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 hidden 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.