San Bernardino, Ca – First Tee — Inland Empire is honored to be the recipient of a game-changing grant from the LA84 Foundation that will help bridge the play equity gap which exists for thousands of kids throughout the Inland Empire.
This grant will support First Tee — Inland Empire in expanding our programs and reaching more youth, especially those who have fewer opportunities to participate in sports. It will fund over 10 new recurring program engagements focused on underrepresented and underserved children. In addition, the grant will allow First Tee — Inland Empire to: hire and train 15 new coaches to lead programs and serve as mentors, provide scholarships and equipment to kids and organizations who need it, and remove barriers like cost and lack of access that prevent many in our area from trying the sport.
According to the 2024 LA84 Foundation Play Equity Report, children in the Inland Empire experience some of the lowest rates of physical activity and structured programming across the state—both in and out of school. This funding will be instrumental in helping close that gap by removing barriers such as cost, equipment, transportation, and a general lack of accessible programs so kids from all walks of life can participate.
First Tee – Inland Empire is incredibly grateful to partner with the LA84 Foundation to ensure every child has access to the benefits of sports and play.
First Tee — Inland Empire Executive Director Bryan Stauffer highlighted the new partnership, saying:
“The LA84 Foundation is a national leader in support of positive youth development through the lifelong benefits of sports participation, and their research has shined a bright light on the play equity gap and challenges that exist for so many youth in the Inland Empire. We are thrilled to collaborate with the LA84 Foundation to do our part in helping develop the next generation and create impactful opportunities that will transform the lives of many.”
Bryan Stauffer, Executive Director of First Tee — Inland Empire
First Tee — Inland Empire Program Director, Matt Silver, weighed in.
“At First Tee – Inland Empire, it has always been our mission to meet kids where they are so they feel seen, supported and empowered to grow. By providing structured play that blends fun with purpose, we create an engaging environment where young golfers can build skills at their own pace and become game changers both on and off the golf course. This incredible grant will allow us to extend our program’s reach to even more deserving kids in the Inland Empire.”
Matt Silver, Program Director of First Tee – Inland Empire
About FIRST TEE — INLAND EMPIRE
First Tee — Inland Empire is one of 150 First Tee chapters nationwide whose mission is to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. We believe that by integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we can create learning experience that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do.
About LA84 Foundation
The LA84 Foundation is a national leader in support of sports in positive youth development. As a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, for over four decades LA84 has supported thousands of organizations in Southern California by awarding grants, funded infrastructure projects in communities, trained coaches and commissioned research. The LA84 Foundation addresses critical issues by elevating involvement in sports and play as a pathway to lifelong well-being and success for youth. Visit la84.org, and follow @LA84Foundation.