Lewis Sports Foundation

IN 2023, THE LEWIS SPORTS FOUNDATION EXPERIENCED SUCCESS IN REACHING OUR GOALS IN A MOST UNUSUAL YEAR. OUR PRESIDENT DR. LEO LEWIS BECAME THE LEAD AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY OF ST. PAUL, BEING CROWNED KING BOREAS 86 OF THE ST. PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL! BY SERVING IN THIS HEAVILY INVOLVED VOLUNTEER ROLE, LEO WAS ABLE TO LEAD THE FESTIVAL'S ROYAL FAMILY OF 18 MEMBERS ON HUNDREDS OF VISITS AND PARADES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO COMMUNITIES IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.THE GOAL WAS TO BRING JOY AND MERRIMENT AROUND THE IDEALS AND MESSAGES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, VOLUNTEERING, AND LEADERSHIP. IN DOING SO, HIS EFFORTS AND TRAVELS ALIGNED WITH THE VISION AND MISSION OF THE LEWIS SPORTS FOUNDATION. SENDING MESSAGES THAT SUPPORT ACTIVE YOUTH IN ALL COMMUNITIES, LSF REACHED MORE INDIVIDUALS, GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.ALONG WITH LEO'S LIFE DEVELOPMENT CAMPAIGN, AND AFTER 10 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION, WE PROVIDED LACROSSE AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER CONDUCTING CLINICS AT JIMMY LEE, EL RIO AND MCMURRAY RECREATIONAL CENTERS. WE INTRODUCED THE GAME OF LACROSSE TO OVER 60 YOUTH.WE PARTNERED WITH FIT ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL TO PRESENT OUR CROSS SKILLS FITNESS COMPETITION. OVER 100 STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5 PARTICIPATED IN THE THREE-HOUR EVENT. ALSO, THE ANNUAL CHURCH OLYMPICS PROVIDED ANOTHER FUN DAY OF RUNNING AND OUTDOOR FITNESS COMPETITION FOR MEMBERS OF HISTORICALLY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES IN THE TWIN CITIES. LSF MANAGED THE ACTIVITIES FOR THE NORTH MINNEAPOLIS EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STAIRSTEP FOUNDATION. OVER 100 YOUTH AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTING UP TO 10 CHURCHES COMPETED THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH THE PURPOSE OF UNITING CHURCH COMMUNITIES IN A FUN ATMOSPHERE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.OUR TWO MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS SUCCESSFULLY REFLECTED THE GREAT EFFORTS OF OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE 21ST ANNUAL LEO LEWIS CELEBRITY GOLF CLASSIC AND OUR ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER SHOWCASED A TWO-DAY SPECTACLE AT MINNESOTA VALLEY GOLF CLUB THAT RAISED $125,000 IN 2023! THANKS TO OUR ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS, SPONSORS, AND DONORS FOR MAKING THIS YEAR A HISTORIC AND RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR LSF!OUR ACADEMIC COACH PROGRAM EXPANDED AT EAST RIDGE AND ST. PAUL JOHNSON HIGH SCHOOLS. LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO STUDENTS GREW THROUGH LSF'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES.OUR OWN GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS WERE SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS AND SEVERAL SMALL FUNDRAISING EVENTS. WE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED OVER 45 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS IN 2023 FOR OUR MOST NOTABLE IMPACT RESULTING IN MORE THAN $15,000 OF GIVING.IN SUMMARY, THE LEWIS SPORTS FOUNDATION APPRECIATES YOUR SUPPORT AND EFFORT TO KEEP US RELEVANT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE HOPE YOU DECIDE TO SUPPORT US IN 2024 AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES.