Think Together Springs into Headlines!

Think Together has had a busy few weeks securing and building upon partnerships with mission-aligned individuals, corporations, and foundations. Read about some of the recent partnerships that have made headlines!

Last week, Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce made front-page news inthe Inland Empire Business Journal. The sold-out Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit took place at Loft 84 in Downtown Riverside this past Wednesday, March 15.

The event opened with Mayor of Riverside Patricia Lock Dawson emphasizing the need for access to meaningful career pathways. The program then transitioned to Think Together alum Diego Martinez who shared his first-hand experience leading and launching Hack Clubs.

Former State Senator Connie Leyva, who now leads KVCR and FNZ as executive director, served as keynote and discussed ways to improve education and workforce development in the Inland Empire, with a focus on increasing access to quality education.

The summit was capped by Bank of America’s Inland Empire Market Executive Cathy Paredes leading a panel of esteemed business and education leaders including:

  • Ted Alejandre, County Superintendent, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
  • Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together
  • Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman at California Workforce Development Board
  • Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools at Riverside County Office of Education
  • Charles Henkels, Executive Director of LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network

Earlier this month, Coachella Valley volunteers from The Desert Horizons Community attended a book refresh event where they collected and cleaned over 400 books gathered from Orange County, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. The books were paired along with personal notes to students written on bookmarks in each book. We’re pleased to read about this community partnership in Palm Springs Life.

To round out the headlines, Loop Neighborhood Market, in partnership with Au Energy and Shell USA received press for their Giving Pump campaign, which culminated with a $50,000 general fund donation to Think Together’s afterschool and expanded learning programs. Loop Neighborhood Market CEO Varish Goyal visited students at Grant Elementary School in San Jose along with Think Together board member Sangeeth Peruri and Think Together Executive Director of Philanthropy Katie Roth to see the donation in action among nearly 300 students from pre-K to fifth grade.

To learn more about Think Together and keep up on the latest news, follow Think Together’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for exciting stories.

In partnership with Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, the third annual summit bolstered nearly 200 attendees and participants on March 15, 2023 at Loft 84 in Downtown Riverside

Riverside, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2022) Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning and school improvement programs, in partnership with the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, hosted the 2023 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit at Loft 84 in Downtown Riverside on Mar. 15, bringing together nearly 200 leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

This year’s summit convened a diverse set of stakeholders to discuss ways to improve education and workforce development in the Inland Empire, with a focus on increasing access to quality education, preparing students for the job market and creating equitable career pathways.

“We have a responsibility to provide our youth with the resources needed to succeed in today’s economic landscape, said Randy Barth, founder and CEO of Think Together. “The turnout and engagement from fellow educators, business executives, and community leaders is a sure sign that together, we can give students the tools, and businesses the talent, needed for success.”

The event opened with Mayor of Riverside Patricia Lock Dawson emphasizing the need for access to meaningful career pathways, college readiness, and job opportunities that allow youth to achieve their full potential regardless of zip code or circumstance. The summit then transitioned to Think Together alum Diego Martinez who shared his first-hand experience in Think Together’s Hack Club and his post-graduation work with Think Together to help expand Hack Clubs to additional program sites.

“Afterschool programs like the ones I was able to participate in inspired me to dream big,” said Martinez. “Today, I’m proud to share those same dreams with other students as a Hack Club leader and be a positive change to my school and community.”

Bank of America’s Inland Empire Market Executive Cathy Paredes led the panel to showcase regional perspectives on how today’s current economic environment impacts workforce development and what educators are doing to prepare students for today’s job market. Panelists included:

  • Ted Alejandre, County Superintendent, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
  • Randy Barth, Founder and CEO of Think Together
  • Dr. Angelo Farooq, Chairman at California Workforce Development Board
  • Dr. Edwin Gomez, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools at Riverside County Office of Education
  • Charles Henkels, Executive Director of LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network

“The Inland Empire is poised to experience tremendous economic growth, and businesses have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom education and workforce needs,” said Paredes. “This is why Bank of America makes it our top priority to invest into workforce education programs and summits like this one that help create pathways to careers in the region.”

The 2023 Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit was proudly sponsored by Bank of America with Think Together and the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce partnering to produce the annual summit.  

