Arden Pala, the founder of Sports4Kids, has been honored with the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
This award is the highest civil volunteerism accolade presented by the President of the United States, recognizing the lifetime achievements of those who complete more than 4,000 hours of service.
Pala is a 15-year-old freshman at Francis Parker and the founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Sports4Kids, which aims to create a brighter future for young individuals in the community facing homelessness.
Through various volunteer opportunities tailored for children of all ages, Sports4Kids actively engages in initiatives dedicated to making a positive impact. These initiatives include feeding the homeless, supplying back-to-school backpacks to financially needy families, and offering support through care packages for individuals without homes. While the organization covers a wide range of community needs, its primary focus is on low-income and homeless youth who lack access to sports opportunities.
Arden has been volunteering since he was 5 years old. His passion for helping the homeless has only increased over the years and has now fueled his nonprofit, Sports4Kids. His journey began with a simple yet powerful idea: to use sports as a tool to bring joy, build teamwork, and foster resilience among kids facing challenging circumstances.
Under Arden’s leadership, Sports4Kids has made significant strides.
The organization has organized numerous community events and provided sports programs in schools with high homeless student populations. Over the past three years, Sports4Kids has raised more than $250,000. With the help of its youth volunteers, the organization has positively impacted the lives of over 7,500 individuals. Additionally, Sports4Kids has introduced 650 homeless children to team sports and has established valuable partnerships with organizations such as the Lucky Duck Foundation, Barnes & Noble, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Starbucks, Target, and Youth Service America, among others.
For more information about Arden Pala and Sports4Kids, please visit www.sports4.org.