MANISA (Türkiye) – Year 3 of the Youth Basketball Champions League opened with a game between Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg and Aliaga Petkimspor. The Germans ran the game from front to back and set the tone for the entire tournament with their pace, intensity, and physicality. The level had been raised and everyone else needed to […]
MANISA (Türkiye) – Year 3 of the Youth Basketball Champions League opened with a game between Porsche BBA Ludwigsburg and Aliaga Petkimspor. The Germans ran the game from front to back and set the tone for the entire tournament with their pace, intensity, and physicality.
The level had been raised and everyone else needed to follow.
For Ludwigsburg head coach, Kheeryoung Rhee, the level of the competition has gone up a notch regardless of their strong performances.
“I think overall the amount of teams trying to play faster, the pace itself is very evident that it’s improved a lot. There’s more length, more athleticism,” he stated.
With two wins from two and a place in the Semi-Finals secured after a win over perennial challengers, Igokea m:tel, Ludwigsburg became the first German club to reach the Semi-Finals and also guaranteed the highest-ever finish for a German club in YBCL.
2025 YBCL Ludwigsburg Kheeryoung Rhee and bench
In Rhee’s mind, this dramatic improvement in their fortunes from last year’s seventh place finish wasn’t entirely what they expected from the tournament.
“We scouted obviously Igokea and Petkimspor really early and there they looked pretty impressive,” he said.
“It’s been somewhat of a rollercoaster ride, we weren’t really sure how good we are but after the first result, we were pleasantly surprised,” Rhee explained.
That element of the unknown in terms of their own team’s strength is even more understandable when you consider that, like many of the teams at this year’s YBCL, Ludwigsburg used the opportunity of playing in this competition as a tool for recruitment and also evaluating their own talent against some of the continent’s best young players.
Players like 2008-born forward Lars Lenke, 2008-born guard Lars Danziger, 2007-born forward Daniel Biel, and 2007-born guard Raul Dumnici have all been brought in for this tournament.
All four players have grabbed the opportunity presented to them with both hands and taken key roles in the team.
“Both Larses are fun to watch, I think, from an outside perspective,” said Rhee.
“Danziger, he brings a high pace bringing up the ball, I think he’s also very, very creative and Lenke, I mean, he’s athletic… He’s so athletic,” he clarified.
Danziger is producing 8.5 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across the two games, and Lenke is putting up 11.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, throwing down a series of above the rim plays in the process.
Biel has been all over the stat sheet in the same way that he’s all over the court with the style that he plays.
Across the two games he’s accumulated averages of 19 efficiency points, 9.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 steals.
Dumnici exploded for 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists against Igokea and added the kind of sauce that the fans in Manisa come to see.
It’s not just been the new recruits getting the job done for Ludwigsburg, either.
This is a team that gets the job done by committee, with eight players playing more than 19 minutes in each game and young Danish international Anton Hjort, producing almost 2 points per minute in his 7 minutes this far.
Ludwigsburg have two players returning from last year, with 2007-born guard Sebastian Kuhn, who has gone on to make regular contributions with the Ludwigsburg senior team and 2008-born big man Armin Pivac.
“Sebastian has become more stable,” said Rhee when describing the way his experienced point guard leads the team.
“It’s something he actually tries to, let’s say, assert on the guys as well and that’s become evident this week.”
2025 YBCL Sebastian Khun
Pivac is one player that Rhee was especially keen to pick out for praise and primarily because, on a clearly undersized roster, he’s performing possibly the most difficult role in the team.
“For me, personally, Armin Pivac, he’s our five-man and the position five in our, let’s say, concept, is very difficult to play, not only offensively, but also defensively,” described Rhee when talking about which player is the key to their success this week.
The pivotal nature of Pivac’s performances has not only been evident in the results of both games, but also on the stat sheet. Pivac is putting up 12.5 points on 67 percent shooting and pulling 7.5 rebounds.