“The Inland Empire Education and Workforce Summit has become a vital platform for building connections and driving change in our community,” said Edward Ornelas, Jr., President and CEO of the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of everyone involved was truly inspiring.”

The summit closed with a networking reception to provide a forum for collaboration among peers, exchange of ideas, and exploration of potential partnerships to support education and workforce development in the region.

For more information about the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce and its programs, please visit www.iechamber.org.

Those looking to get involved with Think Together can visit: www.thinktogether.org/get-involved.

About Think Together

Think Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org.

About the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC)

The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC) supports commerce and economic prosperity throughout Riverside & San Bernardino Counties. The IERCC provides a platform for business executives to engage, network, and conduct business with like-minded individuals from all over the Inland Empire region. Learn more about the IERCC visit www.iechamber.org.  

During the Book Refresh Event held in the Desert Horizons Community in early March, approximately 400 donated books were collected and cleaned by volunteers. Thanks to Barry Meister, Lee Clancy, Mary Barth, and Sandra Drummond, the Book Refresh Event was a success, with the books donated to nearby Cathedral City Elementary. Think Together staff and students were ecstatic to receive the books and read the heartfelt hand-written messages left by the volunteers.

“I was sold on the idea of supporting Think Together last year when Randy Barth explained how Think Together afterschool programs benefit young children,” shared Barry Meister. “In addition to donating money, I, now for the first time, had the opportunity to volunteer hands-on to collect and give out books to children of all ages to read.  Volunteering and knowing how kids enjoy reading was a very valuable and worthwhile personal experience for me.”

The 400 books were gathered from various locations, including Orange County, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. Volunteers were provided with instructions on how to clean and repair the books to be in the best condition possible for students. Think Together’s recently retired Mary Barth shared some powerful stories of her work with Think Together students to give them a sense of their impact. 

Think Together bookmarks were given to volunteers, who wrote encouraging and inspirational notes to students and placed them inside the books according to reading level. The students were so excited to receive all the books, which ranged from picture books to novels. At the distribution, students were going through all the books and picked out ones to show their friends.

The wonderful volunteers who participated are excited for the next large volunteer engagement, which is scheduled to take place in the fall. Some are even signing up to become regular volunteers at our school sites!

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Meet Site Coordinator Juany Hernandez from the Kayne Siart campus of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Think Together’s Los Angeles Metro region. Juany has developed a quality program that almost 300 students attend daily! She has done this by partnering with the community to leverage resources and developing a strong team of afterschool professionals. Most recently, Juany and her team organized a toy drive sponsored by Target to provide sporting equipment for students. 

On top of engaging students’ minds at Kayne, Juany’s impact is seen throughout the region in her staff, many of whom have gone on to become site coordinators themselves. We invite you to get to know Juany more! 

What is your Think Together “why?” 

I grew up in a low-income community and remember my parents enrolling me in free programs because they didn’t have the resources to pay for other programs. Working for Think Together gives me the opportunity to give back to my community and make an impact on students’ lives every day. As a site coordinator, I advocate for student needs and develop my program leaders to be a positive influence in students’ lives.  

Is there a student story that connects you to your “why”? 

Valerie is a student who was struggling academically and behaviorally in the program. She had low participation in class and didn’t like to engage with her peers. One day, I asked Valerie if she could help me collect name tags as everyone was going home and she agreed. Collecting nametags became her daily routine and she eventually grew into supporting the Think Store. I was thrilled to see Valerie engaged and coming out of her comfort zone.  

One day, Valerie shared randomly, “Ms. Juany, when I grew up, I want to be a site coordinator like you.”. I responded, “Well, you don’t have to wait until you grow up; you can be our mini-site coordinator for Think Together.”. Now, Valerie stops by every class on Mondays to go over the four agreements and deliver program announcements. My daily goal with my team is to provide a program to students that they are excited to return to the following day, just like Valerie. 

What one word would you use to describe your work at Think Together? 

Passionate. My passion has given me the strength to be successful with my students, my team, and the work that I do after school. My passion has helped me persevere through the challenges that arise. My passion is what motivates me to continue to work with my community. 

How do you empower and cultivate leadership skills in your staff? 

I believe that as a team leader, you must empower your team by including their strengths and voices in the program. You also need to model the expectations you have for your team. If I want my team to be kind and excellent, I must model what kindness and excellence look like. All the while, it is extremely important to be consistent with your team and share the “why” with them.  

