LOS ANGELES (September 10, 2019) – The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation joins the LA84 Foundation in awarding the PF Bresee Foundation and All Peoples Community Center $25,000 each in grants to refurbish their basketball courts. The NBPA Foundation/LA84 Foundation Court Refurbishment Program is designed to provide safe, fun spaces for youth ages 6 -17 to play basketball in the communities where they live, go to school, and play.  As a part of the legacy of the 2018 NBA All-Star game in Los Angeles, the NBPA Foundation has made a commitment to provide a total of $150,000 of grant funding over a three-year period for basketball court refurbishments in Southern California.  In its second year, two organizations were selected to receive Court Refurbishment awards of $25,000.  The LA84 Foundation’s goal, #PlayForAll, aims to provide every child with the opportunity to become life ready through sports, regardless of zip code, gender, or socioeconomic status.  These grants are a step towards accomplishing that goal.

“We are excited to share the news with the PF Bresee Foundation and the All Peoples Community Center,” said Sherrie Deans, Executive Director of the NBPA Foundation. “Both of these organizations play integral roles in their respective neighborhoods, offering safe spaces for children to play and engage in their communities. We look forward to working with both groups and kicking off these refurbishment projects in the coming months.”

Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation said, “LA84 is thrilled to be able to continue with year two of the partnership with the National Basketball Players Association Foundation to refurbish and renovate courts throughout the entire Los Angeles region. The NBPA Court Refurbishment Initiative is a great example of how professional sports can have positive impact in communities.”

Located in the densely populated, primarily immigrant community of Central Los Angeles, the mission of the PF Bresee Foundation (Bresee) is to battle poverty by empowering youth and families in Los Angeles with the skills, resources, and relationships necessary to thrive. Residents in Bresee’s community face multiple systemic barriers to achieving socio-economic success, and overall wellbeing including: poverty, linguistic isolation, low educational attainment, and gang violence. Bresee has a long-standing partnership with the First Church of the Nazarene, which has an indoor gym adjacent to the youth center. The programs at Bresee use the courts in the afterschool hours; the church runs youth and adult leagues in the evenings and on weekends; and there are open play hours in the evenings for all community members. The grant will cover court resurfacing, wall pads, two new shot clocks, and two new backboards and will serve 4,000 community members a year.

All Peoples Community Center (All Peoples) is an all-encompassing neighborhood center whose mission is to provide social services and programs that empower individuals and promote community, respect and self-determination for all. Founded in 1942, All Peoples has served as a true safe haven, and a beloved and trusted place for low-income children, youth, and families in South Los Angeles for 77 years. All Peoples provides a myriad of social and educational services in a residential area of South LA’s Vernon-Central neighborhood, immediately south of downtown Los Angeles. APCC offers programs and activities 6 days a week, and also offers regular open play hours on Sundays, serving 4,500 community members per year. The grant will cover court renovation, replace and provide additional wall pads, and replace 2 rims, backboards, and nets.

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About the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Foundation:

Established in 1997, The National Basketball Players Association Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members and providing support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations throughout the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need.  Through grants that match players’ philanthropy and charitable giving, the Foundation highlights and accelerates the real and collaborative work that basketball players do worldwide to build their communities and create meaningful change. 

About the LA84 Foundation:

The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in support of youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development. The foundation, with 35 years of on-the-ground experience, has supported thousands of Southern California youth sports organizations through grant making and funding facilities and fields of play, while also training coaches, commissioning research, convening conferences and acting as a national thought leader on important issues in the youth sports industry. LA84 levels the playing field to ensure all youth have access and opportunity despite economics, gender or ability, while elevating the field of youth sports as an integral pathway to lifelong well-being. To learn more and join the #PlayForAll movement or our Play Equity campaign, visit www.la84.org and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contacts:

For LA84:

Alyssa Hankins

Brener, Zwikel & Associates (BZA PR)

alyssah@bzapr.com

c. 732-614-0555

For NBPA:

Elle Hagedorn

National Basketball Players Association

elle.hagedorn@nbpa.com

c. 215-317-3142