When Ludwigsburg faced Petkimspor and their massive frontcourt, including seven-footer Ahmet Kerim Andic and talented power forward Berat Cevik, he played his part in holding them both to just 6 points and 9 rebounds combined.
Both players doubled that contribution in their following game.
2025 YBCL Armin Pivac against Petkimspor
His own numbers in that game were 13 points and 9 rebounds, as he dominated the paint despite being undersized and often matched up against players one year his senior.
Up next for Ludwigsburg, in the first Semi-Final this Saturday, is Filou Oostende. The Belgians have been one of the hot topics in the whole tournament and brought a unique brand of basketball to the YBCL this week.
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Rhee was effusive in his praise when describing the threat that the Belgians pose.
“In youth basketball, for a few years now, I think you can find talent everywhere, but having this combination of talent and being this mentally tough, they really impressed me,” he stated.
“Also their pace is incredible, everybody has the freedom to do everything they want, be it pass, dribble or shoot. I say they are like a well-oiled machine.”
The game tips off at 17:30 local time and you can watch it on the FIBA YouTube channel. Make sure you don’t miss it.
As someone with many years of experience volunteering in youth sports and community service, I feel compelled to speak out about the situation involving Rutland Recreation Department and its former superintendent, Kim Peters. For nine years, I volunteered as a youth basketball coach with the city of Aurora, Colorado. I also coached basketball and volleyball […]
As someone with many years of experience volunteering in youth sports and community service, I feel compelled to speak out about the situation involving Rutland Recreation Department and its former superintendent, Kim Peters.
For nine years, I volunteered as a youth basketball coach with the city of Aurora, Colorado. I also coached basketball and volleyball for four years at St. Ignatius Loyola School and delivered meals through Meals on Wheels. I worked for a nonprofit organization for eight years that supported individuals living with life-threatening illnesses. That organization relied on over 300 volunteer drivers to deliver meals to clients every week — and every one of them, myself included, was required to pass an annual background check.
Why? Because when you work with children, seniors, or any vulnerable population, safety isn’t negotiable — it’s the foundation of trust. Background checks are not bureaucratic red tape. They’re essential safeguards. In every program I’ve been part of — municipal, private or nonprofit — these protocols were treated as a baseline responsibility, not an afterthought.
I want to acknowledge and respect how much Kim Peters has done for this community over the years. Her dedication, energy and the positive experiences many families have had through the programs she led, should not be dismissed. She clearly made a meaningful impact.
However, leadership also means taking full responsibility when something serious goes wrong. The fact background checks weren’t consistently performed for more than a year — and were only rushed through after media scrutiny — is deeply troubling. Even more concerning is the apparent lack of a formal policy or clear oversight.
I had always assumed Rutland Recreation Department had a clear policy in place regarding background checks for volunteers — just as nearly every other youth or community volunteer program does. It’s standard practice and a basic expectation when children are involved.
That’s why I’m deeply upset to learn background checks were not consistently being conducted. As a grandparent who registered my grandchildren for programs through the department, I feel incredibly unsettled knowing there may have been potential safety risks because someone wasn’t properly vetted. Families should never have to question whether the people interacting with their children have been appropriately screened.
While I respect the community’s appreciation for Ms. Peters’ past contributions, leadership requires more than popularity. It requires ownership — especially when mistakes affect public safety. Accountability is not optional in a leadership role — especially one that involves the safety of children.
This isn’t about punishing a single individual. It’s about protecting families, ensuring transparency, and restoring confidence in a department entrusted with the care of our youth. Moving forward, the city must adopt and enforce a strict, transparent background check policy — and it must be led by someone who prioritizes that responsibility without hesitation.
