Innovating Through Play Equity: Building a Better Future for Our Youth

Renata Simril with Peter V. Ueberroth, LA84 Foundation founding board member.

As I reflect on my journey leading the LA84 Foundation – a private foundation born from the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles – I find myself increasingly frustrated by the state of philanthropy and the direction some grant makers have taken. While the philanthropic community rightfully embraces concepts like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), too many of us have become disconnected from the realities of the work needed on the ground to drive lasting, impactful change. In our desire to craft idealized theories of change, we often lose sight of the communities we are meant to serve.

I am not alone in feeling this frustration. Too often, I’ve observed a growing detachment between those making funding decisions and the organizations on the front lines, working to advance systems change for communities of color and marginalized populations.

The language of DEI, social justice, anti-Black racism and Native American erasure have become an echo chamber, where we talk endlessly about the problems without taking action that actually addresses the root causes of inequity. It’s time we step out of our bubbles and reconnect with the world beyond boardroom discussions and conference panels.

When I joined the LA84 Foundation as CEO in 2016, I too was initially confused about how we could talk about the number of kids we served, how many coaches we trained, and how much money we had invested—yet somehow it didn’t seem to be enough. Yes, we were doing good work with our very limited investments, but it felt like we were missing something.

Our narrow thinking helped to perpetuate a play equity gap that was hiding in plain sight. We were celebrating our accomplishments, yet there were so many more kids in need of our help. It became clear that we had lost focus on the bigger picture: the importance of our theory of change—that sports, play, and movement are not just nice-to-haves, but essential to the holistic development of young people and it’s a right not just for the privileged.

Renata Simril with Peter V. Ueberroth, LA84 Foundation founding board member.

The LA84 Foundation celebrated Peter V. Ueberroth’s plaque dedication at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

At the LA84 Foundation, we had to innovate. We had to do something different if we were going to live up to the legacy of the 1984 Olympics. The world has changed, and our approach had to change with it. Our focus could no longer simply be on how many kids we reached or how many grants we awarded. We needed to address the systemic barriers that were preventing kids on the margins from accessing the benefits of sports and play. We needed to think bigger and act more boldly.

This shift in thinking led to the creation of the Play Equity Fund, a 501(c)3 public charity focused on building youth voice and creating pathways to enriched opportunities through sports, play, and movement. We understood that we needed to go beyond traditional grantmaking models and adopt an enterprise approach to philanthropy. Two organizations with one mission. Through this model, we have built a play equity movement aimed at creating collective impact, and yes—with a laser focus on equity and social justice.

At its core, our work at the Play Equity Fund is about more than just giving kids a chance to play; it’s about addressing the deep, systemic inequities that prevent marginalized communities from accessing the opportunities that sports, play, and movement provide. It’s a concept that recognizes sports and play are essential for a child's physical, emotional, social, and academic development and that disparities in access to sport and play can perpetuate inequality in other areas.

By serving as an intermediary with a network of grassroots organizations, we’re helping to expand the field, raise more resources, and remove the barriers that stand in the way of youth engagement in physical activity. Our work is both immediate – helping kids who are currently in need – and long-term, addressing the systemic reasons and need for greater public and private investment so that all youth have equitable access to its benefits in public schools and in their communities.

LA84 presented the 2024 Play Equity Report at the California State Senate Education Committee Hearing at SoFi Stadium. Senators Steven Bradford, Josh Newman and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas were joined by Renata Simril and Derek Fisher.

Through our innovative model, we have made significant strides. Our organizing efforts unlocked $15 million of public funding for organizations using sports as an intervention tool for youth in Los Angeles County. Together, we have supported legislatives changes like the California Recess Bill, mandating 30 minutes of recess for all California schools and banning recess being taken away as punishment for behavior issues.

We are also collaborating with public and private funders to create a national pooled fund to support up to 25 innovative, regional approaches to systems change and collective action. Together we are reimagining a grassroots system for youth sports and play, so every American child can unlock their full potential.

The play equity movement is not just about sports, it addresses the broader issues that young people face today. It recognizes that physical activity is essential to tackle the mental health crisis, rising obesity, social isolation, and the lack of belonging that many kids experience in today’s digital world, where screen time and social media dominate. Sports, play, and movement can reconnect our youth to their communities, build resilience, and offer them a sense of purpose.

But we cannot do this alone. We need more foundations, particularly private and family foundations, to embrace this kind of systems thinking. We need more funders to step out of their comfort zones, move beyond theoretical discussions, and invest in solutions that work directly with youth and communities to create meaningful change.

As we prepare for major sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the U.S., the opportunity for philanthropy to make meaningful change has never been greater. I invite you to join our movement to help all youth build pathways to lifelong well-being through the joy of play.

LA84 presented the 2024 Play Equity Report at the California State Senate Education Committee Hearing at SoFi Stadium. Senators Steven Bradford, Josh Newman and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas were joined by Renata Simril and Derek Fisher.

Renata Simril has been an advocate for equity and justice throughout her life, and dedicated to improving communities through sports, recreation and educational initiatives. Her background in government, policy, sports and social impact enable her to forge impactful partnerships, advocate for play equity, and build opportunities in underserved communities. Follow @RenataAngeleno on Instagram.

This content was paid for and created by LA84 Foundation. The editorial staff at The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.