuring childhood success and community health. The LA84 Foundation levels the playing field for play equity to ensure all youth have access and opportunity, regardless of income, gender or ability, while elevating sport and play as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being.

Sports-Based Youth Development Organizations In Southern California Awarded $1.3+ Million In Grants As The LA84 Foundation Supports Planning For Future Soccer Complex in Whittier

2023 Fall Grants Awards To Reach Over 30,000 Youth

The weight room at Caroline Coleman Field has been completely rebuilt and fitted with state-of-the-art equipment as a legacy infrastructure project of the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship. The weight room was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included student athletes from three high schools in the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) that will use the facility – Inglewood High School, Morningside High School and City Honors International Preparatory High School.Refurbishing the weight room at Coleman Field was an initiative of the “Champions Educate Here” Legacy Program of the CFP National Championship, which was Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium. The program positively impacted thousands of children across LA County with expanded access to play and enhanced learning resources. It included 46 teachers receiving grants of up to $20,000 who utilize play and movement to accelerate student recovery from the pandemic.As major components of the “Champions Educate Here” Legacy Program, the College Football Playoff Foundation, the Los Angeles College Football Playoff National Championship Host Committee, the Play Equity Fund and the LA84 Foundation planned a wide range of public service initiatives aimed at boosting the efforts of local educators from the classroom to the playground – and beyond.“Community investment through major sporting events like the College Football Playoff National Championship is play equity in action,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation, and President of the Play Equity Fund. “We want this weight room at Coleman Field to be remembered as a celebration of this community, and to recognize the tremendous accomplishments in Inglewood schools. This weight room will help student-athletes continue the proud athletic history of Inglewood, and it gives young people more resources to get stronger, healthier and to succeed in the classroom.”IUSD County Administrator Dr. James Morris and IUSD Board President Brandon Myers hosted the ribbon cutting.“As the proud County Administrator for the Inglewood Unified School District, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our core sponsors for their pivotal role in leveling the playing field and allowing our students unparalleled access to a state-of-the-art weight room facility,” said Dr. Morris. “It is an investment that not only enhances their well-being and athleticism, but also underscores our shared commitment to fostering excellence in education.”The facility includes over five tons of new weights and fitness equipment, new mirrors, as well as a wall-length mural of iconic Inglewood landmarks created by local artist and IUSD alumna Selena Najar. The artwork is titled “Champions at Play.”“The Coleman Field weight room project embodies the commitment from major events like the College Football Playoff National Championship to improve the lives of Angelenos in a tangible way,” said Jim Rishwain, Chairman of the Los Angeles College Football Playoff National Championship Host Committee. “We’re proud that this legacy infrastructure project will benefit student athletes from the Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) for years to come.”The Los Angeles College Football Playoff National Championship Host Committee is led by the Los Angeles Sports &amp; Entertainment Commission (LASEC), the nonprofit organization designated to attract, secure, and support high-profile sports and entertainment events to create positive economic, cultural, and social impact for the Los Angeles region.In addition to the weight room, an eSports Lab with 20 computers was installed at Morningside High School earlier this year, and the “Champions Educate Here” program provided support for educators in school districts across the Los Angeles region.Several local elected officials, including Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., attended the weight room’s ribbon cutting. The high school band, dance team and cheerleaders led the unveiling celebration, and prominent alumni who were student athletes from all three high schools also attended the event.

New Facility & Equipment A Legacy Infrastructure Project of “Champions Educate Here” Initiative From 2023 CFP National Championship Game At SoFi Stadium

