First, thank you for taking an interest in Strong Start Initiative. This isn’t just a nonprofit — it’s a community of athletes, mentors, and families united by the belief that opportunity should never depend on circumstance.

Every one of us at Strong Start comes from an athletic background. We’ve been part of teams, celebrated the wins, endured the losses, and learned that sports are about much more than competition. They teach discipline, teamwork, empathy, and resilience — lessons that often define how we live the rest of our lives.

But too many high school athletes don’t get that chance. The rising cost of participation fees, equipment, and travel can put sports out of reach for those who need them most. Add in the growing challenges of academics, mental health, and access to mentorship, and you see why so many talented young people step away from the game too early.

That’s where Strong Start Initiative comes in. We exist to remove those barriers — providing financial assistance, tutoring, transportation, mental health support, and more — to make sure that every athlete can get back on the field, in the gym, or wherever their dreams take them.

Transparency is one of our core values. We believe our donors, families, and partners deserve to know where every dollar goes and how every action creates impact. In this series, we’re giving you an unfiltered look at how we operate — from building the foundation of the nonprofit to developing programs, partnerships, and the systems that sustain it all.

We know that by sharing our story openly, others may follow in our footsteps — and that’s exactly what we hope for. Because if our blueprint helps someone else start their own initiative to uplift young athletes, it means the Strong Start spirit is spreading further than we could ever reach alone.