Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant, is the co-founder of the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (KVBFF). The foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need, both domestically and globally, and encouraging young people to stay active through sports. KVBFF provides financial resources, develops unique programs, and raises awareness for relevant issues in order to strengthen communities through educational and cultural enrichment opportunities.
The foundation was launched in 2007 as the VIVO Foundation, with the aim of providing young people with life-changing experiences designed to broaden their global perspectives. Through this initiative, Kobe and Vanessa sponsored international enrichment experiences for minority college students and provided domestic and international youth scholarships for the Kobe Bryant Basketball Academy. The foundation has collaborated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and other organizations to support its mission.
KVBFF developed several programs to improve the lives of youth and families in need, both domestically and globally. Here are some of the programs that KVBFF has developed:
Mamba FC:
A youth soccer club in Orange County that teaches young athletes how to become leaders and independent thinkers, while working together as a group to achieve a common goal through health and fitness.
Youth Homelessness Initiative:
The initiative’s goal is to have a measurable, positive impact on the critical issue of youth homelessness in Los Angeles. The foundation has partnered with a number of local organizations including Step Up on Second, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and homeless youth drop-in center My Friend’s Place. My Friends Place is located in Hollywood, which is where the overwhelming majority of the homeless youth population in Los Angeles can be found, and where the need for comprehensive and coordinated services is the greatest. Vanessa Bryant regularly visits the young parents at My Friend’s Place and hosts an annual holiday celebration for them and their children.
After School All-Stars:
A comprehensive after-school program that provides academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health and fitness activities to nearly 90,000 low-income youth across the country.
China Initiatives:
KVBFF supports education and athletics programs for vulnerable youth in China.
These programs are designed to provide young people with life-changing experiences, broaden their global perspectives, and encourage them to stay active through sports. KVBFF’s dedication to improving the lives of young people and families in need is truly inspiring.
In addition to KVBFF, Vanessa Bryant has also founded the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation in honor of her husband and daughter Gianna. The foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating positive impact for underserved athletes and boys & girls in sports. The foundation offers sports education to underserved athletes and provides funding for programs that help young people develop their athletic abilities and leadership skills.
Vanessa Bryant’s philanthropic efforts have been recognized by many organizations, including the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which named her the honorary chair of its annual HomeWalk for three consecutive years. Her dedication to improving the lives of young people and families in need is an inspiration to us all.
Learn more at: Home – Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation (mambaandmambacita.org), Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation About – Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation (kvbff.org)
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The Sport Lady has been a lifelong sports enthusiast. She believes that sports have the power to unite people, create common bonds, and foster shared experiences. As a wife and mother of sports lovers, she is passionate about her favorite teams and cherishes every opportunity to watch them play. For her, every day is game day!