Let Them Play was founded in 2007 by Steve Stein. Steve is the owner of Hollywood's top celebrity gift bag company, Connected. Steve's real passion, however, is coaching his son's little league team. Steve's involvement with the league goes beyond coaching. In the spring of 2006, he decided to donate one of his left over gift bags to raise money for the league. The one gift bag he donated raised $1,800 and allowed 33 kids to play in the league that otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford it. After seeing the difference he made in those 33 kids lives by donating one gift bag, Steve quickly started thinking of ways he could incorporate his celebrity connections and gift bag business into helping other kids. His idea turned into Let Them Play.


Let Them Play is committed to providing children who otherwise couldn't afford it with the opportunity to play organized sports. We feel organized sports are a very important part of a child′s life. They offer children many physical, social and personal benefits. Fitness, stress relief, attitude control, leadership, long-term thinking, teamwork, diversity and resilience are just some of the benefits of youth organized sports. With technology rapidly growing, kids are spending an increasing amount of time on the internet and playing video games. Organized sports help keep kids away from online predators and violent video games. They are also a great way for children to make long lasting friendships.


The children that cannot afford to play are not just from inner cities. This problem affects kids in cities of all economic classes. Steve is from a middle-class suburb in Southern California and just in his league alone there are many kids who want to play but don't because their parents can't afford it.


Let Them Play will be auctioning off a variety of items ranging from unique one-of-a-kind experiences, meet and greets, hard to get tickets and products. In Let Them Play's infancy stage we got great results from auctioning off the following:


  • - Lunch with an American Idol Judge

  • - Hand out celebrity gift bags to the celebrities at the World Music Awards in London, England

  • - Dinner and movie with Academy Award Winner Ernest Borgnine

  • - Tickets and meet and greet passes to the NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii

  • - Get treated like a VIP celebrity on an exotic 5 night vacation to Tahiti

  • - A full collection of Jessica Simpson′s shoe line


There are many ways you can help Let Them Play. There's nothing more rewarding than putting a smile on a child's face.