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SAN DIEGO — At just 15 years old, a San Diego teenager was named the 2024 Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year. In this Zevely Zone, I visited the home of the high school sophomore with big time game for giving. Throughout his young life, Arden Pala has proved that one person can make an extraordinary impact. The Francis Parker High School sophomore is being recognized for his work as the founder of Sports4Kids. The nonprofit is dedicated to using sports to empower underserved and homeless children. This isn’t the first time I’ve profiled Arden and big time headlines tell me it won’t be the last.
Arden is featured in the national magazine with the likes of Simone Biles and the Dallas Cowboys. He has arrived. “They told me about it on the day of the photo shoot and first I thought I was going to have a little corner maybe a half a page or something,” said Arden. Instead, SI put Arden on the cover. “It’s pretty insane,” said Arden who has raised more than $300,000 dollars to help underserved students.
Since its inception in 2020, Sports4Kids has introduced 750 children to team sports, distributed more than 25,000 pounds of food, and mobilized 350 youth volunteers to create lasting change in their communities. “I just care about the community a lot,” said Arden. “I mean I just do this on the side.” On the side, because sometimes you forget Arden’s still a kid. His room is filled with a lava lamp, Lego bricks and a rubber chicken. “I like music, I like the piano, ukulele, guitar,” said Arden. “I want to show kids that they can make a difference too. It’s not just about giving back; it’s about empowering others to dream big.”
Arden’s efforts have also been recognized widely. The City of San Diego proclaimed February 23 as “Arden Pala Day.” He received the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2024, the highest volunteerism accolade awarded by the President of the United States.
He is a humble young man who didn’t want all of his awards in his room, but his proud parents have hung them in hallways throughout the house. “My wife and I we are very attentive parents we are very fortunate that we were able to come to the United States and pretty much live through the American dream the way you describe it,” said Arden’s father Serhat. He and his wife Zeynep immigrated to the US from Turkey with only four suitcases. They encourage their son to help the community that helped them. “We came for the American dream and we didn’t come with any means, very humble and the community has been so helpful in our journey,” said Zeynep.
Starting at five years old, Arden started feeding people in need. “I feel like when I did volunteer and I went to homeless shelters, like inter-faith or or other shelters in San Diego, I got to hear the stories of a lot of people experiencing homelessness and I feel that developed empathy for me that I used today to motivate me,” said Arden who read a bit of the Sports Illustrated article about him, “The charity he started and runs the California teen is using the power of sports to uplift underserved students in his community,” Arden then looked up and said, “I am so unbelievably shocked.”
RELATED: San Diego teen volunteer honored by White House and Starbucks
Someday, Arden wants to major in economics, but for now this poster child of giving is just a typical teen. “Oh, totally,” laughed Arden. Sports4Kids continues to expand, with new initiatives such as the “The Gear Up Initiative” and expanding sport clinics throughout California and the nation. For more information, click here.
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