The Rod and Greg Show: Are Youth Sports Hurting Families? Defunding NPR an | Talk Radio 105.9 – KNRS
The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Wednesday, May 7, 2025 4:20 pm: Jason Johnson, President of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund joins Rod and Greg to discuss his piece for the New York Post on how defunding the police led to an increase in the murder rate in America’s largest cities. 4:38 […]
The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown – Wednesday, May 7, 2025
4:20 pm: Jason Johnson, President of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund joins Rod and Greg to discuss his piece for the New York Post on how defunding the police led to an increase in the murder rate in America’s largest cities.
4:38 pm: Washington Examiner Senior Writer David Harsanyi joins the program for a conversation about his piece on how the argument for defunding PBS and NPR is about more than just the left-leaning bias of the media outlets.
5:05 pm: Diane Schrader, a blogger for She Speaks Truth, joins the show to discuss her recent piece in The Blaze about how families should stop sacrificing their children’s youth, and the family unit, in the pursuit of youth sports.
6:38 pm: Lexi Lonas Cochran, Education Reporter for The Hill, joins the show for a conversation about how the Trump administration has ended student loan forgiveness and garnishment of wages is on the table as a way for the government to collect on those debts.
Nike & Studio You Respond to Decline in Girls’ PE Engagement
Studio You and Nike are teaming up to reimagine the U.K.’s one-size-fits-all PE model with a more inclusive, girl-led approach to movement Studio You, England’s digital exercise platform for teenage girls, has partnered with Nike to launch a video series of more than 100 bite-sized lessons with tips and guidance for young girls and gym […]
Studio You and Nike are teaming up to reimagine the U.K.’s one-size-fits-all PE model with a more inclusive, girl-led approach to movement
Studio You, England’s digital exercise platform for teenage girls, has partnered with Nike to launch a video series of more than 100 bite-sized lessons with tips and guidance for young girls and gym teachers to inspire confidence and enjoyment in physical activity.
At the heart of the initiative—supported by This Girl Can and funded by The National Lottery—is a commitment to reimagining physical education through a more personalized and inclusive lens. The effort comes amid data from the Youth Sport Trust showing a 30% decline in girls’ enjoyment of PE between the ages of 8 and 16.
“We’re flipping the script on what we presume girls want from PE, with girls’ voices and choices allowing them to lead the way in what they want their lessons to look like,” senior campaign activation manager Dani Ward said in a release. “Traditional sports and competitive activities may engage some girls, but a one-size-fits-all approach is leaving behind the 55% of teenage girls who aren’t meeting their recommended activity levels. Working with both girls and PE teachers, Studio You and Nike aim to inspire positive behaviour change, helping more girls develop a love for movement, for life.”
credit: Photo by Trust “Tru” Katsande on Unsplash
According to research from Studio You and Nike, the majority (87%) of girls who had a negative experience in PE disliked their typical gym options, and 81% reported a lack of confidence in participating.
On the bright side, many girls are clear about what motivates them to move.
Among girls surveyed, dance (39%) and fitness/workouts (29%) ranked as the top preferred activities. Fun emerged as a powerful driver, with half of all girls reporting they feel most excited and energized when enjoying themselves during a PE class. The majority (79%) of girls say they value fun in gym class, while inclusion (59%) and an engaging teacher (53%) are also important factors. Among those who disliked PE, 68% found the lessons too difficult, and 34% prefer a more gradual approach to learning new activities.
“Nike is committed to powering the future of youth sport because an active next generation means a healthier and more equitable future for all kids,” Nike’s global GM of future of youth sport, Dan Burrows, said. “We know girls, especially, face complex cultural and social barriers to getting and staying active. Our partnership to launch the Studio You x Nike hub will continue to advance the platform’s proven results to increase girls’ participation and is vital to creating a future where all girls can enjoy their PE experience.”
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The new sessions were shaped directly by girls themselves, drawing on insights from a national survey, small focus groups and a core team of girls who co-designed the content. Studio You and Nike also partnered with Disability Sports Coach to ensure the inclusion of disabled trainers to demonstrate adaptive movements. In addition to fitness and movement, the initiative also highlights mental fitness, meditation and breathwork.