Renovated Weight Room Debuts At IUSD Coleman Field Complex

LOS ANGELES (April 4, 2024) – The LA84 Foundation announced today that it has awarded $1,745,000 to 18 organizations. The grants will support activities and programs for more than 64,000 youth across five Southern California counties. The grants are part of the LA84 Foundation’s mission to support youth-serving organizations in Southern California through investments that increase access to sport, play, and movement.Grants were awarded to diverse organizations including A Place Called Home, various Boys &amp; Girls Clubs across Southern California, the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, Playworks and Up2Us Sports. Sports funded by the grants include soccer, swimming, squash, tennis, running, basketball, and volleyball. In all, the 18 grantees collectively will serve a population that is 60% Latino, 17% Black and 5% API from the five-county region, reaching parity in gender participation evenly split between boys and girls.“For four decades, the LA84 Foundation has supported programs across Southern California that work to remove barriers for kids who lack access to sports and play,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “The grants we announce today will continue to make sports accessible and enjoyable for kids across the region, regardless of income or geography. Life lessons like teamwork, physical and mental health, and safety are essential elements to healthy youth development and a key ingredient to the success of the LA84 Foundation’s legacy.”The largest grant was awarded to Playworks, which received $225,000 to serve more than 35,000 youth in Los Angeles and Orange Counties supporting recess and lunchtime structured play in high-need schools. Grants ranged from $225,000 to $15,000 for first-time recipient, Boys &amp; Girls Club of Buena Park, for daily organized sports activities like badminton, basketball, rock climbing and flag football.First-time recipient, Best STEP Forward in Imperial County received $160,000 to support its adaptive sports programming for youth. The program offers daily adaptive sports and structured play activities such as baseball, soccer, dance, and soapbox racing. The organization engages both children with special needs and their typically abled siblings, providing an inclusive engagement in sports and life skills.“Thank you all for your trust. Thank you all for dedicating time to meeting our team; traveling down deep south to meet us means more than you could imagine. We usually are not given this type of attention, and it makes us very happy to know we have allies nearby that believe in the mission.” said Jacqueline Riddle, Best STEP Forward Co-Founder.In San Diego County, first-time recipient Backcountry Communities Thriving (BCT), located in Julian, CA, will serve 500 kids engaging in multiple sports school districtwide. This $95,000 grant will support the local school district’s renovations including the weight room, creating a cardio room, resurfacing the tennis and pickleball courts, and installing a practice golf course. Twenty-one percent of Julian High School population is identified as having special needs.About the LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation is a national leader supporting youth sports and public education about the essential role of sports in positive youth development. For 40 years, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth-serving organizations in Southern California through grants, funding facilities and fields of play, training coaches and commissioning research. The LA84 Foundation takes on critical issues as a national thought leader by elevating youth sports and play as an integral to lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit www.la84.org and @LA84Foundation on X and Instagram

More Than 64,000 Kids Will Benefit From Funding Support To 18 Organizations for Multiple Sports

LA84 Foundation Awards Over $1.7 Million In Grants Across Five Counties

Introducing the 2024 California Play Equity Report. Presenting data and research from national research firm EVITARUS, the California Play Equity Report is the first-of-its-kind, shedding light on play equity, youth sports participation, and physical activity levels throughout California. Dive into the findings here: <a href="https://2024report.la84.org/">https://2024report.la84.org/</a>LA84 commissioned this report in response to a crisis hiding in plain sight: Not all youth have access to sports, play, and movement. By releasing this research and data, we aim to deepen our impact as LA prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games, not just to help kids today but to tackle systemic issues that create barriers to access. Moreover, the California Play Equity Report is an effort to connect insightful data with advocacy, using the research to drive state legislative efforts that create sports and play opportunities for all. The LA84 Foundation is the legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. We are a nationally recognized leader advocating for the role sports plays in positive youth development. The LA84 Foundation established the Play Equity Fund, which is focused on bringing the transformational power of sport to all children, regardless of their race, gender, zip code or socioeconomic status.

LA84 Unveils Statewide 2024 California Play Equity Report

Play Day Block Party in West Adams!

Join us for an unforgettable free celebration on Saturday, June 28 – the <a href="https://www.playequityfund.org/play-day">Play Day Block Party</a>. It will be fun for all and packed with live music, sports, games, food trucks and a welcoming community spirit. Jump in and play all day at the LA84 campus: 2141 West Adams Boulevard on June 28 from 10am-3pm.The Play Day Block Party celebrates the National Day of Play, the exciting moment annually across the country where thousands play at the same time to show that the power of sports, play and healthy movement has the power to connect us. In West Adams, Play Day will include dancing in the streets, mascots, activations from the local pro teams, interactive sports and community booths. It’s a block party, afternoon concert, cultural festival and a day-long celebration for all ages to enjoy sports, play and movement!Admission is free and open to the public. To best serve our guests, we require registration for the event through EventBrite. Guests receive an e-ticket upon registration that includes a QR code for entry: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/play-day-2025-tickets-1273071042759?aff=oddtdtcreator">Register Here</a>The festival will include food truck vendors offering their amazing food for purchase.The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund join our partners across the country for this exciting moment each year to build support for equitable experiences in youth sports and play programs. Play Day is all about fun. It also celebrates our strong relationships, our shared goal for healthy and happy children – and builds community.Play Day is rain or shine. We look forward to seeing you!

