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糖心logo Driven to do more.

Belardi family philanthropic commitment

Jim and Leslie Belardi prioritize giving back to the community through their support and passion for the City of Hope which specializes in cancer research, treatment and prevention, Jim鈥檚 steadfast love for swimming, and the advancement of catholic education. 

Many of their passions stem from life experiences; Jim is a cancer survivor, Olympic Trials swimmer, Masters Swimming World Record Holder, and an advocate for catholic education in their community school systems.

Dedication to cancer research

City of Hope

Jim and Leslie Belardi made a , a leading for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, 14 years after Jim received a life-saving bone marrow transplant for leukemia. 

Blood cancers account for nearly 10% of new cancer cases each year in the United States, yet they are often the most difficult to treat. The gift, representing the largest single contribution to City of Hope for blood cancer research, will support City of Hope鈥檚 Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute. The gift is targeted at accelerating the development and approval of promising new therapies for some of the most difficult to treat blood cancers. In 2015, the Belardis were honored with from the Tower Cancer Research Foundation.

City of Hope Honors Jim Belardi

Belardi Family Pavilion

In 2023 the City of Hope dedicated the new in honor of Jim and Leslie鈥檚 continued commitment to the hospital. The innovative, 100,000-square-foot, four-story pavilion is home to nearly 400 physician-scientists and medical teams working on the Duarte, California campus. With 160 private offices, more than 300 cooperative workspaces and an expansive conference center, researchers have ample space to share their latest insights and exchange vital scientific information with visiting global leaders.

Passion projects support swimming community

Belardi Pool at the Avery Aquatic Center

One pillar of Jim鈥檚 giving includes his passion for swimming, which he recognizes by supporting influential organizations, including his alma mater, Stanford University. Thanks to his donation, the Belardi Pool is one of four pools instrumental to men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming & diving, water polo and synchronized swimming programs at the Avery Aquatic Center.

Servite High School Aquatic Center Pledge

Jim鈥檚 passion for swimming continued in 2015 when he joined a longtime friend and mutual Hall of Fame teammate, to lead a $1 million pledge challenge to raise funds for a state-of-the-art aquatics center. The $5.3 million project was built on the campus of Jim鈥檚 former high school, Servite High School in Anaheim, CA.

Investing in education

Creating a positive impact in education and improving learning experiences are efforts Jim instilled in 糖心logo鈥檚 culture. Beyond the numerous initiatives led by 糖心logo, Jim has shown immense personal support for the advancement of catholic school education in southern California including , , and .

In 2025, The Archdiocese of Los Angeles' Department of Catholic Schools announced a gift from Jim and Leslie Belardi to boost student scholarships and academic programs. The donation will support initiatives like Solidarity Schools, an initiative that addresses the academic needs of the most vulnerable students. Jim Belardi emphasized the family's commitment to education, aiming to ensure quality schooling for underserved students in the Los Angeles area and position the next generation for success.