LA84 Foundation Annual Summit to focus on disabled youth athletes

Patrick McClenahan, President & CEO of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, will keynote the fourth annual LA84 Foundation Summit this Thursday, addressing the need to create more opportunities and further develop programs for physically and intellectually disabled youth in sports. Mr. McClenahan’s remarks follow the highly successful 2015 Special Olympics World Games hosted in Los Angeles. Other participants include Paralympic Games Medalist Muffy Davis (cycling and skiing) and Olympian and 3-time World Cup soccer veteran Cobi Jones.

Increased public awareness of disabled sports and competitive events is growing worldwide, creating increased demand for sports opportunities for young people with disabilities. This year, for example, the CIF Los Angeles City Section announced that it would establish an "inclusive sports division" for high school athletes with disabilities.

The 2015 LA84 Summit will take place on Thursday, October 22nd at the LA84 Foundation’s historic West Adams District headquarters. Endowed with the surplus funds of the 1984 Olympic Games, the LA84 Foundation provides millions of dollars in grants to youth sports organizations across Southern California each year. In the past 10 years, the LA84 Foundation has awarded 139 grants totaling $8 million to organizations serving physically and intellectually disabled athletes.

WHAT: The 4th annual LA84 Foundation Summit will convene a select group of athletes, youth sports administrators, philanthropists, and leaders to discuss the future of youth sports reform.

WHEN: Thursday, October 22nd at 9:00 a.m. (full agenda attached)

· 9:00 a.m.: Master of Ceremonies Tamara Christopherson— Olympian, President, Southern California Olympians & Paralympians

· 9:10 a.m.: Keynote (Patrick McClenahan, President & CEO, 2015 Special Olympics World Games)

· 9:40 a.m.: Programs that Create Opportunities

· 11:00 a.m.: Interview: Special Olympics: A Personal Perspective

· 11:45 a.m.: Coaching Young Athletes with Special Needs

WHO: Patrick McClenahan, President & CEO, 2015 Special Olympics World Games; Rafer Johnson, Olympic Gold Medalist and Founder/Board Member of Special Olympics Southern California; LA84 President Anita DeFrantz; Paralympic Games Medalist Muffy Davis; Olympian Cobi Jones

WHERE: LA84 Foundation

2141 West Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90018

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