APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER TREVA REID AND PRESIDENT PRO
TEMPORE DAN KALB
RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING STEPHEN AND AYESHA CURRY AND THE EAT. LEARN. PLAY. FOUNDATION FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO
ENHANCING THE WELL -BEING OF OAKLAND YOUTH THROUGH THE
REMODELING OF PLAYGROUND STRUCTURES AND PROVIDING ACCESS
TO NUTRITION, LITERACY, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES SINCE 2019.
WHEREAS, Stephen Curry, point guard for the Golden State Warriors and renowned for his NBA achievements, co-founded the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in 2019 with his wife, Ayesha Curry- an accomplished businesswoman, chef, restaurateur, and actress. The Foundation was established with the mission to eliminate childhood hunger, ensure children have equitable access to high- quality education, and provide them with safe, engaging spaces to play and recreate.
Recognizing that nearly 14 million children lack access to adequate food and that 37% of Oakland youth live in food-insecure households- disproportionately impacting minority youth- the Currys have prioritized this critical work; and
WHEREAS, with the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation’s investment of $72 million dollars, it has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Oakland community. F ocusing on the holistic development of children, the Foundation specifically emphasizes nutrition, literacy, and physical activity. These three pillars address vital needs to help shape the next generation of Oaklanders; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, the Foundation has delivered 25 million meals, ensuring that Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) students have consistent and equitable access to healthy food. With 77% of OUSD students qualifying for free or reduced- price lunch, t he Foundation also launched a multi-year initiative to open OUSD’s new Central Kitchen, providing over 6 million scratch-cooked meals annually to 35,000 students across 85 schools; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus, an innovative mobile program that delivers healthy meals and culturally affirming books to Oakland youth, ensuring
2 access to quality food and educational resources during weekends and school breaks. To date, the Bus has delivered over 25,000 meals, 100,000 books, and thousands of grocery staples to OUSD students, leading to improved student attendance and academic performance; and WH
EREAS, the Foundation’s efforts extend beyond nutrition to promote literacy, allocating $6 million dollars to initiatives such as the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus and Little Town Libraries program. These efforts aim to foster a love of reading, develop essential skills, and nurture curiosity and imagination among Oakland’s youth. With 66% of OUSD third graders reading below grade level- including 85% of Black and Latinx students- the Foundation’s goal of raising reading test scores is both timely and urgent; and WH
EREAS, the Foundation has committed to expanding its literacy programs with a goal of raising $25 million dollars over the next five years to open 10,000 tutoring spots for students needing significant reading support. These efforts aim to empower OUSD students with access to educational opportunities that foster intellectual growth and close the achievement gap; and WH
EREAS, the Foundation has also prioritized play and physical activity, remodeling playgrounds in under-resourced neighborhoods to provide safe, high- quality recreational spaces.
Recognizing that only 14% of Oakland youth meet the recommended daily exercise requirements, the Foundation views play as essential to children’s physical and mental development; and WH
EREAS, in District 7, the Foundation has remodeled playgrounds at REACH Academy, 81st Avenue Campus, Lockwood STEAM Academy, and the Stonehurst Campus.
Across Oakland, the Foundation has revitalized 17 school and community playgrounds (15 within OUSD), providing equitable access to quality play spaces for 6,600 students annually and working toward its goal of enabling 2 billion minutes of active play over children’s lifetimes; and WH
EREAS, the Foundation plans to provide 25 public elementary school play yards by 2026, benefiting 11,250 students annually. These efforts, coupled with Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s exemplary leadership, have fostered a sense of belonging for Oakland’s youth, while supporting their physical and emotional well-being; and WH
EREAS, through their transformative leadership and Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation Stephen and Ayesha Curry have meaningfully impacted the systemic inequities faced by Oakland’s youth. Their holistic and multifaceted approach has inspired countless others to give back, making them powerful advocates for the well-being of Oakland’s children; and WH
EREAS, the Foundation’s comprehensive work in supporting children’s nutritional, educational, and physical needs has positively impacted thousands of Oakland families, creating lasting change and improving the quality of life for future generations; 338745/jb
3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Oakland recognizes and commends Stephen and Ayesha Curry and the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation for their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of Oakland’s youth through efforts to remodel playgrounds, provide nutritious meals, promote literacy, encourage physical activity; and
BE IT F
URTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Oakland expresses its deepest gratitude for the Curry ’s transformative leadership and commitment to Oakland’s youth and families and looks forward to continued collaboration and positive impact in the years to come.
IN C
OUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PAS
SED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES-
FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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