Play Day 2025

The LA84 Foundation awarded grants to nine municipalities in Southern California as well as to LA County as part of LA84’s annual “Learn To Swim” initiative to increase water safety, which this year will reach over 8,000 youth during the busy summer swim season.These grants totaled $330,000 and will support swimming lessons and expand water safety for youth from communities stretching from Imperial County, through the Inland Empire to Antelope Valley. The grants include growing adaptive and inclusive swim opportunities as well as support for young people who may eventually take lifeguard courses.  The grants were awarded to the cities of Bell Gardens, El Centro, El Monte, Long Beach, Montebello, Palmdale, Rialto and Riverside, as well as the County of Los Angeles Parks and Recreation, and the LA Parks Foundation to benefit the City of Los Angeles. “The LA84 Foundation has a long history of expanding opportunities for kids to learn to swim and enjoy the water, and we are grateful for the commitment of municipalities to teach swimming and manage local aquatics programs,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “Our goal with these grants is to help keep beaches, pools and waterways safe. These public facilities provide a service that we are proud to support.” Awarding Learn To Swim grants has been a decades-long initiative of the LA84 Foundation, legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. LA84 has worked with municipalities each summer to increase access for local kids to learn how to swim and to bolster their skills through aquatic sports for water safety. Over 150,000 youth in Southern California have learned to swim with LA84 Foundation support.An LA84 grant will offset the fee for Learn to Swim lessons at El Centro Aquatic Center, including adaptive and inclusive swim sessions for youth with cognitive or physical disabilities. The funding also supports costs for instructors and lifeguards to lead lessons for 500 youth ages 7 to 17, many the children of agricultural workers. Imperial County is home to about 500,000 farmable acres with irrigation canals and other unmoderated bodies of water. Water safety is a growing concern for residents as temperatures climb to triple digits in the summer. “We are proud to be the only facility in the region offering swim lesson scholarships to give every child – no matter their family’s financial situation – the chance to learn lifesaving swim and water safety skills,” said Rebecca Mitchell, Aquatics Supervisor for the City of El Centro. “We have seen how this changes lives, with more families participating and a growing culture of safety and confidence in the water. This partnership has helped build something special for our community, and we are grateful to have LA84 by our side.” After being awarded an LA84 grant, the City of Rialto will also offer free swimming lessons specific to the Learn to Swim program for the first time. Rialto aims to increase access to water safety education to reduce the risk of drowning in San Bernardino County. “We sincerely appreciate LA84&#39;s investment in Rialto&#39;s children and families,” said Rialto Mayor Joe Baca. “It allows us to launch and expand swim programming in Rialto like never before. This support is a game-changer for our community, especially as we head into the summer. It gives our youth the chance to learn lifesaving water safety and swimming skills, many for the very first time.”With participation in youth sports, play and movement enriching the lives of young people – and uniting communities – LA84 continues to take meaningful action. To build a future where play equity is a reality for all youth, with every child having the opportunity to benefit from the joy, lifelong health and confidence that comes from physical activity. In April, the LA84 Foundation also awarded <a href="https://www.la84.org/news-and-events/la84-awards-1-8-million-in-grants-focused-on-access-for-all-to-youth-sports">$1.8 million in grants to organizations</a> supporting positive youth development through sports programs across Southern California.

The Funding Supports Water Safety Programs and Swimming Lessons.

The LA84 Foundation Has Awarded Learn to Swim Grants to Nine Municipalities and the County of Los Angeles.