Teachers can access the U.K.-based platform here.
Beyond the classroom, Nike is hosting its 2025 After Dark Tour, inviting women to race safely at night in 10Ks and half marathons across global cities including Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Mumbai, London, Los Angeles and Mexico City.
Six moms whose kids became professional sports stars share their secrets
The moms of Jordan Spieth, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jason Robertson, Bobby Witt Jr., Tyrese Maxey and Jaedyn Shaw discuss what it’s like to raise a star athlete. DALLAS — Tune into WFAA+ at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, to watch the entire “The Panel with Jonah Javad: A Mother’s Day Special” with WFAA’s Jonah Javad […]
The moms of Jordan Spieth, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jason Robertson, Bobby Witt Jr., Tyrese Maxey and Jaedyn Shaw discuss what it’s like to raise a star athlete.
DALLAS — Tune into WFAA+ at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, to watch the entire “The Panel with Jonah Javad: A Mother’s Day Special” with WFAA’s Jonah Javad and the moms of pro athletes Jordan Spieth, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jason Robertson, Bobby Witt Jr., Tyrese Maxey and Jaedyn Shaw. The show will also be available to watch on-demand after its initial airing.
Raising a young athlete is no small feat. It’s a full-time job that involves the entire family, countless hours of travel, emotional highs and lows, and maintaining the delicate balance of parenting, partnership and personal sanity.
That’s not just conjecture, either. Rather, it’s wisdom that comes straight from the source — moms who’ve helped usher their children up the ranks from youth recreational leagues to pro sports.
In advance of Mother’s Day, we gathered six mothers of highly successful professional athletes – from the NFL to the PGA Tour – to sit down together at the Kessler Theatre in Dallas for a candid conversation about their experiences and their advice for young parents.
One theme rang clear throughout our discussion: There is no playbook, but there are lessons learned.
Here are the seven biggest takeaways from the conversation.
Don’t look for a roadmap, just embrace the journey
The path to sports success is never linear. That much, every mom we spoke with agreed upon.
Another thing these moms concurred on: The idea of having your child solely focus on one sport didn’t apply to their kids’ success. Rather than a singular focus, these moms’ kids tried everything.
“My son Jordan [Spieth] played every sport,” recalled Christine Spieth, mother of PGA Tour golfer and Dallas native Jordan Spieth. “Whatever the season was — soccer, basketball, baseball. Golf was just something he did in between. He didn’t start focusing on it until he was 11 or 12.”
The consensus? Let kids be kids. Expose them to different activities, and follow their lead when they begin to show signs that they’re “serious.”
“The work ethic, the competitive spirit, all the things were there that I could see being a mom,” noted Laurie Witt, mother of MLB All-Star and Colleyville native Bobby Witt Jr.
Added Denyse Maxey, mother of NBA All-Star and Garland native Tyrese Maxey: “The way we frame it, my husband and I both, is: ‘When did you know that Tyrese [Maxey] was serious? When did you know he was serious?’ And then we give a couple of examples of things that he did that showed his over-competitiveness and [we thought], ‘OK, now we think he’s serious and now he may have a shot.’”
Nurture all your kids, not just the star athlete
For families with multiple children, keeping a household emotionally balanced when is critical. This is especially true when one of the kids in the family is a sports prodigy. And it’s something that each of the moms we spoke with emphasized.
“Every child has their own thing,” Maxey said of her family. “When they find their niche, support it as fiercely as you supported the athlete.”
And if one sibling does rise to prominence? Humility at home matters.
“No one was ever number one in our house,” Spieth explained. “If you walked into my house now, there are no golf trophies. There are no basketball trophies. It’s just a house where three kids grew up.”
Maxey echoed the importance of that sentiment.
“I do agree; no one’s ever number one,” Maxey said. “Everyone’s treated equally. It doesn’t matter what age they are. If they mouth off, they’re going to get it.”
