Shortly after taking over the Dade Community Foundation July 1, Javier Soto was approached by the Miami Police Athletic League. In the midst of the worst financial crisis in 60 years, the league had lost funding to send 14 inner-city children to participate in the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa.

The foundation donated $5,000 to the event.

It was a drop in the bucket for one of the state's largest philanthropic organizations, but a commitment that speaks volumes of its new leader.

The power of sports to shape character is a recurring theme in Soto's life and one reason he hopes to give athletics a prominent role at his new job.

``Youth sports helped me develop leadership skills, taught me how to follow rules,'' said Soto, 39. ``There are so many intangibles you acquire when you are involved in youth sports that have a direct translation on your success academically and professionally.''

Created in 1967, the Dade Community Foundation pools funds from corporate and individual donors and makes grants aimed at solving some of the most intractable problems: poverty, lack of education, homelessness.

With total assets of about $130 million, the foundation handed out some $9 million worth of grants in 2008, Soto said. From January through June of this year the foundation awarded 452 grants worth $10.5 million.

Born to Cuban-exile parents in Madrid, Spain, Soto and his family arrived in Miami in 1973. As a student at Coral Gables High, Soto played basketball and football, and developed a deep respect for athletics.

``I have injuries from every single sport you can imagine,'' he said of those years. ``I even managed to hurt myself swimming.''

After graduating cum laude with degrees in history and political science from Florida State University, Soto earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

When Soto returned to Miami it was as a litigator in the Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office. He was there five years before being tapped to be county director of intergovernmental affairs. Within a year, in 2001, Soto was appointed chief of staff for Mayor Alex Penelas.

It was there that Soto first had the opportunity to put his personal stamp on the city by helping plan and organize the first Miami Tropical Marathon in 2003. When Penelas' term ended, Soto was invited on as the transition chairman for current Mayor Carlos Alvarez. That job ended in 2004 and Soto spun his political experience into a lobbying position with Dutko Worldwide.

Dutko is one of the nation's most influential lobbying firms and Soto ran its Miami office, working with such high-profile clients such as Florida International University, the city of Miami and the village of Key Biscayne.

Once again, sports loomed large at Dutko. Soto said he spent much of his time working on the $515 million Marlins' stadium, slated to open in Little Havana in 2012.

When Ruth Shack decided to step down after serving as president of the Dade Community Foundation for a quarter century, Soto said he saw the leadership position as perfect way to give back.

``Miami is a giving place and that's highlighted every time we have a hurricane,'' he said. ``We've been knocked down before; I'm bullish on Miami.''