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Arden Pala

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Arden Pala
Born
Arden Pala

2009 [1]
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationFrancis Parker School (San Diego)
OccupationPhilanthropist · Nonprofit executive · Author · Filmmaker
Years active2019–present
OrganizationSports4Kids
Known forFounder & CEO of Sports4Kids
Awards2024 SportsKid of the Year (Sports Illustrated)

Arden Pala is an American philanthropist, author, actor, and filmmaker. He is known for founding the nonprofit organization Sports4Kids.[2][3][4][5] He received a 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and a President’s Council Award for his work with Sports4Kids.[6][7][8] He is the youngest person to receive a President’s Council Award.[6][9]

Pala is also the author of the children’s book series The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car.[10][11][12] He wrote and directed the documentary film A Second Chance.[13][14]

Early life and education

[edit]

Pala was born to Turkish immigrants Serhat Pala and Zeynep Ilgaz Pala, who are the cofounders of a biotech company, Confirm Biosciences.[13] He also has an older brother named Kenana, that started the non-profit organization Kids4Community.[15]

As of 2025, he was a sophomore at Francis Parker High.[2]

Career

[edit]

Pala published his first book, The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through China.[16]

Pala starred as Zalmai in the 2018 production of the play A Thousand Splendid Suns at The Old Globe in Balboa Park.[17]

In 2018 and 2019, he starred as Ladybug Who in The Old Globe’s production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.[18]

Pala published his second book, The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through Turkey, in 2019.[19]

In 2020, Pala published the third book in The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car series, The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through Mexico.[12] He donated the proceeds from the book to the San Diego COVID-19 Community Respond Fund.[12][20][21] Pala was named Best Child Actor at the 2020 Los Angeles Film Festival for his performance in the short film Tahz.[10][12] In 2020, Pala also founded Sports4Kids, a charity that raises funds to provide sports equipment and coaching for elementary schools in underprivileged areas.[2][3][6][4]

In 2021, he released a documentary film on homelessness, A Second Chance, which he wrote and directed.[13] For his work on the film, he received the Best Young Male Filmmaker award from the Los Angeles International Film Festival/Indie Shot Fest.[13] The film was also chosen as a finalist at the New Filmmakers NY and Oniros Film Awards NY film festivals and an official selection in the New York Movie Awards and the LA Live Film Fest.[13]

Pala organized the Bags of Hope event, which provided relief for the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes.[22][5] In 2023, he also organized the Christmas Bags of Hope event, which provided essentials, toys, and other items for homeless children in the San Diego area.[23]

Sports Illustrated named Pala its SportsKid of the Year for his work with Sports4Kids in 2024.[4][24][25] He also received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement award and a President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award in the same year.[6][7][8][26] He was the youngest person to receive a President’s Council Award.[27][9] In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, the city of San Diego also proclaimed February 23 as “Arden Pala Day.”[25][28][8] In 2024, Pala also received the Starbucks Neighborhood Grant for his efforts with the homeless population.[29]

Filmography

[edit]
Title Type Year Writer Actor Director Ref
Tahz Short film 2020 No Yes No [10]
A Second Chance Documentary film 2021 Yes No Yes [13][14]
Forgetting Caroline Short film 2021 No Yes No
The Bracero Program Short film 2021 No No Yes
The Mission Short film 2022 No Yes No

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Pala, A. (2017). The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through China. Kids4Community.
  • Pala, A. (2019). The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through Turkey. Kids4Community.
  • Pala, A. (2020). The Adventures of Noah’s Flying Car Through Mexico. Kids4Community.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jeff Lasky (August 25, 2023). ""It's such a great honor": Rancho Bernardo teen recognized on his birthday by the City of San Diego". ABC 10News San Diego. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Meet the 2024 SportsKid of the Year: Arden Pala". SI. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  3. ^ a b "San Diego teen Arden Pala named "SportsKid of the Year"". Axios. 2025-01-10. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  4. ^ a b c "Rancho Bernardo teen brings sport he loves to kids in need, and is picked as Sports Illustrated's Kid of the Year". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  5. ^ a b "The Young and the Selfless". San Diego Magazine. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  6. ^ a b c d "Teen, Arden Pala, Youngest of 20, Receives President's Council Leadership Award in D.C." Times of San Diego. 2024-09-09. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  7. ^ a b "Arden Pala, Founder of Sports4Kids, Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award". Times of San Diego. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  8. ^ a b c "San Diego teen named 2024 Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year". cbs8.com. 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  9. ^ a b "Türk genci Arden Pala, ABD tarihine geçti". İz Gazete - İzmir Haberleri - Son Dakika Haberler (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  10. ^ a b c "Young writer pens children's book based on his own adventures in Mexico". Mexico News Daily. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. ^ "Arden's New Book: 'The Adventures of Noah's Flying Car'". cbs8.com. 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  12. ^ a b c d "11-Year-Old Author Publishes 3rd Book Encouraging Diversity". NBC 7 San Diego. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Rancho Bernardo 12-year-old seeks to help the homeless with his own documentary". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  14. ^ a b "Meet San Diego Teens Making the World a Better Place". www.sandiegofamily.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  15. ^ "Column: 'Incredible' teen Arden Pala uses basketball to connect with kids, has a heart for the homeless". Sports 4 Kids. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  16. ^ "Pala'nın kardeşi de yardımsevermiş". gercekhaberci.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  17. ^ "Bridgeworthy: "A Thousand Splendid Suns" at The Old Globe Makes For a Splendid Night in Balboa Park". Coronado Times. 2018-05-19. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  18. ^ "Rancho Bernardo boy writes children's fantasy books". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-11-10. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  19. ^ "ABD'de yaşayan Türk çocuğundan kitaplı Türkiye tanıtımı". turizmnews.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  20. ^ "M.G.'s CHILDREN'S BOOKS: The Adventures of Noah's Flying Car Through Mexico: Arden Pala". Valdosta Daily Times. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  21. ^ "Child Author Supports San Diego COVID-19 Relief". Fabulous California. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  22. ^ "14-year-old San Diego student helps Turkey earthquake victims". cbs8.com. 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  23. ^ "'Christmas Bags of Hope' event to support homeless kids". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  24. ^ "San Diego teen named 2024 Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  25. ^ a b "SD Teen Named National "SportsKid Of The Year" By Sports Illustrated". San Diego Sun. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  26. ^ "Türk genci Arden Pala, ABD'de tarihe geçti". Haber Hürriyeti (in Turkish). 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  27. ^ "San Diego teen starts sports nonprofit clinic for low-income, homeless youth". NBC 7 San Diego. 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  28. ^ "'It's such a great honor': Rancho Bernardo teen recognized on his birthday by City of San Diego". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  29. ^ "San Diego teen volunteer honored by White House and Starbucks". cbs8.com. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
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