Welcome to U19 World Lacrosse Foundation

The U19 World Lacrosse Foundation is the legacy of the 2008 ILF Under 19 Men’s World Lacrosse Championships & 2016 FIL Under 19 Men’s World Lacrosse Championships that were held in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The Foundation is the result of these two very successful events and was established to support initiatives aimed at promoting the development of youth field lacrosse in the province of British Columbia.

The success of these 2 events and of the Foundation would not have been realized if not for a  dedication to and unwavering support for youth sport, the personal growth and development of young athletes, and the game of field lacrosse, by the late Cliff Pascas.    

A lifelong volunteer in the community of Port Coquitlam and throughout the local and provincial youth lacrosse community, Cliff’s vision and commitment to the game was instrumental in securing BC’s first ever lacrosse world championship.  In 2008 Cliff brought the world to BC as Chair of the 2008 Under 19 World Lacrosse organizing committee.   

The success of the 2008 event and Cliff’s enthusiastic leadership paved the way for a second world lacrosse tournament bid.  Building on the energy of the first tournament, Cliff again led a small but committed organizing team and an army of BC lacrosse volunteers to host the much larger 2016 U19 World Lacrosse Championship at Town Centre in Coquitlam.  Another sensational event, lauded by then Federation of International Lacrosse executive committee.

Although his family, friends and the lacrosse community will long mourn Cliff’s passing in February 2023, this big man, with a big heart and big vision has left a lasting impression.  Cliff’s gift to the game continues through the U19 World Lacrosse Foundation’s annual grant program.  Initially set up with the proceeds from the 2008 event and subsequently bolstered by the 2016 tournament, Cliff’s dream of supporting the lacrosse aspirations of young athletes and the development of youth programs in BC lives on through the Foundation.  

The Foundation will provide financial assistance for the ongoing development of youth field lacrosse programs in the Province of BC as well as the ongoing development of BC field lacrosse athletes to allow them to compete at higher levels.

Assistance is available to any athlete 19 years of age or younger, related team or program sanctioned by the BC Lacrosse Association.

In the spring of each calendar year, the Board of Directors of the Foundation will consider applications received from teams and individual athletes to award grants for the general development of field lacrosse in the Province of BC and to provide assistance to high performance field lacrosse athletes.

General development assistance includes startup assistance for new clubs and volunteer development at the club level as well as field lacrosse programs that generate participation at the grassroots level for men’s and women’s youth field lacrosse.

The Foundation will also provide assistance for club field lacrosse team expenses, Provincial field lacrosse team expenses and to individual athletes competing on Canadian National field lacrosse teams.

Applications must be received by the Foundation on or before May 31st of each calendar year to be considered by the Board of Directions who will determine the assistance that will be provided by way of a grant in July of each calendar year.

2023 Grant Recipients

• Lincoln Wall – Team BC U-17

• Ronin London – Team BC U-17