To help advance the NLARA’s mission of providing world-class youth sports and recreation programming in North Lawndale, we provide financial support to our program partners’ summer initiatives each year—and 2026 was no exception.

This summer, we proudly supported 21 NLARA-affiliated programs hosting clinics, tournaments, and leagues across 11 sports: basketball, boxing, tennis, flag football, football, racquetball, roller skating, rugby, running, soccer, and volleyball.

Among the sponsored initiatives was the 3rd Annual NLARA Leadership Camp at Collins Academy High School on Chicago’s West Side. Seventeen students were hired as Junior Board members and launched the summer by organizing a Teen Takeover Cleanup in nearby Douglass Park. Participants also received financial literacy instruction and were introduced to the fundamentals of day trading through educational modules.