Added Ann Shaw, mom of rising U.S. women’s soccer star and Frisco native Jaedyn Shaw: “[My kids] see it. They know the energy that comes from me is equal to all of them. That’s how we keep the emotional flow in our house.”
“I think what’s important is that we involve the other kids with what everybody else is doing — not, ‘This is the schedule, and that’s it,'” noted Mercedes Robertson, mother of NHL stars Jason and Nicolas Robertson. “You have to kind of foster it. You have to really nurture that bond. Because that’s what’s going to help them as adults when you’re not around them daily.”
Self-care isn’t optional — it’s essential
There’s no denying the emotional toll that raising a pro athlete can put on mothers and the “team behind the team.” Which is why it’s important, the moms said, to not let own needs often came last.
“We tend to put ourselves in the back and we don’t take care of ourselves,” Maxey said. “We don’t take care of our mental needs, we don’t take care of our physical needs. And what I have learned is there has to be a balance. So if I had to tell my younger self something — when I first got married and started having children — it’s, ‘Denyse, take care of you, too.’ That’s what I would tell any young mother in this position where her child or children are trending in that direction to be a professional athlete.”
Whatever that self-care looks like for the parent, it’s not indulgent — it’s necessary.
Sharing responsibilities among both parents, focusing on the strength of a marriage and keeping tabs on the larger family sacrifice all play a vital part in success as well.
The Shaw family, for example, has moved twice now — to San Diego and North Carolina — to follow Jaedyn Shaw as she embarked on her professional career. That kind of commitment, Ann said, needs to be balanced with others.
“[My husband and I] run 100 miles an hour trying to get [the kids] everywhere,” she said. “But don’t forget about your spouse. We make sure to have a date night every two weeks. It keeps you connected when you’re constantly dividing and conquering.”
Indeed, the “divide and conquer” concept was a common theme throughout the discussion.
“In our case, we had a golfer [Jordan], a basketball player [Steven Spieth] who played in college and a couple of years in Europe, and a special needs daughter at home who’s eight years younger than Jordan,” Christine Spieth said. “We had to divide and conquer. My husband knew more about golf. I know nothing about golf — I’m just gonna make that clear, don’t play it, know nothing about it, even though I have a golfer. But I stayed back and did the AAU [basketball] tournaments with my son because my daughter can’t take the noise. She just can’t be on a golf course because she’s unpredictable and you have to be quiet. So, we divided and conquered. And now we’re all back together.”
Jami Smith, mother of NFL Pro Bowl receiver and Rockwall native Jaxon Smith-Njigba, said she’s still struggling with prioritizing her own needs.
“I’m probably still struggling with that balance, but I think it kind of works for me to not be balanced, to be able to roll with what’s happening,” said Smith, whose other son Canaan is also a pro athlete, having played two seasons of Major League Baseball. “[We] try not to overly plan what’s happening, especially with kids in multiple sports and in multiple journeys.”
Your child’s mental health matters more than any rankings
Success breeds jealousy. And jealousy breeds unsolicited comments and rude behavior.
Dealing with trolls and critics and haters can thicken the skin of the athlete in some cases, sure. But not all children are prepared for that mental and emotional toll when it comes, so it’s important for parents to keep tabs on their kids’ mental well-being, and not just their physical talents.
”The hardest part was they come out with rankings in high school and [Bobby] got ranked number one,” said Laurie Witt. “So, every game, [opposing fans] would be yelling ‘Overrated!’ It bothered me. It bothered his sisters. Bobby Jr. said it didn’t bother him as much as it really did bother me seeing other parents being really not nice. Even a grandmother one time at a playoff game said to my daughter, ‘I hope he strikes out. He’s not good. He’s overrated.’ To my daughter!”
But overly coddling a star young athlete can also lead to problems. So Shaw makes it a point to keep things level with her daughter no matter the situation.
“Sometimes I’ll treat her like my normal daughter even when she’s overwhelmed by the cameras and media,” Shaw said. “I think it gives her relief — like she can just be.”