Empowerment, modeling, and consistency are key to ensuring that my team walks out with positive experiences. One of the most powerful strategies I use to cultivate leadership skills is to share the responsibility of the program with my team and motivate them to step into their power. I am so proud that two of my former program leaders have become assistant site coordinators at sister sites where they can create new experiences for the students. 

What is one thing your team accomplished that you’re really proud of?  

At the beginning of the school year, we were short-staffed and therefore not able to serve as many students. In a couple of months, the program was fully staffed, and the process to develop each program leader to their full potential began. With time and patience, I can proudly say that my team and I are truly changing the odds for kids. My team and I have been able to deliver a quality and engaging program that students who are not in Think Together are continuously asking how they can enroll. We are above our 85% attendance goal and have more than 300 students enrolled in the program.  

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish this year? 

One of my goals is to continue to build my leadership skills and support Think Together outside of my site by sharing my experiences and best practices with my peers. I want them to feel successful and empowered in their work so that, together, we can positively impact more students lives. 

Outside of work, what do you do for fun?  

I love getting facials and spending time at the beach. I also love traveling. I was recently able to travel to Italy and loved it! 

Thank you, Juany, for changing the odds for kids!

The donation will support academic and enrichment opportunities to students in traditionally under-resourced communities throughout the state of California.

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 7, 2023) – Think Together, one of California’s largest nonprofits serving K-12 schools, is thrilled to announce a new philanthropic partnership with Loop Neighborhood Market, commemorated by a $50,000 donation for afterschool and expanded learning programs in traditionally under-resourced communities throughout California.

The donation will help Think Together continue its mission of providing students with access to high-quality educational resources and experiences outside of the traditional school day. With the support of partners like Loop Neighborhood Markets, Think Together is able to make a lasting impact on the lives of nearly 200,000 students throughout the state annually.  

“We are proud to partner with Loop Neighborhood Markets to support our mission of providing students with the opportunities they need to succeed,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “This generous donation will help us reach even more students and make a positive impact in their lives.”

Loop Neighborhood Markets has a long history of serving philanthropic endeavors. In addition to educational causes, organizations that benefit from their fundraising efforts include San Francisco Pride, the California Fire Foundation, Bay Area Deputy Sheriff’s Association and its Annual Christmas Shopping event, Bay Area food banks, and RotoCare Bay Area. Over the last three years, over $400,000 went back to organizations making a positive impact in Bay Area communities. 

“At Loop Neighborhood Markets, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve,” said President and CEO of Loop Neighborhood Markets Varish Goyal. “We are proud to support Think Together and their efforts to provide students with the tools and resources they need to succeed.”

The contribution comes after the conclusion of Loop, Au Energy and Shell USA’s three-month initiative “The Giving Pump” that used proceeds from a colorful, specially designated pump at over 100 gas stations in the Bay Area to assist the non-profit organization. Loop and Au Energy are a joint venture between Vintners Distributors and Shell USA (Shell).

The Giving Pump initiative began Aug. 1 and concluded on Oct. 31, 2022 as part of Shell’s Force For Good initiative to drive positive change in communities. For the second year, The Giving Pump could be found across 48 states, where a portion of the purchases made by drivers who used the designated pump supported children-based charities locally and nationally. Money raised through The Giving Pump at 6,500 stations nationwide amounted to over $3 million, going to 527 local charities across the US.

About Think Together

For over 25 years Think Together has partnered with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. As a nonprofit organization, Think Together innovates, implements, and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org.

About Loop Neighborhood Markets

Loop Neighborhood Markets is a leading grocery retailer with a focus on sustainability and community engagement. With locations throughout California, the company is committed to providing customers with high-quality products and exceptional customer service.

Target is in their fourth year funding Think Together’s Workforce Readiness Education Programs (WREP) for 500 students across four high schools in Compton Unified School District. WREP programs help cultivate interests and support students as they prepare for college and careers after high school. This school year not only is Target helping to support students prepare for the future, but they are also helping students grow new skills. 

Think Together would like to thank Target for additional funding this year to install gardens at Think Together high school programs in Compton. Think Together students at Centennial High School have enjoyed the gardening club since the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. Students in the program grow, harvest and care for the garden. 

