Place To Play Foundation

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Where Community Comes Alive

Together we create inclusive spaces where every child can play, grow, and create.

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Our Mission Matters

Place to Play Foundation is dedicated to empowering children in Long Beach and neighboring cities through equitable access to safe, joyful spaces to participate in athletics and the creative arts, to foster holistic child development, build mental resilience, and cultivate essential social skills.

Our Focus Areas

We work across multiple pillars to create lasting impact in our community.

Empowering Youth

Building confidence and leadership skills through organized sports activities, creative arts, and mentorship programs.

Community Engagement

Bringing families and
neighborhoods together through
sports, creative arts, and music programs.

Accessible Sports

Removing barriers to sports
participation by providing free or
low-cost programs and
equipment.

Healthy Communities

Promoting physical fitness, mental wellness, creative expression, and healthy lifestyles for children and families.

Volunteer

Mentor youth. Strengthen our community.

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Partner

Partner with us to create play spaces.

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Our Community in Action
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Gregory C. Smith

For Gregory C. Smith, creating a safe place to play is more than a mission—it’s personal. Born and raised in South Los Angeles, he grew up surrounded by the realities of gang culture and violence. While many of his peers were pulled into those circumstances, Gregory found direction and purpose through two powerful influences: his love for sports and the steady guidance of his father, a respected local pastor. Witnessing his father lay friends to rest almost every other Saturday gave Gregory a profound understanding of the real stakes facing young people in at-risk communities.

Today, Gregory turns his life experiences into action through the Place to Play Foundation, a Long Beach–based nonprofit focused on youth development and sports equity. As the Founder and CEO of both the Foundation and BBallers Hoops LLC, he works to make sure every child has access to quality training, regardless of financial circumstances.

By operating as the charitable arm of his basketball academy, the Foundation provides scholarships, mentorship, and character-building programs to youth in need. Gregory’s work is driven by a simple belief: every child deserves the chance to succeed in a positive, supportive environment.