It's safe to say that if not for the influence of Lawrence Mackey, lacrosse in the local area would not be nearly as popular as it is.

Not only did he found the Tacoma Men's Lacrosse (Huron) team in 1991, but also brought the sport to local underprivileged youth with his non-profit organization the Tacoma Lacrosse Academy (TLA).

Mackey, who lives in Spanaway, also serves as head coach of the Puyallup Lacrosse Club Panthers Division 1 boys' high school team, volunteers at the Tacoma Girls and Boys Club, and will be traveling to Uganda later this month to help train the Ugandan National Men's team.

In the future, he would like to bring the sport to Joint Base Lewis-McChord by organizing a fundraising tournament that would benefit cancer, diabetes and AIDS (which he lost both parents to in 1987) research and offering instruction with JBLM Youth Sports.

The New York native and former Fort Lewis Soldier is modest about his influence. "I don't do it for credit," said Mackey, who grew up in Huntington, Long Island. "I grew up in the projects, and I was lucky to find lacrosse. If it wasn't for lacrosse, I wouldn't have gotten out of high school."

Like other sports, lacrosse can offer a way out of an uncertain future for disadvantaged youth, like it did for Mackey. However, "you don't play lacrosse for a sneaker contract," he said. "You play to go to college."

One out of eight high school lacrosse players is offered a college scholarship, and 93-percent graduate from high school, he said. "It's about changing their life."

And Mackey, who credits the sport with saving his life, has spent the past 20 years paying it forward.

Assigned to Fort Lewis in 1991 with the 14th Military Intelligence Battalion, Mackey soon found himself playing on the University of Puget Sound Loggers team.

After leaving the military a few years later, Mackey, with help from a friend at Pacific Lutheran University, other veterans and college students, founded Tacoma Men's Lacrosse (Huron). Though he no longer plays due to an Achilles injury, the team is still going strong 18 years later.

Mackey first brought his passion for lacrosse to local youth when he worked as a special education paraeducator in the Tacoma school district. In 2009, he founded TLA, a non-profit organization that not only teaches kids stick skills training, but also provides mentoring and tutoring to its young athletes. Classes are offered to kids ages 10 and older several times a week indoors at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway. Equipment for beginners is provided; cost varies. For more information, visit www. www.tacomalacrosseacademy.org.

"What's unique about lacrosse is the Zen aspect of mastering something besides yourself," said Mackey, noting that the sport helps develop confidence and bolster self esteem.

"I've yet to meet a kid who's good with a lacrosse stick who thought he was stupid."

For more information about lacrosse in Tacoma, contact Mackey at (253) 241-3489 or e-mail tacomalacrosseacademy@yahoo.com.