318 Foundation, Inc

Named to honor the community it serves, 318 (three-one-eight) represents the area code for Shreveport, Louisiana, home to former WNBA champion Alana Beard. A Shreveport native passionate about community advocacy, Beard established the Foundation to recognize the potential of girls residing in Shreveport and beyond to become the leaders of tomorrow. Beard is the first women's basketball player to have her jersey retired at Duke University, a WNBA legend, and founder of the 318 Foundation. Inspiration for the 318 Foundation was born from a listening tour Beard conducted in the five months she spent in Shreveport following her last WNBA game in 2019. From town hall and individual meetings with educators and political leaders, Beard’s goal was to learn about the change in landscape and the pressing needs of youth. Mentorship and exposure emerged as top needs, informing 318’s program model and services. After extensive research, community engagement, and collaborative brainstorming with community leaders, the 318 Foundation was established in 2021 to help build communities with abundant access and opportunity. As the organization expands to serve more girls in historically underserved communities, it upholds the practices that brought it to life with a service approach rooted in community, listening, ownership, and agency. By investing in communities facing extraordinary challenges, the 318 Foundation is empowering the up-and-coming generation of girls with something simple: access and opportunity. It will be no surprise when they become the next WNBA star, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, leading medical professional at the CDC, top broadcast journalist, or first Black female president. “Having the mindset that with opportunity comes responsibility, I always thought of ways to support my hometown of Shreveport.” - Alana Beard, Founder and CEO of 318 Foundation.