Our Story
C5LA was founded in 1999 by John Alm, the retired CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, who recognized the transformative power of summer camp. Inspired by the confidence and skills his own children gained, he established a summer leadership camp for under-resourced youth in Los Angeles. Partnering with the Los Angeles Unified School District, C5LA recruits students who can benefit from this unique leadership development program. What began as a summer camp has evolved into a comprehensive, multi-year initiative with locations across the country, including New England, Texas, and Georgia.