Megan Woolsey
Meet six local teens
Making the World a Better Place Never underestimate the power of inspired teens because
they have the potential to change the world. Teens have been responsible for developing some of the most creative inventions of today, and local students are no exception. The following San Diego County teens are making the world a better place with their focus on community work, culturally inspired decals, and an invention that addresses a global health issue.
Arden Pala Sports4Kids Arden Pala is a freshman at Francis Parker in Linda Vista who founded the nonprofit Sports4Kids to provide opportunities for low-income youth to play sports while building physical and social skills. Pala was inspired to start Sports4Kids after volunteering to read books to students at Perkins Elementary. During one of these visits, Principal Hernandez told him about an important issue facing the school: They had to let go of their fitness coach due to budget constraints. “My vision for Sports4Kids was to create a level playing field where every child, regardless of circumstances, can benefit from the positive impact of sports,” says Pala. “Since its inception, we have raised over $140,000 [via grants, donors and sponsorships], benefitting more than 7,500 underserved individuals.” Sports4Kids has dramatically impacted the community by introducing 450 children to team sports, offering them a sense of belonging and the opportunity to learn essential life skills. The organization’s youth volunteers have dedicated 6,500 hours to serving people experiencing homelessness. In addition to starting a successful nonprofit, Pala created a documentary called A Second Chance, offering an honest look into San Diego’s homeless community and how we can make a difference.
Photo courtesy of Pala Family
How to support Arden Pala and Sports4Kids Volunteer at an event (www.sports4.org/events) or make donations at www.sports4.org. • Sports4Kids welcomes youth volunteer assistant soccer and basketball coaches ages 14 & up. • The nutrition program offers volunteers an opportunity to serve at a soup kitchen every other month. • Sports4Kids hosts two annual events: Back2School in August and Bags of Hope during the Christmas season.
14 • SanDiegofamily.com • November 2023
