Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

What Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation does

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation is a privately held 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 by six-time world champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and his wife Bernadette Leonard, headquartered in Granada Hills, California. The foundation funds pediatric Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes research and care, raises awareness for both diseases, and supports programs that help children live healthier lives through diet and exercise. Its primary programmatic partner is the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, where it underwrites the Embedded Psychology Program, the Type 2 Diabetes Clinic (opened 2017), Teen Power, Kids N Fitness (since 2013) and the HEAL Initiative; it additionally partners with the American Heart Association Teaching Garden program (since 2018), which maintains more than 400 teaching gardens nationwide.

The foundation generates revenue through three streams: tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations and foundations (Federal Tax ID 26-3465689); merchandise sales through its online shop; and event fundraising anchored by its signature annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' Charity Boxing Night held at the Beverly Hilton, featuring professional boxing bouts, live and silent auctions, celebrity attendance and tiered corporate sponsorships (B. Riley Securities as presenting sponsor in 2023; LA Lakers and Skechers Foundation in 2024). It also leverages a Skechers brand ambassador relationship for awareness. Programs reach approximately 1,800 children with diabetes and 4,600+ with other endocrine disorders annually at CHLA, with 961 type 2 diabetes patients and 230+ patients enrolled in the T2D research database.

The foundation operates with a lean staff (Executive Director Jennifer Wilson plus the founding Leonard family), a board including Usher Raymond and Honorary Founding Member Grace Raymond, and outsourced press relations through Rogers & Cowan. The operating footprint is United States-only, with primary geographic focus on Los Angeles County. There are no subsidiaries, no parent organization, no funding rounds (in the venture sense) and no disclosed revenue; the foundation relies on Sugar Ray Leonard's celebrity equity and on annual event execution as its principal growth levers.

Name

Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Legal name

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Website

https://sugarrayleonardfdn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 by boxer Sugar Ray Leonard that funds pediatric Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes research and care, primarily through Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the American Heart Association Teaching Garden program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Charitable Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ), Maternal, Child & Family Health Program Funding (HLAJALAG), Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Pediatric diabetes research
• Nonprofit foundation
• Charitable fundraising
• Diabetes awareness programs
• Child health initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Granada Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization (Federal Tax ID 26-3465689).
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of official Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation branded merchandise through the online shop. Proceeds benefit the foundation's diabetes research and awareness programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated through the annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' charity boxing night, including ticket sales, sponsorship packages, and live/silent auction item sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation funds pediatric type 1 and type 2 diabetes research and care, creates awareness for both diseases, and helps children live healthier lives through diet and exercise. Its work is delivered through financial support of named programs at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (Embedded Psychology Program, Type 2 Diabetes Clinic, Teen Power, Kids N Fitness) and a Teaching Garden partnership with the American Heart Association. Funds are raised via tax-deductible donations, branded merchandise sales, and the annual "Big Fighters, Big Cause" Charity Boxing Night.

