LOS ANGELES – October 17, 2012 – The LA84 Foundation, the legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, has awarded $218,533 in grants to support 11 youth sports programs throughout Southern California. Since inception, the Foundation has given back more than $206 million to the communities that supported the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“The athletes competing in the London Olympic Games inspired youngsters throughout the area to dream about being Olympians,” said Anita L. DeFrantz, President of the LA84 Foundation. “It is wonderful that our Foundation, created from the success of the 1984 Olympic Games, can play a part in keeping those dreams alive.”

The organizations receiving the latest grants include THINK Together ($66,042) that will use funding to provide after-school sports programs at 17 middle schools in the following school districts: Baldwin Park Unified, Bassett Unified, El Rancho Unified, Little Lake City School District, Lynwood Unified, Mountain View School District and the South Whittier School District. Funding to the Hollenbeck Police Activities League ($45,491) will help them continue to offer free basketball, boxing and soccer sports programs to more than 500 girls and boys in the underserved are of Boyle Heights. Vernon Lee Amateur Gymnastics Academy ($25,000) received funding to purchase needed gymnastics equipment. Vernon Lee, located in downtown Pasadena, offers one of the most affordable gymnastics programs in Los Angeles to 300 girls and boys. The grant to Crossroads ($12,000) is for the purchase of mats for its wrestling program serving 120 youth in the San Fernando Valley.

Access Youth Academy ($10,000) will use the funding received to strengthen a squash program offered to 100 boys and girls in City Heights, San Diego County. Boys & Girls Clubs of America – La Habra/Brea ($10,000) provides programming in team sports to 350 boys and girls. Grant funding will be used for sports equipment and uniforms. High Desert Heat Track Club ($10,000) offers a strong track & field program to 200 boys and girls in Lancaster. It will purchase a new timing system, pay for usage of facilities and be in a position to offer scholarships. Optimist Boys Home and Ranch, Inc. ($10,000) will use its funding to continue to offer sports programs for its abused, neglected or at-risk residents in its main campus in Highland Park. Los Angeles Police Department Devonshire Police Activity League ($10,000) serves 77 youngsters in its Tae Kwon Do program in Northridge. Funding will be used for mats and scholarships. Santa Clarita Valley Boys and Girls Club ($10,000) provides basketball, football, volleyball and soccer programs to 580 youth in the Santa Clarita area. Funding will be used to refurbish its gym floor, uniforms and sports equipment. United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County ($10,000) will use the funding to refurbish its gym floor at the Goleta Boys & Girls Club. The Club serves 250 boys and girls with its sports programming.