Who We Are

The Lewis Sports Foundation (LSF) is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth through sports and education. Founded in 1999 by former Minnesota Viking Dr. Leo Lewis, LSF addresses the critical challenges faced by today’s physically active youth, including financial cutbacks, inconsistent community resources, and the pressures of balancing sports and academics. LSF helps youth practice lifeskills through sports. Through our programs, physical activity isn’t just movement–it’s a means to develop purpose, grit, and belonging. LSF provides year-round support to middle and high school youth across the Twin Cities through impactful programs including on-the-field mentorship, in-school academic coaching, and sports clinics designed to cultivate leadership, teamwork, and healthy living. By further fostering these skills, the foundation helps young people succeed both on and off the field. Over the past two decades, LSF has grown from a single-initiative program into a multifaceted organization delivering year-round support.

Our mission was born from Dr. Lewis’ first-hand experience with the transformational power of athletics to shape lives, build confidence, and foster resilience. Through our programs, physical activity becomes more than exercise–it’s a practice for life skills where youth can learn to overcome daily challenges, connect with others, stay motivated, and chart their own positive futures.

LSF empowers youth to thrive on and off the field through year-round mentorship, academic guidance, and life-skills development.
Our goals include:
● Build resilience, leadership, and balanced-living among youth through structured sports and academic support.
● Partner with schools and community agencies to provide consistent, high-quality mentorship.
● Cultivate opportunities that strengthen personal development, especially for students with limited access to extracurricular support.