Oakland Lacrosse Club Partners with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
Investment will expand access to healthy physical activity and youth development for students in Oakland Public Schools
Lacrosse is a confidence-boosting sport growing in racial and economic diversity and gaining popularity in the Oakland community, offering another sports option to youth
OAKLAND — Today, Oakland Lacrosse officially announces its partnership with Eat. Learn. Play., the charitable foundation founded by four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry, and entrepreneur, host, and two-time New York Times best-selling author Ayesha Curry. The investment from Eat. Learn. Play. will enhance Oakland Lacrosse’s programming and increase access to healthy physical activity for youth across Oakland in the following ways:
Supporting the development of Oakland Lacrosse’s Summer Ambassador Program. In the program, 25 Oakland high school youth are trained in best practices in sports-based youth development and will lead introductory lacrosse sessions at 19 Oakland Parks and Recreation Town Camp sites and four Aim High campuses. This peer-to-peer model builds leadership amongst high school students while reaching youth with new options for healthy physical activity.
Expanding Oakland Lacrosse Club’s Fall Outreach Program from eight middle schools to 13 middle schools. Oakland Lacrosse’s Fall Outreach Program introduces youth to lacrosse through P.E. classes and afterschool programs.
“Sports are integral to a young person’s development and both Oakland Lacrosse and Eat. Learn. Play. are deeply committed to ensuring youth in Oakland have access to high-quality sports experiences that promote healthy and active lifestyles,” says Kevin Kelley, founder and executive director of Oakland Lacrosse Club. “Oakland Lacrosse is thrilled that Eat. Learn. Play. is investing in introducing more youth from Oakland public schools to the sport of lacrosse so they can build confidence and healthy habits that will stick with them for life.”
“We are excited to be building this new partnership with Oakland Lacrosse. By supporting their programming, we are getting more kids exposed to the game of lacrosse while also building their leadership skills,” said Jose Corona, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships for Eat. Learn. Play. “It’s great to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to bringing the joy of sports and physical activity to youth in Oakland.”
For the past 10 years, more than 1,000 Oakland Youth have participated in Oakland Lacrosse Club’s program. Youth report increased confidence, a sense of belonging, and pride in being from Oakland. Many youths and their families credit the positive relationships they form with coaches and the program’s academic and college counseling as a catalyst for reaching their potential.
Physical activity and participation in youth sports have many health, social-emotional and academic benefits, but, in Oakland, only 10 percent of middle school-aged girls and 21 percent of boys report getting 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Barriers to physical activity can include fewer opportunities for organized sports, program and equipment costs, lack of family support, lack of access to safe spaces, programs that do not feel inclusive, and more.
###
About Oakland Lacrosse Club
Oakland Lacrosse Club, established in 2012, is a nonprofit organization that uses lacrosse as a vehicle for leadership development, academic counseling, and wellness education for youth from Oakland Public Schools. Oakland Lacrosse introduces the sport to more than 2,000 youth every year and 200 youth from 13 partner schools participate in their free year-round program. Learn more at oaklandlacrosse.org.
About Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation is an organization dedicated to unleashing the potential of every child, paving the way for amazing kids, and opening doors to bright futures. Founded by Stephen and Ayesha Curry in 2019, Eat. Learn. Play. launched with a focus on improving the lives of kids and families in Oakland, the Bay Area, and across the country. Rooted in three of the most vital pillars for a healthy childhood — nutrition, education, and physical activity — Eat. Learn. Play. is working to ensure that every child in Oakland has access to the nutritious food they need to be healthy and thrive, resources to become better readers; and safe places and equitable opportunities to play. The organization, which is anchored around the message that children are our future, is committed to developing partnerships and initiatives that make a positive impact for generations to come.