The moms agreed that moments of emotional grounding like that were often what helped their children remain resilient.
It takes a village, but you should still keep your circle tight
As a child’s talent grows, so does outside interest in their possible fame — and that can get messy quickly.
“Once your child is identified as a potential pro, the vultures are coming,” Maxey warned. “You have to keep your circle very tight. We were very specific: ‘You do not go to our son. If you contact him directly, you’re out — whether you’re a coach, an agent, anyone.'”
To avoid issues, the moms created rules around contact and communication, and scheduled specific windows when coaches could talk with their child. These boundaries helped preserve these families’ authority and protect their children’s focus.
Youth sports are rarely isolated activities. And having a support system — family or not — can help lighten the mental load during frantic moments.
“Being such a young mom, you’re so caught up in the sacrifice of how am I gonna pay for this? How am I gonna get them there?,” Smith said. “I’m so fortunate for the great teammates that we had, the connections, the families — it’s who you celebrate your holidays with.”
Find purpose in the chaos
Raising a pro athlete means constant travel, nonstop practicing and very little down time. But it’s important, too, to take stock of all your family has accomplished together.
Said Robertson: “Within that organized chaos, pick a few moments to make it all make sense and worth the journey.”
The travel, the financial investment, the missed family events — it’s all-consuming. But, for these moms, it also created lifelong memories and purpose.
“Control what you can, make do with what you have available and just go with it,” Robertson added. “I think a lot has to do with the passion they have. A lot of times, you have to remind them that they made a commitment for the year. There are a lot of sacrifices made, not just individually but as a family. And you have to remind them as a parent, I’m not your best friend. Sometimes they’re mad at you, but the passion and their dream keeps them focused. That’s what our jobs as parents have to be.”
Remember: Your child is more than an athlete
In a world of cameras, contracts and constant comparison, the ultimate goal these mothers share is striving to keep their children grounded.
As they raised their children to greatness, these moms never lost sight of what mattered most: family, love and balance.
“I always tell my kids: soccer is what Jaedyn does,” said Shaw. “It’s not who she is.”
Teens Spread Kindness Through Original Winter Fashion Creations
Emely, Amir, Trinity, Lily were abuzz waiting for Christel Araujo, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, to lead a new workshop at the Children’s Aid at the Lexington Academy. Organized by The Coca-Cola Company, all the teens knew for sure was that they were in for an unforgettable experience. Araujo started the workshop […]
Emely, Amir, Trinity, Lily were abuzz waiting for Christel Araujo, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, to lead a new workshop at the Children’s Aid at the Lexington Academy.
Organized by The Coca-Cola Company, all the teens knew for sure was that they were in for an unforgettable experience. Araujo started the workshop by sharing her nearly two-decade career in the fashion industry. It was a masterclass squeezed into an afternoon, covering the art of fashion design, design briefs, color research and branding.
Then, it was the teens’ turn to get creative. Tasked with producing their own designs, the teens received a single prompt from Araujo: “What does kindness look like?”
With that, they set to work on their designs. Along the way, Araujo offered her guidance, encouraging each teen to lean into their own brand of creativity.
“I had never thought of myself as a designer, so it was amazing to see my concept come to life,” says Emely, who studies software development at her high school.
The staff at Children’s Aid East Harlem Community Center were just as intrigued.
“First came the doodling,” says Marjorie “Midge” Caparosa, a program director, arts initiatives at Children’s Aid. “But as they drew, I watched them slowly start to gain a better understanding of what it means to spread kindness. We also connected with Christel, who happens to be an alumna of the same fashion design high school that two of our students will be attending High School of Fashion Industries in New York City.”
After the workshop, Araujo showed the teen designers how to refine their drawings and enhance their concepts using digital manipulation programs.