Product overview

The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation operates primarily as a charitable organization rather than a product company. Its core offerings include a donation platform and merchandise shop for raising funds, along with signature programs such as the annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' Charity Boxing Night event. The Foundation's programmatic work focuses on pediatric diabetes research and prevention through partnerships with Children's Hospital Los Angeles (supporting the Embedded Psychology Program, Type 2 Diabetes Clinic, Teen Power, and Kids N Fitness programs) and the American Heart Association (Teaching Garden partnership). These initiatives are unified by the Foundation's mission to fund research and create awareness for type 1 and type 2 diabetes while helping children live healthier lives through diet and exercise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Big Fighters, Big Cause Charity Boxing Night Annual signature charity event featuring professional boxing bouts, celebrity attendance, live and silent auctions, and entertainment to raise funds for pediatric diabetes research and care through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction proceeds.
• Official Merchandise Shop Standalone online storefront selling official Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation branded merchandise, with all proceeds benefiting pediatric diabetes research and awareness initiatives.
• Online Donation Platform Secure online donation flow embedded on the foundation website that enables supporters to make tax-deductible contributions to fund pediatric type 1 and type 2 diabetes research and awareness programs.
• Kids N Fitness Program Six-week weight management and healthy lifestyle program for overweight and obese children and their parents, focused on nutrition education, physical activity, and goal-setting; funded by the foundation at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
• Teen Power Program Interdisciplinary intervention offering psychological support and skills-based learning for adolescents ages 12-18 with insulin-treated diabetes, funded by the foundation at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
• Embedded Psychology Program Psychology service embedded within the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, providing mental health support to pediatric diabetes patients regardless of their ability to pay; funded by the foundation.
• Type 2 Diabetes Clinic Specialized clinic at Children's Hospital Los Angeles dedicated to addressing multifactorial issues faced by adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes; the first such clinic in the nation and supported by the foundation.
• American Heart Association Teaching Garden Partnership Partnership with the American Heart Association supporting Teaching Gardens — real-life outdoor classrooms where children learn to plant seeds, nurture plants, harvest produce, and develop healthy eating habits; more than 400 gardens nationwide with 55 in Los Angeles County.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 1,800 children with diabetes receive care annually at CHLA through foundation-supported programs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• Los Angeles LakersmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Los Angeles Lakers served as a Contender Sponsor for the 13th Annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' Boxing Night in 2024.
• Skechers FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Skechers Foundation served as a Round Card Sponsor for the 13th Annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' Boxing Night in 2024.
• B. Riley SecuritiesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023B. Riley Securities partnered as the presenting sponsor for the 12th Annual 'Big Fighters, Big Cause' Charity Boxing Night. The event was hosted at the Beverly Hilton and featured first-class entertainment, professional boxing bouts, gourmet food, open bar, and live/silent auctions.
• American Heart Association - Teaching Garden ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership to establish Teaching Gardens - real-life laboratories where children learn to plant seeds, nurture plants, harvest produce, and learn the value of good eating habits. The program addresses childhood obesity and helps change how kids and families think about food consumption. The foundation supports the establishment and maintenance of these gardens.
• Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes & MetabolismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Long-term partnership supporting the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at CHLA. The foundation has supported multiple initiatives including the Embedded Psychology Program, Type 2 Diabetes Clinic, Teen Power, Kids N Fitness, and HEAL Initiative. CHLA is one of the largest endocrine programs in the country, pioneering pediatric care and research in all types of diabetes.
• SkechersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSugar Ray Leonard serves as a Skechers brand ambassador. This ambassador relationship helps promote the foundation and its mission through Skechers' marketing channels and comfort apparel products.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Diabetes Association: The leading national voluntary health organization focused on all forms of diabetes. It overlaps directly with the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation in funding pediatric diabetes research, awareness, and care, while operating broader advocacy and education programs.
• Beyond Type 1: A nonprofit focused on funding Type 1 diabetes research, advocacy, and community support. It targets many of the same pediatric and family segments and competes for similar grassroots and corporate giving.
• JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation): The largest nonprofit funder of Type 1 diabetes research globally. JDRF is the most direct peer, competing for the same pool of pediatric diabetes research dollars and donor mindshare, but at materially greater scale.
• Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: A nonprofit that raises and channels funds exclusively to the Diabetes Research Institute for cure-focused research. It directly mirrors the foundation's research-funding role in pediatric and adult diabetes.
• Joslin Diabetes Center: An internationally recognized diabetes research, care, and education institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School. It combines clinical care and research, paralleling how the foundation supports CHLA's clinical and research programs.

Regional players

• Breakthrough T1D (UK; formerly JDRF UK): The UK counterpart to JDRF for Type 1 diabetes research funding and advocacy. Not a US competitor but operates the same pediatric diabetes grantmaking and supporter-engagement model in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust: One of the largest US foundations funding Type 1 diabetes research, clinical programs, and broader health initiatives. It operates at far greater scale than the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation but competes for the same institutional pediatric diabetes research partners.

Others

• The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Founded in memory of Jim Valvano and sustained by sports-world celebrity networks and signature annual events. It is a structural peer—celebrity-athlete-founded, event-driven disease research funder—rather than a disease-area competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sugarrayleonard
• Facebookfacebook.com/SugarRayLeonard6

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation