The Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 organization and the official team charity of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Foundation’s mission is to help underserved youth develop their potential by providing positive experiences and resources in education, health and wellness, and sports. The Foundation also awards grants to other charities that support youth through direct services and programs in these areas.
We provide thousands of underserved, Los Angeles children with safe places to learn and play, allowing them the opportunity to develop critical life skills and gain knowledge to pursue their dreams.
Since 1992, the Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation has been dedicated to helping today’s youth succeed and become successful adults. In addition to our signature programs we have awarded millions of dollars in monetary grants to nonprofit organizations that support youth with direct services and programs.
To date, LYF has funded a school teaching garden, 3 STEM Lab Projects, 15 Reading and Learning Centers, and 40+ basketball courts throughout Los Angeles and Hawaii. The team has also contributed millions of dollars through ticket donations, autographed memorabilia, Lakers merchandise, and countless appearances made by current players, Lakers Legends and the Laker Girls.
Kiesha Nix is the Vice President, Charitable Affairs & Lakers Youth Foundation, a mentor to youth throughout the community, and a recipient of numerous Leadership, Community Service & Humanitarian Awards.
In her current role, Kiesha oversees and directs programming and funding priorities for the charitable arm of the Los Angeles Lakers. She is responsible for implementing the mission of the Foundation: Assist underserved youth in our communities to develop and recognize their full potential by providing positive experiences and resources in education, health & wellness and sports.
Kiesha works with countless non-profit organizations and strives to uphold the Lakers reputation of being “Champions in the Community” as well as on the court.
Support the Lakers Youth Foundation and take home Lakers memorabilia! During each home game, the Lakers Youth Foundation will host a live auction at halftime. Items will be on display at Crypto.com Arena on the main concourse outside of Guest Services (across from aisle 12). You can also get autographed items from your favorite Lakers players online! To learn more and place your bids via our online platform, visit GiveSmart below.
Congratulations to A New Way of Life Reentry Project on winning the Lakers Youth Foundation March YOU Grant Contest! Mission Statement: A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL) advances multi-dimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration. We provide housing and support to formerly incarcerated women for successful community reentry, family reunification and individual healing.
On Saturday, June 27th the Lakers Youth Foundation joined the Loud & Proud Youth March for Black Lives. The Youth March started at the USC Village and ended at the California African American Museum Expo Park with a performance by the Compton Kidz Club. Everyone in attendance got a Lakers Youth Foundation drawstring bag with a water bottle and face mask inside. Youth March for Black Lives Photo Gallery
On Saturday, November 3, 2018, the Lakers Youth Foundation completed a very special basketball court refurbishment project and ribbon cutting ceremony. We began this project over three years ago at Union Rescue Mission. Their basketball court was almost to the point it could not be used. Lakers Legend A.C. Green had been volunteering there for over 20 years and he would have to arrange transportation to take the kids to another location in order to conduct a basketball clinic. LYF was approached to help Union Rescue Mission.
