LA84 Foundation Taps Corporate Marketing Executive Robert Wagner To Fill Newly Created Position Of Vice President Of Partnerships

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Senior marketing executive Robert Wagner is joining the LA84 Foundation in the newly-created role of Vice President of Partnerships.  Wagner will create and manage local and national partnerships with companies, foundations and community-based organizations interested in supporting youth sports programs and related research funded by the LA84 Foundation.

Since its founding in 1985, the Foundation has invested $214 million in sports programs, serving more than 2.5 million youth throughout Southern California.  In addition to providing grants, LA84 manages programming for youth athletes and coaches, and convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. 

Wagner joins the LA84 Foundation after his two-year tenure as Corporate Vice President of Strategic Alliances at Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, one of the largest amusement-resort operators in the world. In this position, he successfully managed existing sponsorships and forged new strategic partnerships--his most recent accomplishment was signing a multi-year exclusive marketing sponsorship agreement with the Coca-Cola Company.

He has held senior marketing roles with companies such as the Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club, the National Hot Rod Association, and the Walt Disney Company's Anaheim Angels (now Los Angeles Angels) MLB Baseball Club and Mighty Ducks NHL Hockey Club. In these roles, he secured high-profile naming rights, expanded community relations and fan development efforts, and generated millions in sponsorship and ticket sales through successful advertising and broadcasting campaigns.

"The LA84 Foundation is one of the nation's leading authorities on youth sports, and we believe we can do even more to broaden our reach and impact by creating dynamic new partnerships with leading companies, foundations and community-based organizations," said Bob Graziano, LA84's Board Chair. "Robert has an impressive track record creating model corporate partnerships in major league sports and entertainment. The opportunity to create similar partnerships to benefit kids throughout Southern California is enormous, and we couldn't be happier to have someone of Robert's caliber leading this new area of work for us."

"One of the main goals of the Foundation is to deepen the public's understanding of the importance of youth sports, and we are committed to bringing people on board who share this mission," said LA84 Foundation President Anita DeFrantz. "Throughout his career, Robert has demonstrated a keen ability to reach and engage a wide range of audiences, and we look forward to what he'll bring to the table to help us connect with a broader network of support in Los Angeles and beyond."

Beyond his professional experience, Wagner's extensive involvement in the community demonstrates his commitment to sustain and expand the philanthropic mission of the LA84 Foundation. He currently serves on the Corporate Partner Committee of the Southern California Special Olympics, as well as on the Advisory Board of the Sports Management Program at his alma mater, CSU Long Beach.  In the past, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Children's Hospital of Orange County and as an instructor and guest speaker for sports management programs at several of the top universities in the state, including Stanford University, USC, University of San Francisco and UC Irvine.

"I'm very excited in joining the LA84 Foundation team," said Wagner. "It will allow me to parlay all my years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry in support of the Foundation's goals of expanding youth sports opportunities in Southern California and increasing public awareness of the value of sport."

ABOUT THE LA84 Foundation

The LA84 Foundation was established to manage Southern California's share of the surplus from the successful 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  The Foundation received $93 million at its inception. Since it began operations in 1985, it has invested $214 million in sports programs serving more than 2.5 million youth in the eight Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura. Its headquarters is the historic Britt House near downtown Los Angeles, which houses meeting facilities and the world's premier sports library. The Foundation provides grants to youth sports organizations, manages programming for youth athletes and coaches, and convenes numerous forums for the exploration of the most pressing issues in sport. For more information, please visit www.LA84Foundation.org.

SOURCE LA84 Foundation