Arden Pala: A Changemaker Beyond His Years
At just 14 years old, Arden Pala has already emerged as a powerful voice for compassion, community, and youth-led change. What began as a response to a single school cutting its PE program has since grown into a citywide movement empowering thousands of underserved children through the power of sports, storytelling, and service.
Sports4Kids: Building Confidence Through Play
Arden is the founder of Sports4Kids, a nonprofit that provides free sports clinics, coaching, and mentorship to low-income and homeless youth in San Diego. By creating safe, structured environments where kids can build confidence, teamwork, and resilience, Sports4Kids fills a gap left by underfunded schools and overburdened systems.
Since its launch, the initiative has:
- Raised over $140,000
- Engaged 6,500+ volunteer hours
- Positively impacted 7,500+ individuals, including 450+ homeless children
Storytelling for Social Good
Beyond the sports field, Arden uses film and literature to bring awareness to issues often left in the shadows. His short documentary, A Second Chance, explores the realities of homelessness through a compassionate lens, earning recognition at the American Youth Film Festival. As a children’s book author, Arden donates the proceeds from his book series to charitable causes, using storytelling to teach empathy and social responsibility from an early age.
Impact at a Glance
- 450+ homeless youth engaged in team sports
- $140,000+ raised to support youth programs
- 6,500 volunteer hours logged
- Books and films used to advocate for homelessness awareness
- 7,500+ lives touched across San Diego communities
At TALTalks 2025, we’ll hear how Arden is using creativity, compassion, and initiative to lead change from the front — proving that you’re never too young to make a difference.
Because when young people are trusted, supported, and inspired, they don’t just imagine a better world — they build it.
