“City Starz” was launched in 2007 and it has quickly become the central focus of the Starz Foundation.  With this program, the Foundation is able to reach deep within the under-served, inner-city communities and provide the motivated children with both, access to an alternative sport, such as lacrosse, and a mentor program intent on providing optimism, hope, and guidance to set the framework for a "brighter future".

The inaugural effort of City Starz is focused in South Central Los Angeles, CA, where it is easier to find ways to fail than it is for more positive options.  To date, the Foundation has initiated programs at John Muir Middle School, Gage Middle School and surrounding schools.  Within only a few months, nearly 100 students are involved!  The teams practice once per week and are enrolled in a number of summer tournaments, camps and field trips.  Through generous donations, The Starz Foundation provides the City Starz players with equipment, uniforms, team/league membership fees, travel, food, and even scholarships to attend sleepover camps!   

To ensure that lacrosse continues to be a viable option for our players throughout their high school careers, The Starz Foundation has teamed up with "LAXinLA" (www.laxinla.org), a program focusing on the development of the high school lacrosse player in the inner city environment.  The Starz Foundation provides office and coaching support for "LaxinLA", and assists with college recruiting efforts and equipment drives for the players.

In addition to the athletic experience, the Starz Foundation provides each player with a mentor.  The current mentors consist of former Starz players, professional players, businessmen and women, and volunteer parents.  The goal of the mentor program is to help our kids achieve their highest potential on the field, in the classroom and at home with their families and friends.  The mentor’s achieve this objective through assisting the "City Starz" by sharing with these young people, situations that will broaden their view on life and their future.  Things like sporting events, movies, and team dinners...all great bonding opportunities for the players as well as the mentors.

To further the mentor initiative, The Starz Foundation has joined forces with L.A. Bridges (www. lacity.org/CDD/lab_index.html), an organization aimed at both preventing the inner city youth from joining gangs and rehabilitating those in gangs who are anxious to turn their lives around.  L.A. Bridges works with individuals, families, schools and the community to reduce delinquent gang activity among youth by reaching out for help and support in providing its kids with new hobbies and interests to occupy their time and to keep them away from gang violence.  The Starz Foundation has teamed with L.A. Bridges by providing easy and free access to all of its “City Starz” services for any member who is interested in learning and playing the sport of lacrosse.

The mission of The Starz Foundation is to spread the "City Starz” program theme to additional under-served communities on the west coast.  In fact, by the end of 2007, The Starz Foundation will field its first “City Starlets” girl’s team as well as launch its second “City Starz” program in San Diego, CA. We believe that we are making a big difference in the lives of our youth and we need help in order to extend our services.  If you live in an area which you feel could benefit from this type of community service program, or if you would like to help by volunteering, please contact us at foundation@starzlax.com.  Likewise, if you would like to assist our efforts with a financial donation or become an official sponsor of The Starz Foundation, please click on one of the two links below:

Click here to donate now.

Click here to learn more about becoming a sponsor for the Starz Foundation.  Together, we can make a difference in the lives of student athletes throughout the entire West Coast!

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