P.F. Bresee Foundation

If one invests in a community, it often gives back. This is exactly the case at the P.F. Bresee Foundation, an LA84 grantee that offers after-school sports programs and leagues across Central and South Los Angeles. At Bresee, 40 percent of staff are also former participants in its programs. Whether it be a karate workshop or Futsal league, Bresee’s sports programs have been on the ground and shaping positive futures for 30 years.

“Athletics remain a vital part of Bresee’s after-school programs, which serve over 1,000 youth annually,” adds Bresee Executive Director Seth Eklund. “LA84’s support is critical in helping us shape young people’s character and build perseverance through sport.”

Bresee’s leagues provide for youth ages 10 to 18, offering after-school practices and training on weekdays with games on Saturdays. Between a gymnasium inside Bresee’s 15,000-square-foot community center and adjacent fields and courts, the foundation offers leagues in basketball, soccer, Futsal, Futbolito and karate. The financial cost for these young athletes? Nothing.

In the community Bresee serves, it is estimated that 90 percent of the families and youth the organization serves are considered low-income. The impact of its programs go beyond physical fitness, but also help to instill character, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship into youth often from adverse upbringings. Bresee does not stick to sports either, offering food assistance, a health clinic, housing assistance, and other services to disadvantaged citizens in the heart of Los Angeles.  

Learn more about the P.F. Bresee Foundation here.

Learn about more LA84 grantees here.