In 2025, Up2Us Sports has a bold new plan to place more trained sports coaches in more schools across the country than ever before. This year, we will support coaches in more than 30 sports in 100 underserved neighborhoods across the United States. Our coaches will continue to be lifelines for kids who need adult mentors in their lives. Our goal is not just to provide schools and communities with coaches, it’s to address the mental health crisis by directly supporting youth with coaches who are also their mentors.

All of our coaches are trained to foster academic engagement, build friendships among youth and drive positive youth development. We are leading the nation in demonstrating that sports programs led by trained coaches are essential to childhood health and development. Our AmeriCorps national service program is the only nationwide program that challenges young adults each year to be coaches and mentors in their local schools, parks and nonprofits. Over the past 14 years, we have proven that a coach is one of the most effective adults in fostering mental wellness among youth, and our coaches do this while developing lifelong active and healthy lifestyles through sports as well.

Every year, in dozens of cities across America, Up2Us Coaches demonstrate the impact that one individual can have on teams of youth. Coach Ronald guided the girls soccer team to the playoffs in their first year, but more importantly he has provided girls in Washington, DC, the first-ever opportunity to be part of a soccer team that develops their confidence and self-esteem. Coach Henerick runs PE classes and after school sports in Miami, where his principal says he has become one of the most trusted mentors in his school. Coach Taleek not only brought sports to his school in New York City but conducted one-on-one mentoring during the day to ensure his athletes overcame their biggest academic challenges. In Chicago, Coach Saharah teaches girls squash as a pathway for them to graduate from high school and attend college. And, in Los Angeles, Coach Dukes’ personal mission is to help kids fall in love with baseball, and, as he puts it, “give kids in his community opportunities to matter.”

Four thousand coach stories in just 14 years. With more than 100,000 children positively impacted through Up2Us Coaches, there are still many more stories to write! Can you imagine if every child in this country woke up enthusiastic to go to school? Excited to see their friends? Eager to spend time after school playing their favorite game?

This almost seems like it should be normal, doesn’t it? But the reality is one in four children are still afraid of being bullied at school; one in five children have no or not enough friends; and two out of three children in poor communities don’t have opportunities to play sports because their schools cannot afford to provide them.

If you are worried about mental health among our youngest generation of Americans, a lack of school engagement and bullying, addressing the equity in gaps in sports for girls and children of color, or if you simply want to pay respect to a coach who made a difference in your life, then now is the time to invest in Up2Us Sports to reverse these trends and help us continue to bridge the gaps in our communities.

Will you join us in our #ThanksCoach campaign by making a donation? All donations will be used to play it forward by helping us recruit and train a coach to lead a team of children and show them that they matter.

Make a donation to Up2Us Sports at give.classy.org/thankscoach2024
Thank your coach on social media by using the hashtag #ThanksCoach and tagging @Up2UsSports.