OAKLAND, CA – Nearly two-thirds of California’s school-age children fail to meet the CDC‘s recommended guidelines for daily activity, according to the groundbreaking 2024 California Play Equity Report, a first-of-its-kind study of play equity statewide commissioned by the LA84 Foundation. The statewide totals for youth participation are mirrored in the report’s research focused on the Bay Area, as two-thirds of young people in this region are not participating in sports, play or physical activity more than four times a week. The report found children face significant barriers to play participation based on zip code and socioeconomic status, among other factors. The 2024 report, with data collected by national research firm EVITARUS, establishes a new baseline as the first statewide study of youth sports participation, play, movement, and play equity.The findings of youth from the Bay Area being similar to those found statewide reveal both the promise of youth participation in physical activity and the numerous challenges that prevent many children from fully benefiting from play, sports, and movement. Play equity is the concept of ensuring that all children, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, zip code, or socioeconomic status have access to the opportunity to play and engage in physical activity. “The 2024 Play Equity Report is a roadmap for the state that allows us to track progress now and into the future,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “The report shows how critical play and movement are in the development of our kids – physically, emotionally, socially and academically – so they can live an enriched life. It also clearly indicates how strong support is among parents statewide to infuse play equity into policymaking to provide more time in school for students to experience the lifelong benefits of sports, play and healthy movement.” The study highlights a critical truth: while many young people in California and the Bay Area are active, the majority fail to meet the CDC’s recommended guidelines for physical activity. Access, affordability, transportation, and safe spaces to play continue to hinder the ability of youth – particularly those from underserved communities – to engage in the type of physical activity that promote lifelong well-being.The 2024 California Play Equity Report highlights six key findings, including:California’s youth are not moving enough. The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services recommend that youth ages 6-to-17 engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day; however, more than 2-in-3 California youth (66%) are engaged in sports or physical activity less than five times per week. Nearly 10% of California youth are “never” active. The low engagement rates in regular physical activity may be connected to the fact that slightly less than 2-in-5 (39%) have physical education (PE) daily at school. In the San Francisco Bay Area, that total is 32%. Important gaps in play equity exist by gender, race and ethnicity, ability status, and income levels. Rates of physical activity statewide are lowest for Latinas and Black/African American females; Latino youth in general; Youth with disabilities; Youth with household annual incomes of $50,000 or lower; and youth in the Inland Empire.Youth exposure to a variety of sports and play activities is relatively high but nearly one-third (30%) of youth have stopped playing a sport or participating in a sport in the last two years. Cost, loss of interest, and time commitment emerge as top reasons why youth stop playing. A decline in fun associated with playing also emerged as a reason for stoppage. In the Bay Area, that total is 34%.Organized sports and structured play have the potential to amplify levels of regular physical activity. Youth with PE every day, and those who are active in at least one organized sport or structured play activity, are more likely to be engaged in regular physical activity (five times per week or more).Parents identify cost as a key barrier to keeping their children engaged in youth sports. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of parents’ report struggling to afford the costs of their children’s sports participation. In the Bay Area, that total is 59%.Youth and parents express a strong value for play equity. Study participants express a high degree of support and enthusiasm for the State of California and elected leaders to make greater investments in ensuring that all youth have the opportunity to engage in sports, play, and movement, including physical education. In the Bay Area, 93 percent of parents expressed strong support for the State of California to provide full funding for youth sports, physical education, and structured play activities for school-aged children.The LA84 Foundation is a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and has been committed to transforming communities and young lives through the power of sports, play and movement. The LA84 Foundation has celebrated 40 years of impact this year. As Los Angeles is poised to host several major sporting events over the next four years – including another Olympic Games – the LA84 Foundation is deepening its commitment to play equity for all kids. Play equity ensures that all children, regardless of their background, have equal access to play opportunities, sports programs, and healthy movement, as a pathway to an enriched life. ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA 2024 PLAY EQUITY REPORTThe quantitative research conducted as part of the <a href="https://2024report.la84.org/">2024 California Play Equity Report</a> included a representative survey of 1,636 households with school-aged children (ages 6 to 17), conducted from May 1-14, 2024, representing more than 2,686 children. The sample was drawn using address-based sampling. The survey, offered in English and Spanish, was completed online by parents. The qualitative phase included three focus groups among middle-school and high-school-aged youth, segmented by age, and a group of parents with school-aged children ranging from elementary to high school. Download the <a href="https://2024report.la84.org/">2024 California Play Equity Report</a>ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATION The LA84 Foundation is a national leader in support of youth sport and the role of sports in positive youth development. For four decades, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth-serving organizations in Southern California through grants, funding facilities and fields of play, training coaches and commissioning research. The LA84 Foundation takes on critical issues as a national thought leader by elevating youth sports and play as a pathway to lifelong well-being. Visit <a href="https://joinus.la84.org/">la84.org </a>and follow @LA84Foundation on Instagram. ABOUT EVITARUS (The Report’s Author)EVITARUS is a public opinion research firm that delivers actionable data and strategic insights to public policy, political, and corporate decision makers. EVITARUS generates data to illuminate, elevate, and amplify the voices of everyday people. To learn more, visit <a href="http://www.evitarus.com">www.evitarus.com</a>.

