Who We Are
The LAFC Foundation furthers our Club’s mission of uniting the world’s city through the world’s game, bringing joy to people, and being a force for good in our community by supporting critical programs and bringing the indomitable Black & Gold spirit wherever we go. By supporting the programming and infrastructure that allow young people to access our favorite game, we provide not only fun and physical exercise – but also critical mentorship and a pathway to lifelong success beyond the pitch.
Spotlight
Luke O’Quinn, Director of Sports Leadership & LAFC Youth Leadership Program at the Bresee Foundation
Meet Luke O’ Quinn! Luke is the Director of Sports Leadership and LAFC Youth Leadership Program (YLP) at the Bresee Foundation. He holds a degree in Social Work from Ohio State University and has a strong passion for soccer. Read more about how his love for the game has helped him make a positive impact in youth development with the Bresee Foundation!
Tell us a little bit about who you are!
My name is Luke O' Quinn, and I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am a big soccer head – growing up, I was shy and quiet in school, but I loved soccer, so it was how I expressed myself and learned to make friends. Soccer was my biggest sense of identity as a young person, and it exposed me to people who look different than me and have different cultures. That really drew me towards the sport.
I played soccer for one year in college but suffered an ACL injury. The injury made me realize what life would look like after playing. That's when I started coaching and learning about sports in the community. After freshman year of college, I switched my major to social work, and I started learning more about positive youth development in sports and coaching.
Soccer had such an impact on my life, and I wanted to pass that along and help give other young people a positive experience with sports. Now I work with the Bresee Foundation in LA, doing soccer leadership programming for kids and empowering high schoolers to use sport as a tool to mentor, encourage, and empower young people in the community.
What inspired you to work with Bresee?
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I wasn't working in sports or community, but was still interested in getting involved. Since I'm a soccer nerd, I knew LAFC was going to become the new club in MLS, and I was following them on Instagram. They posted a picture at Bresee about the youth leadership program and that inspired me because it aligned with a lot of the community-based youth sports work that I was doing in Ohio. I started volunteering with Bresee’s youth leadership program and after about six months, the director stepped down. I interviewed for the position and was hired as the new director of the youth leadership program.
Can you share more about the LAFC Youth Leadership Program and why it's important?
The LAFC Youth Leadership Program hires, trains, and empowers high school students to be community leaders and coaches. We facilitate community circles and lead soccer activities with the kids, all while building their leadership skills. These youth leaders are spread throughout LA and coach at elementary schools in their areas. We work to empower these high school students to be the voice for the young people around them. Often, the leaders grew up in the neighborhoods they are now working in, so they are familiar with the schools and the people, which helps younger kids relate to them. The youth leaders look like the students, speak like them, and are familiar with their culture, which also helps build that connection.
We also conduct team meetings and individual check-ins for youth leaders and encourage them to work on their future aspirations of going to college and finding their career paths. We do a lot of that work here in Bresee through resume-writing workshops, mock interviews, and professional networking opportunities. As a result, the alumni students have earned jobs at LAFC or Bresee, giving back to the community that supported them.
I know there are many other leadership programs out there, but we're unique in empowering high school leaders and giving them a great deal of responsibility as the facilitators and coaches of the younger kids. The leaders are proud to have this kind of trust and responsibility. In doing this, I've learned that when we believe in them, the young people will rise to the challenge. Of course, they're not alone in the process; we put in much effort to mentor them to be leaders in their community before they become leaders in the world. Through this support system, they feel encouraged by their peers and the adult staff.
Why is it important to have programs like the Bresee Foundation?
The Bresee Foundation is rooted in the community, and we offer many resources to youth and families, helping them reach success from multiple angles. Our geographical location is accessible to a diverse range of families, and we offer family services including rental assistance, immigration and tax services, and food distribution. We also have English and computer classes for parents, and a plethora of after school programs for kids.
Also, we offer a gang prevention program which helps create healthy habits for students engaging in unhealthy behavior. Our college program supports kids applying to college and stay in college once they're enrolled as first-generation students. The Bresee Foundation is an important organization because it provides the necessary support, space, and resources for communities to have a safe space and opportunities to thrive, despite the obstacle's life throws at them.
What impact has sports programming had on the youth and the community?
