IN BRIEF

-- Greg Risling

A Southern California youth organization will present sports agent Leigh

Steinberg with its highest honor tonight at a ceremony at the Century

Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Steinberg, a Newport Beach resident, will receive the Spirit of

Achievement Award for his charitable contributions to the community,

especially for children. The award will be presented by Junior

Achievement of Southern California, an organization that works to educate

and inspire young people to pursue employment.

Steinberg has maintained that his clients, a list that includes NFL

quarterbacks Steve Young and Drew Bledsoe, give back to the communities

where they grew up. A portion of the multimillion-dollar contracts signed

by Steinberg’s clients are usually donated to charities and foundations.

He has also started an ethnic diversity program aimed at youths that

promotes tolerance and nonviolence.

Steinberg has been named one of the national spokespersons for a new

program. Known as JA Base, the program will introduce middle and high

school students to the business aspects of the sports and entertainment

industries. Volunteers from both arenas will visit classrooms and share

real-life experiences.

Ed Roski Jr., owner of the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, will help

present the award to Steinberg.