ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION, THEN AND NOW
Nurturing the community to ensure a bright future begins with empowering our youth. That’s why, in 1971, a group of civic-minded business people who shared the belief that sports have a special way of unlocking a young person’s potential founded a philanthropic organization they called Sports Celebrities. Today, more than four decades later, that group is known as the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, and it’s grown not only to become one of the most celebrated local charitable organizations of its kind, but one of the most effective in carrying out its passion: helping young athletes overcome obstacles to realize their dreams. Since its inception, OCYSF has given scholarships and grants to young Orange County athletes in addition to providing financial resources to other tax-exempt, sports-related organizations in need of assistance. The foundation also assists individuals with sports-related medical needs when possible.
In addition to fostering the development of the area’s promising young athletes, OCYSF is renowned for its annual Sportsperson of the Year banquet — the very first of which was held at Santa Ana’s Saddleback Inn, honoring race car driver Dan Gurney. Over the years, the banquet has grown to become one of the community’s most anticipated events, honoring prominent sports figures who have proven inspirational to today’s youth, and who exhibit the unmistakable ability to act as leaders — both in their sport and in their community. Inspired in design by the cast iron bells that line El Camino Real — the historic route linking California’s missions, pueblos and presidios — the award itself offers homage to our county’s history while signifying the value OCYSF places in the community’s future.
