Founded after the tragic loss of tennis star Braun Levi, the nonprofit funds diverse higher education paths while pushing for state DUI reform.
Twelve students have been named the inaugural scholarship recipients of the Live Like Braun Foundation, an organization established to honor a local tennis star killed by a drunk driver last year.
The awards mark the first full year of the foundation’s scholarship program, which supports students who embody the passion, compassion, and drive that defined Braun Levi’s short but extraordinary life. The foundation celebrated the achievements of this first-ever class, selected from thirteen Los Angeles schools and programs, at a private dinner tonight.
The LLB Class of 2026 represents twelve remarkable students who reflect Braun’s belief that excellence and community take many forms. The graduates are heading to universities and programs across the country — from HBCUs to the University of California system to trade school — honoring all paths in life.
“Braun lived every day like it mattered,” said Jennifer Levi. “We are determined to build something that lasts as long as his spirit does.”
The scholarship program serves as one of three core pillars for the foundation, which formed following the 2025 death of Braun Levi. The organization simultaneously funds the rebuilding of public tennis courts in fire-affected communities and advocates for impaired driving prevention.
A central focus of the foundation’s legislative work is Braun’s Law (Senate Bill 907), a sweeping package aimed at DUI sentencing legislation reform. The bill advanced through the California Senate with a unanimous 36-0 vote in May 2026 and is currently moving forward in the State Assembly.
The foundation is also developing “The Braunicles,” an upcoming children’s book written by Jennifer Levi to preserve her son’s life, spirit, and legacy for younger audiences.
“Braun had a rare ability to see people — really see them — and to lift everyone around him higher,” said Jennifer Levi, co-founder and president of the Live Like Braun Foundation and Braun’s mother. “Tonight, we watched twelve extraordinary young people walk into a room, and I felt him everywhere. Every one of them carries something of what he was. This is what it looks like to live like Braun.”
The Live Like Braun Class of 2026:
The following twelve students received academic allocations, listed with their respective institutional destinations:
Aseel — University of California, Riverside
Dawni — Spelman College
Eduardo — University of Southern California
Evegrace — Institution to be determined
Hayden — California State University, Chico
Jackson — Saint Louis University
Jaiden — Howard University
Julianne — University of California, Santa Barbara
Kai — Indiana University
Kate — University of California, Santa Barbara
Levi — Los Angeles Trade-Technical College
Yulia — University of Southern California
