“Founded in 2014, Legacies United Foundation (LUF) was established as a platform for inter-generational Research, Learning and Activity.” Our Mission is to bridge the gap between various generational cohorts through cultivated learning experiences, advocacy and public policy initiatives. We believe this is essential to improving the plight of children, youth, and older adults in our community.
In 2022, coming off the global COVID19 pandemic, LUF and its leadership team developed a strategic plan to address the fall out. We prioritized the issues of social isolation amongst community members and the lack of youth engagement in sports and/or extracurricular activities. Research conducted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital further reported that 31% of Franklin County youth are overweight or obese on par with rates that are also too high for Ohio (33%) and the U.S (31%). We hoped to spark a community conversation around ways to strengthen the platform of youth sports while addressing access and affordability. The Annual Youth Sports Leadership Conference was established to:
• Stress the importance of Prevention, Safety, Sportsmanship and continued learning for coaches and volunteers
• Encourage Sport Sampling by helping Youth and their families better prepare for the World of Sports and physical activity
• Create ports of accessibility
• Help Youth and their Families leverage the knowledge, skills and abilities gained through sports and physical activity.