The LA84 Foundation — Committed to Transforming Communities Through Play Equity
The LA84 Foundation, legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, is a national leader in sports-based youth development. For over four decades, LA84 has invested in communities across Southern California through grantmaking, youth programs, coach trainings, and educational initiatives. It has created pathways to an enriched life for generations of young people by advancing the lifelong benefits of physical activity.
Supporting Kids & Communities – Its mission is to help make kids “Life Ready Through Sport,” and to remove barriers to access to sport and play so all young people have the opportunity to thrive.
The LA84 Foundation has supported over 4 million youth, awarded more than 3,000 grants, trained 200,000+ coaches and refurbished or built more than 400 courts, playing fields and pools. By providing the joy of play and active learning experiences, LA84 is committed to transforming local communities by inspiring stronger connections through sport.
A Global Resource – On its campus in the Historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles is the LA84 Sports Library, which has unique digital assets including books, scholarly journals, oral histories and historical news that cultivate a greater understanding of physical activity and competition.
These resources are used by academics and journalists internationally. The library also house exhibits and decades of LA84 groundbreaking research, including the 2024 Play Equity Report – the first statewide study of youth sports participation in California.
Play Equity – Research clearly indicates sport and play improve mental and physical health, build self-esteem, leadership, and can lead to academic and career achievement. After decades of positive impact through the LA84 Foundation’s work across the region, access to sport, play and movement for kids still varied across race and socioeconomic status. Data confirmed inequities existed in communities of color. To deepen its impact and innovate, LA84 founded the Play Equity Fund in 2014 as its charitable partner and a platform for policy advocacy and community partnerships.
The Play Equity Fund is focused on implementing impactful, system-wide strategies to increase access, opportunity and quality in sports, play and movement for all kids. This shared vision with LA84 for play equity – giving all kids an opportunity to participate, regardless their background or zip code – prompted a national conversation about sports as a driver of childhood health, educational success and community well-being.
A Catalyst for Change – The LA84 Foundation continues to provide Southern California with lasting benefits. LA84 is focused on expanding its impact to reach more young people, amplifying equity in youth sports for the well-being of future generations, and elevating the essential role of sport to create a just and inclusive society.