Lack of Access to Physical Education and School-Based Sports Identified As Barriers in State and Bay Area, California Schools 

Troubling gaps in play equity, barriers to youth sports and play identified in landmark state report

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) introduced a resolution to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California and the creation of the LA84 Foundation. This resolution celebrates a historic and transformative moment in international sports, media, and technology and immortalizes a defining moment in the history of Los Angeles. Watch the congresswoman’s House Floor speech <a href="https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=CA37SK&crop=14204.9747342.5211181.7503873&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fdrive.google.com%2ffile%2fd%2f1_MG8nhjjwxjSgiN_rEXWA76PdvSW7z0o%2fview&redir_log=683297779222472">here</a>.“The 1984 Olympic Games not only promoted cultural exchange through sports diplomacy, but also left a lasting impact by creating the LA84 Foundation, an organization that invests in youth sports programs and public education in underserved communities,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “The ’84 Olympics showcased the strength of diversity and the enduring power of sports by bringing the world together through healthy competition, something we can all appreciate in these increasingly divided times. I am proud to introduce this resolution that celebrates LA84’s success and ongoing efforts to build a more just, inclusive society through arts, culture, and sports.”“We extend our gratitude to Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove for introducing this resolution, which honors the LA84 Foundation for 40 years of supporting community health and childhood well-being. As a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the LA84 Foundation has made a lasting impact on millions of children in Southern California by expanding access to youth sports,” said Renata Simril, President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation.The 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, set new records for attendance and viewership, with over 5.7 million tickets sold and more than 180 million Americans tuning in, making it the most-watched event in television history at that time. This resolution was introduced to honor the 1984 Games and the incredible foundation it laid for the sustainable growth of future sporting events such as the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LXI, and 2028 Olympic Games, all to be hosted in Los Angeles, CA.The following Representatives joined Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove as original co-sponsors: Reps. Barragán (CA-44), Bera (CA-06), Brownley (CA-26), Carbajal (CA-24), Cárdenas (CA-29), Correa (CA-46), Costa (CA-21), Crockett (TX-30), Eshoo (CA-16), Garamendi (CA-08), Garcia (CA-42), Lieu (CA-36), Lofgren (CA-18), Mullin (CA-15), Napolitano (CA-31), Panetta (CA-19), Pelosi (CA-11), Peters (CA-50), Porter (CA-47), Ruiz (CA-25), Sanchez (CA-38), Schiff (CA-30), Sherman (CA-32), Takano (CA-39), Torres (CA-35), and Vargas (CA-52).Full text of this legislation can be found <a href="https://iqconnect.house.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&cid=CA37SK&crop=14204.9747342.5211181.7503873&report_id=&redirect=https%3a%2f%2fkamlager-dove.house.gov%2fsites%2fevo-subsites%2fkamlager-dove.house.gov%2ffiles%2fevo-media-document%2fKAMLAG_139_xml.pdf&redir_log=359585314876807">here</a>.ABOUT THE LA84 FOUNDATIONBorn out of the 1984 Olympic Games, the LA84 Foundation moves communities forward by ensuring every child has access to the benefits that sports provide. Today, the LA84 Foundation supports hundreds of non-profit youth sports organizations throughout Southern California annually, trains coaches, commissions research, convenes conferences, and maintains the world’s premier Olympic and sports library collection.