Their hard work paid off when Trinity, Amir and Lilly’s designs were selected for a cozy new line of winter hats, gloves and socks. During the colder months, shoppers were able to stock up on these accessories in the “Kindness Shoppe” inside Coca-Cola’s traveling Holiday Caravan. The caravan travelled coast-to-coast making stops in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Portland, Los Angeles and many other big cities, showcasing the teens designs to thousands of people around the country. But the teens’ journey wasn’t over yet.
Seeing Designs Realized: A Trip to the Rose Bowl
A few months later, Trinity, Amir and Lilly boarded a plane to Los Angeles to see their designs in person. They attended Coca-Cola’s Holiday Caravan kickoff event, where their new “Kindness-inspired” winter accessories debuted at the Rose Bowl stadium.
“When they saw the final versions of their designs on the finished products, I was so pleased,” says Midge.
“The kids’ designs were truly professional. And having their work represented on this scale made them feel more confident and prouder of their creations.”
At the event, the teens participated in exclusive meet-and-greets with Los Angeles-based DJ duo Ship Wrek as well as Bobby Finke, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming, and Jordyn Barratt, a skateboarder who most recently represented America at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
“I never dreamed I’d have the chance to be a part of something like the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan,” says Trinity, who has been a Boys & Girls Club kid since kindergarten.
For the rest of the trip, the teens had a blast choosing and visiting their must-see L.A. destinations. From exploring a local university and eating out at West Coast restaurants, to seeing the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“The Kindness Project was an unforgettable, motivating experience that taught me to work hard and spread kindness as I go,” Amir says
Launching Future Careers with Confidence
Boys & Girls Clubs of America partners like The Coca-Cola Company make these skill-building and scene-changing experiences possible for millions of kids. Stepping out of the classroom and into a new environment can unlock a world of growth for young people. Embracing messages of kindness also encourages kids to engage openly with people whose life experiences differ from their own.
“For kids from East Harlem, going to California was a huge adventure. It was a bonding experience I don’t think would have happened back in New York,” says Midge. “They grew so much from the experience. It felt like everyone embraced their best self on this trip, comfortable and confident.”
While Trinity, Amir and Lilly’s career paths may diverge from fashion design, the critical thinking and project management skills they gained will be invaluable in any career. Lilly, who plans to become a veterinarian, agrees.
“The trip was a magical experience,” Lilly says. “I love that I got to be with my friends, meet new people and use creativity to promote kindness.”
LEARN MORE
About The Coca-Cola Company
For more than 75 years, The Coca-Cola Company has worked to strengthen local communities through its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). As a founding sponsor of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Workforce Readiness Strategy, The Coca-Cola Company’s investment supports essential skill development, career exploration, employability skills and credentialing, and work-based learning opportunities for youth at 5,400 Clubs nationwide. Together, we’re helping to close the opportunity and job readiness gap by preparing the over 3 million youth who visit Clubs every day to become the future American workers, leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
Opening Doors to Brighter Futures
Being successful isn’t just about avoiding failure — it’s about turning setbacks into steppingstones. At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we’re dedicated to helping young people build that same resilience. Through our life and workforce readiness programs, we provide the mentorship and real-world experiences youth need to transform challenges into opportunities.
Executive Jason Wright on investing in women’s and youth sports
The CNBC Sport videocast brings you interviews with the biggest names in the business. In this week’s episode, CNBC’s Brian Sullivan sits down Jason Wright, managing partner and head of investments at Ariel Project Level, a venture of Ariel Investments. They discuss Project Level’s investments in women’s and youth sports, the untapped potential in the […]
The CNBC Sport videocast brings you interviews with the biggest names in the business. In this week’s episode, CNBC’s Brian Sullivan sits down Jason Wright, managing partner and head of investments at Ariel Project Level, a venture of Ariel Investments.
They discuss Project Level’s investments in women’s and youth sports, the untapped potential in the space, and why Wright believes volleyball is ready to rally.
Watch the full conversation above, and sign up to receive future editions of the CNBC Sport newsletter straight to your inbox.