It was recently announced that Up2Us Sports has received funding from California Volunteers, California’s state service commission, for the ninth consecutive year. For the 2024-2025 year, the $514,800 grant will support 75 Up2Us Sports coaches around the city of Los Angeles. Since 2016, California Volunteers has provided grants for 408 AmeriCorps service members through Up2Us Sports.

This cohort of national service members is targeted to serve 1,850 youth and engage them in athletic and mentorship activities that are designed to improve their physical health and develop social-emotional learning skills that will help them achieve their potential on and off the playing field.

“Through our partnership with AmeriCorps, Up2Us Sports can mobilize a cohort of highly-trained coach-mentors who are equipped with the knowledge and tools to bring lasting change to youth and communities throughout Los Angeles,” says Jack Callahan, Senior National Director of AmeriCorps Programs. “We know that the role of a sports coach is an often untapped resource for youth and communities who are facing a variety of social and environmental barriers. Together, Up2Us Sports and AmeriCorps are harnessing the power of sports and mentorship to deeply impact our communities of focus.”

Led by the state’s Chief Service Officer, Josh Fryday, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor engages Californians in service, volunteering and civic action to tackle our State’s most pressing challenges while mobilizing all Californians to volunteer and serve in their communities. #CaliforniansForAll was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to build on the efforts of California Volunteers to establish a statewide volunteer corps to help with the state’s response to emergencies and disasters. California Volunteers also administers the AmeriCorps programs in California with over 80 programs providing critical services to more than 160,000 Californians annually. Learn more at www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov.

We are currently actively recruiting coaches and host sites nationwide. If you are interested in becoming a coach-mentor or hosting a coach in Los Angeles or its surrounding communities, please contact Billy Lister at blister@up2ussports.org.