Kamlager-Dove Introduces Resolution to Commemorate 1984 Olympic Games

Sydney Kamlager-Dove Congressional Resolution press release

LOS ANGELES (Nov. 9, 2020) – The LA84 Foundation has released <a href="https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll9/id/1394/rec/1">the results of the 2020 Los Angeles County Youth Sports Participation Survey for Play Equity</a>. This <a href="https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll9/id/1394/rec/1">comprehensive study is the latest biennial report assessing youth sports</a> that the LA84 Foundation launched in 2016. It provides both aggregated and sport-by-sport data about the more than 1.2 million youngsters – ages 6 through 17 – who play sports in LA County.The LA84 Foundation releases this report in an environment where the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently announced it will allow coaches to begin directing voluntary on-campus sports conditioning workouts outdoors starting today, under strict safety measures. Coaches have been unable to work in person with athletes since LAUSD shut down campuses in March.In addition to the positive information the data reveals from the <a href="https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll9/id/1394/rec/1">2020 Los Angeles County Youth Sports Participation Survey</a>, there are also signs that as a community, we must intensify our collective efforts to close the Play Equity gap – the widening distance between the kids and families who can afford to participate in organized youth sports programs and those who cannot.The Play Equity Fund has teamed with Laila Ali – TV host, mother of two, four-time undefeated boxing world champion, and fitness &amp; wellness icon – to advocate for closing the gap that exists in access to youth sports.In March – with campuses closed – Gov. Gavin Newsom waived the minimum number of P.E. minutes that schools are required to offer. Previously, the law required students receive 200 minutes of physical education every 10 days in elementary school, and 400 minutes every 10 days in middle and high school. Since March, P.E. teachers have searched for creative ways to keep students physically active in an online setting during the pandemic when students are dealing with more stress and uncertainty.Data shows the lack of equal access to sports for kids is a crisis that continues to grow in Los Angeles County. The percentage of active kids from low-income families dropped, while the percentage of parents voicing concerns about the cost of youth sports participation has increased.<a href="https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll9/id/1394/rec/1">The 2020 report</a> traces the evolution of youth sports in Los Angeles over the past half-decade. This report offers an opportunity to view youth sports since 2016 through several lenses including race, gender, age, ability, facility type, type of participation and family income.This detailed research is a valuable tool, and the data that emerges provides a clear indication of promising trends across Los Angeles communities, as well as areas where attention is needed and significant progress must still be made. “The LA84 Foundation and Play Equity Fund invests in this research because we are committed to finding solutions to the challenges our communities are facing,” said Renata Simril, President &amp; CEO of the LA84 Foundation, and the Play Equity Fund. “Research clearly shows the positive impact that sports and structured play have in kids’ lives. The data in this report indicates that while kids from more affluent families are able to enjoy the benefits of sports participation, there are barriers for kids who come from lower-income homes. Equal access to sports for kids is a social justice issue.”<ul><li>There has been an increase in girls’ sport participation, with 82% of girls now taking part, compared to 73% in the 2016 survey. Similarly, the percentage of all young people playing sports has increased slightly from 2016 and now stands at 82.7%. The participation rate in 17 of the 23 sports surveyed is higher across Los Angeles County for boys and girls than in the nation.</li><li>Kids from households with annual incomes greater than $150,000 participate in sports at a rate of 93%, while 68% of kids from households earning below $35,000 play sports. Similar to 2018, “I wish more sports were available at my child’s / children’s school” is the most agreed with statement in the survey among all parents of youth in Los Angeles County.</li><li>Active youth from households with an annual income of $35k or less increased their participation at schools from 2016 (36%) to 2020 (43%). These findings emphasize the importance of schools as a key source of physical activity for children from lower-income households.</li></ul>There is also the prospect of these discouraging trends increasing. The COVID-19 crisis and the related financial hardships will likely combine to widen the Play Equity gap. In the decade between the 2008 economic downturn and 2018, youth sports participation dropped for kids ages 6 to 12, according to data from the Sports &amp; Fitness Industry Association.Budget deficits in public education resulted in the elimination of enrichment programs, including sports and after-school structured play programs. The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund, leaders in the Play Equity Movement, are committed to facing these challenges and reversing these trends. Youth sports advocates do not have to accept a landscape characterized by restricted sports access.The LA84 Foundation commissioned Sports Marketing Surveys USA (SMS USA) to conduct the survey, publishing these results first in 2016. The report gave a comprehensive view of youth sports in LA.The survey was replicated in 2018 to update results and trends, with new questions added to obtain insights on how youth sports participation in Los Angeles is affected by socioeconomic inequity. In early 2020, the LA84 Foundation again commissioned SMS USA to further measure youth sports trends in evaluating perceptions towards cost, availability, and access of sports by LA County households, particularly those more affected by inequity.To achieve a representative sample, a target quota of completed surveys for each of the five regions of LA County (North, South, East, West, Metro) was established. From the 2020 Survey, while girls’ physical activity has increased, male youth have decreased from 88% in 2016 to 84% in 2020. However, girls’ participation rate (82%) still slightly trails that of boys overall. Swimming has the highest participation rate among youth ages 6-17 in Los Angeles County, with 25% reporting participation.About the LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. The foundation has supported thousands of Southern California youth sports organizations through grant making and funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and acting as a national thought leader on important issues in the youth sports industry. LA84 levels the playing field to ensure all youth have access and opportunity despite economics, gender or ability, while elevating the field of youth sports as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.la84.org/">www.la84.org</a> and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.About the Play Equity Fund
A 501(c)3 public charity, the Play Equity Fund was established by the LA84 Foundation in 2014 and is focused on bringing the transformational power of sport and play to all children, regardless of their race, gender, zip code or socioeconomic status. The Play Equity Fund achieves this by raising awareness of inequities, supporting the sports-based youth development ecosystem for greater impact, and developing partnerships to advocate for funding and sustainable solutions to ensure kids have access and opportunities to pathways for lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit <a href="https://playequityfund.org/">PlayEquityFund.org</a>, or @PlayEquityFund on Twitter and Instagram.About Sports Marketing Surveys USA
Since 1985, Sports Marketing Surveys USA (SMS USA) had led the way in being the informed, experienced and uniquely positioned source to assist with any custom research projects. SMS USA conducts quantitative and qualitative marketing research and information for many of the leading sports manufacturers and organizations throughout the industry.