With YLP, we're not focused on intense skill development and creating the next Messi or Ronaldo, but we want to create a free and safe space for kids of all different skill levels to play. I think the pay-to-play format of American sports is a barrier for many kids -- we want to eliminate that barrier. We want kids to feel comfortable playing exactly how they are, whether they're in a school uniform or wearing boots, they're welcome to play with us.
Also, having teens from the community as coaches is important for their own aspirations, enabling them to be mentors and give back to their community is special. Our YLP leaders realize that in terms of emotional validation, the more they give, the more they receive. The young people are excited to see them and build trust with them. This brings a sense of worth and value to their role.
On the soccer league side, being able to provide free soccer with uniforms and a safe space to play that's organized with league rules, policies, and officials is critical. Without this, I'm not sure if kids from these neighborhoods would be able to play soccer. For the families, they have a healthy outlet to do something outside of their place of living. As an added benefit off the pitch, they get to support their kids and interact with other families and adults. We get to create a great sense of community -- even the neighborhood elote man has figured out our schedule and has been present during our league, so we're able to support his small business as well. Having these leagues consistently running for middle school and high school students is a valuable piece of our community around Bresee, and it's been cool for us to see that impact firsthand.
What impact have you seen the partnership between the LAFC Foundation and the Bresee Foundation make in the community?
The community often feels like LAFC and Bresee are one in the same, we share resources and are typically both present on site for community events. LAFC has introduced us to a wealth of resources and partners that have helped Bresee grow the work we do and the resources we can provide on-site. We're very grateful for all the introductions and the support of so many LAFC partners.
Additionally, a few of our alumni now work at LAFC and we've seen LAFC employees offer their time and space to provide career advice and share more about the world of professional sports. Together, we've contributed a lot to the work that we've done with the students in the community. Over the last four years, 100% of our high school seniors in the YLP program have graduated and enrolled in post-secondary education. This past spring, seven alumni from YLP graduated college – something we are very proud of. There's a ton of impact, and most importantly, we're building future leaders that the next generation can look up to. I think just being a consistent support system collaboratively has helped us create this safe space for the community.
Any advice or recommendations for our newsletter community?
If any families are reading this and they're in a position of need, do not hesitate to reach out to Bresee. We want to be a valuable resource to the community and sometimes families have trouble asking for help. We understand that, but at Bresee we have caring and courageous staff that love to help. We want to be that trusting space for anyone, regardless of their background or the situation they're in. We always do our best to try to find a way to support them at Bresee.
Click here to learn more about Bresee and the resources they have to offer.
LAFC Foundation Highlights:
Falcon Scholars Program visits Columbus Ave. Elementary School
The LAFC Foundation hosted a summer Falcon Scholars Program assembly at Columbus Ave. Elementary School in Van Nuys! Students and staff had the opportunity to meet Tex, the Harris Hawk, and LAFC’s Falconer, Jason Miknuk. The students learned about Jason’s birds, where they come from, and their role at LAFC home matches. Thanks to the University of Phoenix, every student took home a seed pot at the end of the event! Check out the IG recap.
The 3252, LAFC, and LAFC Foundation Team Up with City of Cudahy to Launch Youth Soccer League
In memory of Mo Fascio and his invaluable commitment to his community, we’ve teamed up with the 3252 and the city of Cudahy, Mo’s hometown, to honor him in the best way possible, by bringing more accessible, organized, and equitable soccer programming to the youth of Cudahy. Read more about the exciting new project here.
LAFC Foundation’s Top Golf Fundraiser Coming Soon!
We are thrilled to announce a unique opportunity to make a difference while enjoying Topgolf's signature entertainment experience. Get ready to tee off with our amazing LAFC players, coaches, and personalities. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or it’s your first time, join us for a night full of swings and socializing in support LAFC Foundation’s mission to serve as a Force for Good in the Los Angeles community.
\\Tickets are limited\\ Check out the sponsorship packages or purchase an individual ticket to secure your spot and help us make a lasting impact together!
LAFC Foundation Auction
Visit the LAFC Foundation auction to bid on exclusive memorabilia and help us continue to support young people in Los Angeles and serve as a force for good in the community! The auction closes Friday, Aug. 2, at 5 p.m.
Thank You!
Thank you to all who support our team’s critical social impact work. To date, we’ve positively impacted more than 30,000 underserved youth in the Los Angeles area. We are excited to watch this number grow exponentially in the years to come and we couldn’t do any of it without you!
We look forward to keeping you updated with our Force for Good Friday newsletters. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram, @lafcfoundation!
