Fernando Ramirez serves as the chief policy and public affairs officer at both the LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund.
The LA84 Foundation, a legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, is a nationally acclaimed leader in supporting youth sports programs and educating the public about the benefits of sports for positive youth development. The Play Equity Fund, established by the LA84 Foundation as its 501(c)3 public charity partner, aims to ensure that all children—regardless of race, gender, sexuality, zip code, or socioeconomic status—can experience the transformative power of sport and play.
In his role, Ramirez manages a wide array of responsibilities including advocacy strategies, public policy, communications, organizing, research library, and government relations. He has embraced this opportunity to influence generational systems change and positively impact young people within the lens of equity and inclusion through the transformational power of sport.
Under his leadership, the Play Equity Fund has successfully expanded its collaboration with the twelve professional sports teams in the region, known as the Alliance, to promote social justice, advocacy, and career pathways for local high school students.
Before joining the LA84 Foundation and Play Equity Fund, Ramirez spent over fifteen years in public service, where he effectively implemented numerous legislative measures and developed various programs and campaigns on complex policy issues including economic development, social services, transportation, homelessness, and the creative economy. He held various leadership roles at the City and County of Los Angeles and the California State Legislature.
Ramirez has also served as the board president of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project and was selected as a fellow in the Victory Institute’s David Bohnett Leaders Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Chicana/o Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.