So far this school year, students have harvested cilantro, oregano, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli and are hopeful to use the harvests in their culinary club. Until then, students have brought home their fresh produce for their families to test – a tasty treat for all. 

The students unanimously shared that cilantro is their preferred harvest as it can be used in multiple ways from a garnish to a salsa. And, that it always tastes best fresh. 

Research from Harvard shows that while most children receive only 3.4 hours of nutrition education a year, maintaining a school garden necessitates that nutrition lessons become a consistent, built-in part of a student’s educational experience. Research has shown that it takes between 35 and 50 hours of nutrition education a year to change kids’ preferences over the long term.

A 2017 evaluation of FoodCorps conducted by the Tisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University found that in schools that provide frequent, high-quality opportunities for hands-on nutrition learning, students eat up to three times more fruits and vegetables at school lunch — regardless of whether or not that food was grown in the garden.

Our students have enjoyed the garden this school year because they can see their progress from start to finish. They have also enjoyed reaping the benefits of the garden (flowers, vegetables, etc.) Not only do the Think Together students utilize the garden but during the school day a life science class observes the progress of the garden as well. 

The club has big plans for its garden, including adding hydroponic systems and hosting a farmer’s market where they can pass out bags of free vegetables to members of the community. 

Students enrolled in Think Together receive approximately 540 additional hours of learning each school year, and all that time adds up fast! We pack into those afterschool hours various enrichment and core curriculum activities to expose students to new things and potential career paths.

During the 2022-23 school year, Think Together has expanded our arts program offerings for our K-6 students. Thanks to curriculum partners like Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), P.S. Arts Academy, Building Beats, Segerstrom Center for the Art’s Arts Teach program, and many more, we are integrating a variety of engaging programs into our students’ afterschool experiences.

Read more below about our current accelerator programs!

DANCE EXPLORATION

This class introduces students to a wide spectrum of dance styles, where students develop and refine dance techniques. Each class consists of warmups, skill introduction, and developing the technique that increases the student’s skills, practice, appreciation, and knowledge of dance.

Choreography is taught through the lens of various dance styles and the students work on their group choreography and performance skills as well. This active class focuses on the love of dance, building confidence, and creating while allowing students to shine.

Through our new partnership with OCSA, students in our Orange County region have enjoyed learning Baile Folkloríco since January and are looking forward to performing for their friends and family on March 15.

THEATRE ARTS EXPLORATION

In this exciting class, participants gain experience and insight into the world of theatre arts through the exploration of acting, character development, blocking, original storytelling, artistic choice, finding their voice, improvisation, scene work, ensemble building, and teamwork. Students learn foundational skills, theatre vocabulary, and the importance of all the roles involved in a theatrical presentation. At the end of the course, students share their artistic growth in a step into the classroom presentation for friends and family to enjoy.

To read about a recent student performance, check out our recent blog post about the Wizard of Oz!
VISUAL ARTS EXPLORATION

In this playful and dynamic visual arts class, participants learn about a variety of visual art-making mediums and experiment with their style. Focus is placed on foundational visual arts skills and the importance of artistic choices through the creative process. Students create original 2D and 3D pieces and show off their work in a “step into the classroom” culminating event.

MUSIC ARTS EXPLORATION

In this fun and dynamic class, participants embark on a musical journey that acquaints students with the foundational skills necessary to understand, appreciate, and participate in making music with their voices, musical instruments, or a combination of both.

Each class incorporates engaging activities to help students along their journey of learning music, which may include introduction and refinement of musical technique, musicianship, and expansion of foundational music skills and understanding. To top it all off, the course concludes with a step into the classroom culminating event featuring all of the students sharing their progress in music, learning, and fun!

MEDIA ARTS EXPLORATION

Through supportive and engaging experiential-based arts activities, Media Arts Exploration introduces students to a variety of building blocks that will help to expand their Media Arts Literacy. A Media arts Exploration Residency may encompass such diverse forms as photography, graphic design, creative writing/dramatic storytelling, video & film production, and /or animation to name a few. With an emphasis on a cross-disciplinary approach, specific topics explored will be contingent on teaching artists’ expertise as well as existing resources and site infrastructure.

Interested in bringing Think Together to your school district? Visit https://thinktogether.org/programs/ to submit an inquiry form.

