From Field to Future: The 15-Year Partnership Between Think Together and the LA84 Foundation  

Since the partnership began in 2008, Think Together has expanded sports program offerings to every one of its middle school programs stretching from the San Fernando Valley to the Coachella Valley. Each year, more than 7,000 students at 88 schools gain access to team sports, ranging from flag football to volleyball, soccer, and basketball through the LA84 Foundation.  

Data from the Aspen Institute’s 2023 State of Play report states that students are engaging less in team sports today than prior to the pandemic, which is leading to a new health crisis: one related to physical fitness and mental health. Sports are proven to improve not only physical health but also mental health.  

“The research shows that physical activity is as important for learning and development as time in the classroom,” says 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.”  

That’s why Think Together is proud to award LA84 Foundation the Champion of Change award. This commendation recognizes the longstanding and impactful partnership the LA84 Foundation has forged with Think Together over the last 15 years through cumulative grant funding totaling $2.2 million. 

The LA84 Foundation believes in the transformational power of sport and emphasizes the importance of equity in access to organized team sports. As a legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games, the LA84 Foundation has provided grant awards to organizations that focus on positive youth development through sport for the last four decades. The Olympic and Paralympic values are fundamental to the work of the Foundation, and the organizations it supports: friendship, respect, excellence, determination, courage, and equality. 

“The LA84 Foundation is grateful to be honored with the Champion of Change Award, and for our 15 years of partnership with Think Together as we advance our shared goal to build more opportunities for students to receive the lifelong benefits of sports participation,” said Renata Simril, President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “As we celebrate 40 years of impact as a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, we will also continue building upon the work of longstanding partners such as Think Together in our collective efforts to remove barriers to sport, play and movement for kids in every community.” 

Private grants from funders like the LA84 Foundation are pivotal to Think Together’s expanded learning programs and provide students with equitable access to academic enrichment.  

Think Together students practice and compete in 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.  

Leaders within the organization have seen the impact our LA84 Foundation partnership has made on students. Athletic and Events Project Specialist Christopher Fernandez, who oversees the sports program at Monseñor Oscar Romero Charter School, shared the benefits that he sees firsthand.   

“In my role, I’ve seen the LA84 programs benefit students in Los Angeles schools,” shared Christopher. “By providing access to sports, improving academic performance, and fostering community building and leadership development, these programs can significantly impact the lives of students in the region.” 

Brian Cisneros, volleyball coach at Crown Preparatory Academy Middle School, shared how he personally has experienced the impact sports had in his own academic journey.  

“I personally can recall a time when I didn’t take my grades very seriously until I joined baseball and was going to be cut from the team. This gave me the incentive to get my grades up and stay out of trouble. Now, looking at it from a coach’s perspective, I can see how excited [students] get just going to practice. Being able to provide sports for these students helps keep the kids off the streets and gives them a sense of purpose and belonging to a community. It’s also great to see how a lot of players who were new now understand the fundamentals of the sport.” 

Even parents see the benefits of team sports for their children. “I encourage my child to participate in sports because I feel it brings out the best in him. The after-school program treats sports as an introduction to what some of these students will have if they want to join competitively in high school. They check for grades, behavior, and attendance. It shows that if they want to be part of something like sports the students, too, need to give it their all,” shared a parent of a middle school student. 

Think Together is proud to honor the LA84 Foundation as a Champion of Change for its continued partnership and commitment to students. 

In addition to sports programs through the LA84 Foundation, Think Together partners with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Adidas, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente to educate and engage students in healthy living.