Within youth sports in Los Angeles County, research released today shows girls’ participation continues to grow and the participation rate of girls and boys in 17 of 23 sports surveyed is higher across Los Angeles than in the nation as a whole.

The LA84 Foundation Releases 2020 Los Angeles County Youth Sports Participation Survey For Play Equity

Celebrating Black Excellence: Remembering Rafer Johnson

Discover Black Heritage

Play Day is an annual national celebration on the final Saturday of June that recognizes the benefits of sport, play &amp; movement to kids and communities. It uplifts the essential role that healthy activities have in supporting positive childhood development and community well-being.Play Day launched in Los Angeles and it has stretched across the country. It promotes the joy and value in the shared experiences of when we play together.
Each year, the LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund join with our partners on this exciting moment on the calendar to support more equitable experiences in youth sports and structured play programs.Play Day celebrates our constructive and strong relationships, our shared goal for healthy and happy children – and builds community for impact on a national scale.Play Day shows that sports and the joy of play have the power to connect us with each other, help us understand each other better, and to imagine more promising futures for every kid through the transformative power of sport, no matter where they live or their life circumstances.Play Day raises awareness of the LA84 Foundation’s movement for play equity – those across the country who are united in removing barriers to sports &amp; play opportunities for all children.The headquarters for Play Day is the LA84 Foundation campus. In 2024, the Play Day Block Party in West Adams included 3,000 people from the surrounding neighborhood and across Los Angeles. It was a day of sports, live music, dancing, art and shared fun.Mark your calendars each year for the last Saturday in June for Play Day, the National Day of Play.

Play Day – the National Day of Play – uplifts the essential role of sport and play each June

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