Soccer As Sanctuary For At-Risk Youth: Building a Future of Inclusive Recreation

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

San Gabriel Valley County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

At-risk youth face significant barriers to accessing transformative sports and developmental opportunities. These barriers include financial constraints, transportation challenges, & culturally insensitive programming. Recent crises have intensified these challenges, the Eaton Fire that displaced thousands of students and destroyed several schools, staffing reductions in PUSD, & lingering COVID-19 impacts on youth development.
Without intervention, these youth face severe short-term consequences (mental health issues, obesity, poor academic outcomes) and long-term outcomes (homelessness, unemployment, incarceration).
We address these issues through trauma-informed, sports-based youth development programs. Our 3 pillars - prevention, hands-on intervention, & transition support - don't just develop skills but nurture resilient individuals equipped with the confidence, leadership abilities, & a support network needed to transform today's challenges into tomorrow's victories.

$75,000 would expand our summer and academic-year soccer programming specifically designed to address barriers faced by at-risk youth, with special focus on those affected by the Eaton Fire, foster care, immigration, and poverty.
Academic-year programming ($45,000) transforms school-day health through structured PE replacement sessions as well as after-school enrichment programming every week, 3-5 days per week. This includes our work with Title 1 schools and community partners like Hillsides, Refugee Children Center, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services, and A Place Called Home.
Summer programming ($30,000) provides critical intervention when school resources disappear, featuring certified coaches at multiple sites like Jackie Robinson Park. We maintain a 10:1 coach-to-child ratio, ensuring quality instruction while providing employment opportunities for transitional-age foster youth as coaching interns.
Our zero-barrier approach eliminates financial constraints through free participation, addresses transportation challenges via strategic site selection, and ensures cultural responsiveness through bilingual programming. We track impact through several metrics including attendance, fitness assessments, stakeholder, and participant feedback. Join us in creating safe havens where our three pillars of prevention, intervention, and transition support help youth develop crucial life skills when they need it most!

LA County will be different as we continue to expand. We can significantly narrow the opportunity gap for vulnerable youth, creating a more equitable county where all children - regardless of background - thrive through inclusive spaces fostering belonging, physical activity, and connection.
This investment would expand our reach to serve an additional 350 youth throughout the school year and 250 during the summer - totaling 600 new participants throughout the year.
The impact multiplies: participants will show 70% improved physical health metrics, stronger social connections, and enhanced emotional wellbeing, directly improving academic outcomes and reducing juvenile justice involvement. These youth become resilient leaders strengthening the fabric and future of LA.