Meet Daniel Sundah, a lead recruiter for the San Bernardino region of Think Together. Daniel grew up in the San Bernardino community since childhood and has a personal connection to the schools he now serves with Think Together. As a recruiter, Daniel spends time in the community telling people about Think Together and showing them how they can make a difference by joining the team. Since starting his career as a recruiter with Think Together, Daniel has demonstrated the core value of service above self. Daniel is known for bringing a unique perspective and outside-of-the-box thinking to ensure he and anyone who works with him is successful. We are thrilled to give you the chance to get to know more about Daniel! 

What is your Think Together “why”? 

My “why” is that I am a product of afterschool programs. My parents both had to work, and after school activities were a necessity for our family. I attended Reche Canyon Elementary and Terrace Hill Middle, which are both schools Think Together serves today! For me, working with the same schools and community I grew up in is a beautiful full circle. What continues to inspire my work is serving alongside bright leaders such as Holly, Allison, and Rhonda, who all guide me and mentor me as a professional. 

What is one of your proudest moments that connect to your “why?” 

Last summer, the team and I attended a community event in Rialto. While we were setting up our booth, a parent came up to us and thanked us for everything Think Together does. Because of Think Together, he was able to work full-time and be confident that his kids were getting their schoolwork done. He also mentioned that his kids could not stop talking about their program leader. This conversation was an impactful reminder of my personal “why” and why it’s important to source our Think Together programs with the right staff. 

What one word would you use to describe your work at Think Together? 

Fun. My job is fun. Every day I get to talk to future “odd changers” and share about the meaningful work we do.  

You work with many teams as a Think Together lead recruiter. What qualities do you think make a good team? 

A strong team is one that is goal-oriented and truly believes in the mission. Also, having a leader that is able to accentuate the individual qualities of each team member supports the making of a successful and well-rounded team.  

What would you say to someone who is thinking about joining the Think Together team? 

I would let them know that at Think Together, they can utilize their strengths and talents, not only to grow professionally but also to impact the community.   

What is the best piece of advice you have received that you like to share with others? 

Tom Hanks mentioned the quote, “This too shall pass” in an interview, and it stuck with me. On days when it seems hard and stressful, I just remember that “this too shall pass.” Keep moving forward. 

What are the professional goals you are hoping to accomplish in 2023? 

To keep developing and learning! I hope to become a better leader for the team and myself. And, of course, stay 99% staffed all year! 

Outside of work, what do you do for fun? 

I have three nephews and a niece that keep me busy on the weekends. I also recently got a new puppy that loves to spend time with us as well! 

Thank you, Daniel, for changing the odds for kids! 

More than 7,000 Think Together students will benefit from team sports with the $315,000 grant from the LA84 Foundation.

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 6 , 2023) Think Together, California’s leading nonprofit provider of afterschool, expanded learning, and school improvement programs, today announced the award of a $315,000 grant from the LA84 Foundation, a nationally recognized leader of youth sports programs focused on positive youth development.

This grant allows students from traditionally under-resourced communities to participate in free competitive team sports from flag football to volleyball, soccer and basketball. Through repeat grants from the LA84 Foundation, Think Together has been able to expand sports program offerings to every one of its middle school programs across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, giving more than 7,000 students at 88 schools the opportunity to engage in sports.

At one school in Think Together’s Palm Springs region, eighth grader Alanna has been thriving since participating in sports. Alanna was the only girl on her middle school’s flag football team and was named team captain for the season. “As a girl, it was a little intimidating to join a flag football team where it is majority boys on the teams, but I took the chance and I came to practice every day. I was devoted and my coach recognized my hard work and named me captain.”

Before joining her program’s flag football team, Alanna considered herself to be shy and lacking confidence. Now, she sees herself honing her leadership skills, teamwork skills, and coming out of her shell.

Participating in flag football at Think Together has sparked an interest in Alanna to continue playing sports as she enters high school next year. Her goal? To join the varsity soccer or wrestling teams in her freshman year. “Go big or go home,” Alanna shared.

As schools have adapted to their post-pandemic norms, Think Together has worked with partners to bridge the expansive learning gap the pandemic created, emphasizing student mental health, catching up on learning to ensure grade level competency and getting students engaged in physical activity programs.

