Our Board

The John R. Wooden Award Foundation (JRWAF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 2023 and chartered in 2024, dedicated to supporting and promoting the John R. Wooden Award programs nationwide. Its mission is to foster teamwork, academic excellence, and character development. JRWAF serves as the primary resource provider for the Wooden Award’s legacy and philanthropic efforts while offering comprehensive guidance and support for award administration, ensuring integrity and adherence to John Wooden’s principles. Board members actively engage in development and fundraising efforts to support JRWAF’s mission. The Board meets at least six times a year and files a Form 990 with the IRS. Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award® program has made charitable gifts of nearly one million dollars in the names of the Wooden Award All American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps. The Special Olympics of Southern California holds a special place in the hearts of the Wooden Award activities, as Chairman Sam Lagana introduced the program in 1996 that integrates the Wooden Award All America Team with teams from Southern California Special Olympics in basketball competition when the student athletes and their coaches, coach the SOSC athletics in competition at LAAC.

JRWAF Board of Directors:
Sam Lagana – Founding Chairman

Tetsu Tanimoto – Vice Chairman

Stewart Hsieh – Secretary

Sean Rooney – Treasurer

Linda Reid

Bill Doak

Greg Wooden

Craig Impelman

Upen Sachdev