The LA84 Foundation, inspired by the legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, is dedicated to harnessing the transformational power of sport. It aims to support youth development through sports, guided by Olympic and Paralympic Values such as friendship, respect, excellence, determination, courage, and equality. The foundation stresses the importance of sports as a tool for positive youth development, emphasizing health, safety, and educational outcomes.
The LA84 Foundation grant program is centered around the belief that sport is a potent instrument for positive youth development, offering both small and large grants to organizations in Southern California that use sports to aid children and youth in becoming healthy, happy, and productive adults. Particularly, the foundation supports Sports-Based Youth Development (SBYD) programs, focusing on out-of-school activities that leverage sports for learning and life skill development. The program prioritizes youth under 18, especially those of color, from low-income households, girls, young women, those living with disabilities, and LGBTQ or gender non-conforming youth. The foundation also emphasizes equity, aiming to bridge access gaps to sport and play caused by disparities in health, wealth, education, and public policy. Grants are categorized into small (less than $10,000) and large (over $10,000), with specific application deadlines for each.