Athlete Launches Foundation to Support Youth Sports Programs Nationwide
Former Olympic Champion Commits $5 Million to Address Participation Barriers for Underserved Youth
NEW YORK, NY – November 27, 2025 – Former Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Champion track athlete Maya Chen announced today the launch of The Chen Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating financial and structural barriers preventing youth participation in sports programs across the United States. The foundation’s initial commitment of $5 million over three years targets under-resourced communities where access to organized athletics has declined precipitously.
The foundation’s establishment follows concerning trends in youth sports accessibility. The youth sports market has grown into a $54 billion industry, yet participation rates among children from low-income households have decreased by nearly 20 percent since 2020, according to industry analysis. Research from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative reveals that cost remains the primary obstacle, with families spending an average of $1,200 annually per child on sports-related expenses. The Chen Foundation will distribute multi-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 to community organizations, prioritizing sustained relationship-building over transactional funding models that have proven less effective in creating lasting programmatic change.
Recent studies highlight the severity of participation gaps, particularly among female athletes. Research shows 45 percent of girls quit sports due to body confidence issues, with 48 percent dropping out after being told they have the wrong body type for their sport, according to data published by the Los Angeles Sparks organization. Additionally, mental health challenges affect up to 44 percent of student-athletes daily, creating compounding barriers to sustained participation. The Chen Foundation will address these intersecting challenges through three strategic pillars: direct facility funding, equipment provision, and integrated mental health resources for coaches and participants. “Every child deserves access to the lifelong benefits of sports, regardless of their zip code or family income,” said Maya Chen, founder and president of The Chen Foundation. “My journey from a community track program to the Olympic podium taught me that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. This foundation exists to change that equation.”
The foundation’s inaugural initiatives include a court resurfacing program targeting 50 community facilities in 15 states, a national equipment recycling network that will distribute 25,000 pieces of gently used sports gear, and a coach certification program in partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance. The Chen Foundation has also established a youth mental health advisory board comprising sports psychologists and former collegiate athletes to develop evidence-based training modules for volunteer coaches. Initial funding partnerships include collaborations with Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation’s “Game On” initiative and Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s community development programs, leveraging existing infrastructure to maximize impact.
The foundation’s geographic focus spans both urban and rural markets, with dedicated funding streams for Native American reservations and communities designated as “sports deserts”—areas where youth must travel more than 20 miles to access organized programming. According to foundation CEO Rebecca Torres, a former NCAA administrator with 15 years in athletic development, this targeted approach addresses systemic inequities that previous initiatives have overlooked. “We’re not just writing checks; we’re building sustainable ecosystems,” Torres stated. “Our three-year grant cycles include capacity-building requirements, outcome metrics, and technical assistance to ensure these programs thrive long after our initial investment. The goal is to create community-owned solutions, not dependency.”
The Chen Foundation will begin accepting applications from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations on January 15, 2026, with first-quarter grant awards announced by April 1. The foundation projects supporting approximately 75 organizations and reaching 100,000 youth annually by 2028.
About The Chen Foundation
The Chen Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Olympic champion Maya Chen in 2025. Dedicated to expanding access to youth sports in under-resourced communities nationwide, the foundation provides multi-year grants, facility renovations, equipment resources, and mental health programming. Through strategic partnerships with community organizations, professional leagues, and corporate sponsors, The Chen Foundation works to ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the physical, mental, and developmental benefits of organized athletics. For more information, visit www.chenfoundation.org.
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