Who We Are | LCBD

About

The purpose of our foundation is to help young talented athletes in Puerto Rico with little or no financial resources to have the opportunity to play their respected sport at a higher level. By creating this non-profit organization, we can give these young children the opportunity to compete in college sports; thus get a better education by way of improving their sport of choice. A lot of local athletes with tremendous talents are not given the opportunity to enhance their games because they don't have the resources to travel, get better coaching, and have the necessary exposure to get to the collegiate level in the United States.

Founder

Juan Rios, founder of Little Children's Big Dream, is a retired Puerto Rican tennis player. He began playing under his father's guidance in Puerto Rico and later competed at the Division 1 level for Mississippi State University. After turning professional, Juan became a 7-time Puerto Rican Champion, Davis Cup Player and Captain, and won multiple medals in the Central America and Caribbean Games. He was the first and only Puerto Rican tennis player to compete in the Olympics (Barcelona 1992) and played on the ATP Tour for 7 years, securing over 10 wins against top 50 players. In 2011, he was inducted into the Puerto Rico Hall of Fame alongside boxing legend Felix "Tito" Trinidad. Juan also served as Andre Agassi's hitting partner for 10 years and coached the U.S. national team, leading the boys' 14 and under world championship in Japan in 1996. Currently, he coaches young athletes in Puerto Rico and serves as the Director of Rackets at Ipswich Country Club in Massachusetts.

Inspiration

On June 14, 2026, the tennis world lost one of its most influential legends.

Juan Alberto Ríos López was a beloved father, friend, educator, and mentor who was immensely dedicated to his family, friends, students, and the community.

Among his many athletic achievements, he was inducted into the Puerto Rico Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993. Juan Sr. was also the first Puerto Rican to win a gold medal in Mixed Doubles with Cindy Golbert in the Central American & Caribbean Games, and he was inducted into the Rio Piedras Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

He also taught 17-time Grand Slam champion and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and International Hall-of-Famer Gigi Fernandez.

But his biggest contributions to Puerto Rico extend far beyond his performance on the court.
Juan Sr. was the first director of the Puerto Rico Tennis Association's Youth Development Program, where he trained generations of athletes who later represented Puerto Rico in international competitions. Many of them also went on to very successful careers in business.

Juan maintained the same passion for guiding and teaching youth every day of his life until his passing this June.

This passion and the resulting positive impact on the youth of Puerto Rico was the inspiration for the Little Children Big Dreams Foundation (LCBD).

Juan Riós Jr. started the foundation in honor of his father, who had taught him tennis as a youth. Juan Jr. went on to have his own very successful tennis career, became an Olympian, and was also inducted into the Puerto Rico Hall of Fame.

The purpose of LCBD is to help provide young athletes in Puerto Rico — particularly those who would not otherwise have the resources — the opportunity to learn, compete, and attend college.

In the wake of the passing of Juan Sr., the foundation continues its work with more focus and passion than ever before. To honor his legacy, we aim to empower thousands more children in Puerto Rico through sports and provide opportunities to those who need it the most.