Alexander Mattison knows how to go the distance. The NFL running back from San Bernardino has been making strides in football for some time, but when it came to finding inventive ways to give back to the community, he scored big time.
As the founder of IAMGIFTED Foundation, he’s helped steer the non-profit organization to great heights, primarily with its mission to help young people recognize their strengths, build confidence, and develop the needed skills to succeed in school, the community, and in life.
Mental health advocacy factors strongly in the mix at IAMGIFTED—the inspiration for the organization came from Mattison’s own battles with mental health. Thanks to a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation, IAMGIFTED will enhance its emphasis on mental health awareness, ranging from suicide prevention to offering emotional tools for young people.
“We’re excited to have received the grant,” said Dr. Angela Brantley, Executive Director of IAMGIFTED Foundation, noting that the resources have helped with one of the nonprofit’s signature offerings, the Youth Empowerment Program. Specifically, funding a five-week Saturday program that the organization runs twice a year.
“The most recent one brought in 170 students, and the grant helped us enhance that program,” Brantley said. “Another thing we’re using the grant for is to host events and invite our guest students and their families to various outings.”
A recent jaunt allowed students to attend a sports event in a collaborative event dubbed “Awareness Night.” Brantley believes that inviting students and families to such experiences generates positive ripple effects in the community.
“It gives students an opportunity not only to participate in our on-campus learning, but to get out and have an experience outside of the school campus,” she said. “It helps them engage with the larger community and have experiences they may not have had, and all with the focus on mental health and engaging in some fun way.”
Brantley cites one example that found staff guiding students through various activities between the innings of a baseball game. A breathing exercise was introduced, followed by cues and reminders about the benefits of regulating one’s emotions through breathing techniques.
“We had kids compete with balloon breathing, where they win prizes,” Brantley said, noting one example. “It comes down to: how do you teach third, fourth, and fifth graders about mental health and awareness? How do you get them to understand healthy ways to regulate their emotions and all those things?”
“We try to make it fun and engaging and exciting,” she added.
To be sure, the organization has made an impact since its inception.
More than 4,200 people, including youth, families, and those involved in community programs, have been positively impacted by the organization’s work. More than $60,000 scholarships have been awarded.
The foundation’s Rush 2 Give program also stands out. The year-round community outreach initiative that provides essential resources through such things as back-to-school drives, holiday givebacks, and community events, has helped approximately 3,500 families.
Brantley, who has been with the organization since it launched, said the organization focuses on four key pillars: Youth Sports and Life Skills Development; Mental Health and Wellness; Education and Opportunity Access; and Family and Community Support.
The nonprofit team is solid, comprised of mentors, educators, and advocates deeply committed to children and families through education, resources, and community-building programs.
As the need for mental health support grows, the organization is expanding its focus to offer comprehensive Mental health resources, workshops, and subsidized services to, “ensure that no one walks this journey alone.”
“We’ve seen an uptick in mental health concerns over the last six to seven years,” Brantley said. “We’ve all had a common experience of trauma with the pandemic and that creates a significant impact for our youth and adults.”
The staff’s deep appreciation for connectedness shines through.
“We all love doing the work—for the community and for the kids, and seeing the smiles on their faces,” Brantley said. “But that we’re doing it as a family is special. My husband, my kids—Alex’s cousins—his aunties, his uncles, his parents, his brothers… we’re all on staff. We’re all the ones showing up on Saturday for the programs.
“We are very passionate about giving back to the community,” she added.
Learn more at iamgiftedfoundation.org
This story originally appeared in the Press Enterprise, May 2026.
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