City Backs After-School Sports Plan

The idea of forming a nonprofit organization to raise money for after-school sports programs at Anaheim campuses received unanimous support from the City Council this week.

The Anaheim Prep Sports-Activities Foundation will be a joint venture with the Anaheim Union High School District. The foundation will raise money through the private sector to provide financial support for after-school athletic and other activities at junior high and high schools throughout Anaheim.

Mayor Tom Daly and Councilman Lou Lopez were selected to serve on the organization’s seven-member board of directors. Three board members have been selected by the school board, and the remaining members will be selected by the five directors.

“Now it’s time to get to work and raise the money to start offering programs to the students,” Daly said. “The goal is to have more sports, more music and more arts.”

As a boy, Lopez said, after-school programs kept him out of trouble.

Money raised will pay for coaches, staff and equipment for the programs, Daly said.

The city’s participation in the foundation, however, is contingent on the city attorney’s review and approval of bylaws for the organization.