Youth Sports Grants Go to Other Places

Orange County-based youth sports groups were not among those that received $444,237 from the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles Friday, but four from the area are being considered for future grants, foundation officials said.

The 13 organizations that did receive awards are based in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. The amounts range from $93,600 to $5,000.

Of the $30.9 million in grants and programs funded by the AAF since 1984, Orange County-based organizations have received only about $344,000 in direct grants. Another $1.6 million has gone to regional groups that operate outside as well as within the county.

Since its inception, the AAF has made $17.8 million in direct grants to more than 300 organizations throughout Southern California, and it has spent another $13 million on programs serving youth and amateur sports. The foundation, a nonprofit organization, was endowed with $90 million in profits from the 1984 Olympic Games, and it awards grants four times a year.

The largest of the grants awarded to youth sports organizations Friday was $93,600 to the California Handicapped Skiers Foundation, which will provide 500 handicapped children with ski instruction at Bear Mountain, foundation Chairman David L. Wolper said.

The foundation does not identify applicants whose applications are not approved, but AAF President Anita DeFrantz did say that there have been six requests from Orange County-based organizations since January. Two of the applications did not meet foundation guidelines, she said. Only groups, not individuals, are considered for grants, she said. One of the applications was made on behalf of an individual, DeFrantz said, and the other was for a program not devoted solely to sports.

The foundation board of directors also approved grants of $79,400 to the East Valley Boys and Girls Club in Baldwin Park; $73,737 to the Constitutional Rights Foundation for its Sports and the Law program to familiarize students with the legal system and $68,100 to the Southern California Speed Skating Assn. for programs in Paramount and Burbank.

Grants of $20,000 apiece will go to the Ojai Gymnastics Club, the TAGS Gymnastic Center in Corona and the American Gymnastics Academy in Signal Hill to pay for new mats and other equipment.