LA84 Awards 46 Grants To Boost Youth Development Through Sport

LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The LA84 Foundation announced today that it is awarding nearly $2 million in grants to 46 youth sports organizations in Southern California. These grants will benefit over 50,000 young athletes across the region, seeking to build positive youth development through the power of sport.

"Sports really do make a difference, and LA84 is proud to support programs building up youth, both on and off the field of play," LA84 President & CEO Renata Simril said. "Everyone deserves an opportunity to participate, and these grants will provide underserved youth with the chance to use sport as fuel for a healthy lifestyle and to learn the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect."

Two notable grants will provide additional opportunities for young female athletes in the Los Angeles area. A first-time LA84 grantee, the Los Angeles United Futbol Academy was awarded $55,000 to provide scholarships for high school-age female participants in its development academy. "We are proud to partner with LA84 to provide opportunities for talented youth who otherwise couldn't afford to hone their sports skills in elite play. Their legacy is unparalleled and the impact over the last 31 years continues to provide great benefit to communities who need it most," said Rocky Delgadillo, LAUFA founder and former Los Angeles City Attorney.   

The City of Los Angeles Recreation & Parks received over $70,000 to establish a girls' softball program in 10 parks in the East LA and San Fernando Valley regions. "The City of Los Angeles is thrilled to receive support from the LA84 Foundation to not only expand and enhance girls' softball leagues but also to address gender equity in sports," said Vicki Israel, Assistant General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks Partnerships and Revenue Branch.

The grants will fund organizations that provide opportunities in 16 different sports, such as boxing, cycling, equestrian, judo, sailing, synchronized swimming and Adaptive Sports. The foundation is also providing over $500,000 to LAUSD's Beyond The Bell program, which provides after-school sports opportunities in multiple sports at all 94 district middle schools.

Numerous youth sports organizations have established themselves as committed, top-notch programs that continue to inspire as they serve the children of Southern California through structured sports and recreation programs. Some of these grantees include:

Students Run America, an after-school programs that mentors at-risk children and trains them to take part in the LA Marathon, will receive a $125,000 grant.

Special Olympics Southern California, which played a major role in celebrating the 2015 Special Olympics World Games last summer, will receive $85,000 to partner with schools to allow the participation of over 12,000 intellectually and physically challenged youth. 

The Friends Of Expo Center was awarded $60,000 for the organization's Learn-To-Swim program. The center will teach 3,000 Los Angeles youth to swim in the refurbished pool that was the site of the 1932 Olympic swim competition, near the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of ceremonies for the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games.

The Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation will receive $40,000 to recruit and train youth football officials and develop a referee observation program for aspiring officials.

About the LA84 Foundation

As 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 www.la84.org.

SOURCE LA84 Foundation

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http://www.la84.org