“The research shows that physical activity is as important for learning and development as time in the classroom,” said Think Together Founder and CEO Randy Barth. “Think Together’s partnership with the LA84 Foundation allows our organization to offer a well-rounded approach to ensure student minds and bodies are active and healthy.”

Think Together provides sports programs with three 10-week rotations: a basketball program for boys and girls in the winter; a boys and girls soccer program in the spring; and flag football and volleyball programs in the fall, each with culminating tournaments.

Think Together and the LA84 Foundation have partnered since 2008, and have since served approximately 50,000 students with sports programming, alongside sports and healthy living partners like the LA Dodgers Foundation, US Soccer Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

“Sports, play and movement have a significant impact on students creating positive outcomes in the classroom as well as their overall well-being,” said Nolan Ortiz, Director, Grants & Programs of the LA84 Foundation. “Think Together continues to expand its sports programming to reach more youth. We thank Think Together for their partnership and commitment to closing the play equity gap.”

Private philanthropic grants from funders like the LA84 Foundation are pivotal to Think Together’s expanded learning programs and provide students with equitable access to academic and enrichment programs many youth may not otherwise receive.

Think Together’s expanded learning programs are funded through a blend of private philanthropy and public funding including After School Education and Safety (ASES) grants awarded by the California Department of Education, 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants provided by the U.S. Department of Education, and Expanded Learning Opportunity Program contracts from local school districts.

About Think Together

Think Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids. Think Together is a nonprofit organization that innovates, implements, and scales academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students. Think Together’s program areas include early learning, afterschool, school support services, and leadership development for teachers and school administrators. For more information, call (888) 485-THINK or visit www.thinktogether.org.

About the LA84 Foundation

The LA84 Foundation is a nationally recognized leader about the role of sports in positive youth development. For nearly four decades, the LA84 Foundation has supported thousands of youth-serving organizations in Southern California through grant making and funding infrastructure, while also training coaches, commissioning research and serving as a national thought leader on issues involving sports as it relates to childhood health. The LA84 Foundation levels the playing field to ensure all kids have access and opportunity, regardless of income, gender, or ability, while elevating sports as a pathway to lifelong well-being. To learn more, visit www.la84.org and @LA84Foundation on Twitter and Instagram.

Think Together is excited to share that we have received a $315,000 grant for student sports in 2023 from the LA84 Foundation, a nationally recognized leader of youth sports programs focused on positive youth development.

This grant allows students from under-resourced communities to participate in free competitive team sports from flag football to volleyball, soccer and basketball. Through repeat grants from the LA84 Foundation, Think Together has been able to expand sports program offerings to every one of its middle school programs across Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, giving over 7,000 students at 88 schools the opportunity to engage in sports.

At one school in Think Together’s Palm Springs region, eighth grader Alanna has been thriving since participating in sports. We interviewed Alanna on the sidelines of their championship tournament about how this experience has been for her.

Alanna, how long have you been a part of Think Together?

I joined last school year; my grades weren’t doing too well. I’m not a homework person, so having the designated time to get my homework done after school meant I could get it done and do the things I wanted to do.

How has Think Together helped you?

Think Together helped me get out of my shell. I joined some clubs and made new friends and discovered new interests like the environment club, art club, student council club and the joining flag football team.

We heard that you are the only girl on your school’s team, can you tell us about your experience with flag football?

As a girl, it was a little intimidating to join a flag football team where there is majority of boys on the teams, but I took the chance and I came to practice every day. I was devoted and my coach recognized my hard work and named me captain.

What skills are you going to take with you from your time being captain?

That’s a hard question because there are so many skills. But being a team captain has helped me develop leadership skills for sure. I used to be on the quieter side, I didn’t like talking to people but joining Think Together and having this experience has helped me put myself out there more and be able to introduce myself.

What are you looking forward to most about high school next year?

I’m looking forward to playing more sports in high school. I want to join the soccer team and wrestling teams and make varsity my freshman year. Go big or go home.

Think Together and the LA84 Foundation have partnered since 2008, and have since served approximately 50,000 students with sports programming, alongside sports and healthy living partners like the LA Dodgers Foundation, US Soccer Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

We are grateful for their renewed investments in our sports programs and excited to provide more opportunities to help students like Alanna to thrive.

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