The Chargers Community Foundation was founded in 1995 by San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos to enhance his belief of "sharing the wealth" and to provide an even greater level of financial assistance for educational, physical fitness & nutritional needs of the San Diego community.
Since its creation, the Chargers Community Foundation has led the way in honoring volunteers, assisting youth sports and helping critical causes important to our community.
Thanks to a grant from the Chargers Community Foundation, the San Diego Unified School District was able to create opportunities for students to participate in freshman boys' football and girls' volleyball in 14 San Diego City high schools — the only school district in the county that at the time was not providing these opportunities for students.
Chargers Champions, the foundation's major grant program, continuously provides scholarships and grants to students, schools, educators and coaches. Since its inception, Chargers Champions has awarded more than $3.5 million dollars in grants and scholarships to 175 students, 76 schools and 46 educators and coaches.
Through its annual Community Quarterback Awards Program, the Chargers Community Foundation honors outstanding volunteers in youth football from throughout the county who are recognized for their contributions and who receive grants to their youth football organizations donated in their name. Now in its 9th year, the program has already donated more than $100,00 to local youth football land cheer organizations on behalf of their outstanding community volunteers.
Thanks to these and other programs run by the Chargers Community Foundation, numerous organizations, like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Rady Children's Hospital and the Huntington's Disease Association, receive thousands of dollars of support each year.
The money raised by the Chargers Community Foundation is allocated through grants, scholarships and monetary donations to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions working to enrich and strengthen communities throughout the greater San Diego area.