Ideal Youth summer intern program hosted the City of Pasadena NBA Experience celebrating “Youth Internship Awareness”, generating scholarships for internship stipends and providing a platform to shine a light on the importance of providing resources and job shadow/internship opportunities to high school and college students to prepare them for the 21st century workforce.

Pasadena youth and event sponsors played an intricate role in the event by participating in pregame fan experiences. The City-wide youth basketball team played an exciting scrimmage game against the Pasadena Police Department P.A.L. team. Sponsors formed fan tunnels, enjoyed oncourt recognition and a VIP reception where several received plaques from Ideal Youth, presented by President Kardia Pinckney and Mayor Bill Bogaard.

Lastly, the Pasadena Water & Power Department provided 300 Pasadena spectators attending the game “Fan Cards” displaying the words “Shooting for Scholarships”, promoting youth scholarships.

In addition, the Tournament of Roses sponsored free game tickets to youth from the Ambassador Program, Loma Alta Basketball, Pasadena/Altadena LINKS Program and Victory Bible Church and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO) provided complimentary round-trip Gold Line day passes to transport them to the game. The LA Clipper provided each youth with a 2015 Clippers hat. 90% of the youth had never utilized public transportation, actually visited downtown Los Angeles and Staples Center or attend a professional sporting event.

Total Pasadena attendance reached +500 with over 125 youth participants. Event sponsors included: Title Sponsor Lockheed Martin, VIP reception sponsor Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Event Sponsors: City of Pasadena, F&M Business Center, KA Consulting, Unyque Financial, Tournament of Roses, Pasadena Water & Power, Rose Bowl, DusitD2 Constance Hotel, The Langham, Wells Fargo, Paseo Colorado, Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Center Operating Company, Thorson Buick & GMC of Pasadena, New Discovery Production LLC, Pasadena Human Services and Recreation Department, Pasadena Police Department.

The Ideal Youth, summer intern program founded in 2009, is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 Pasadena based organization dedicated to educating students 16-21 years old about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through interactive, hands-on advanced job training and internships. The intention of the City of Pasadena NBA Experience is to establish a financial foundation to assist them in steering young adults towards meaningful, fulfilling careers and facilitating valuable opportunities for work experience to transition the young people into the permanent workforce.