Coach Brittany is a Coach Across America member in Brooklyn Park, MN. Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Brittany is a life-long soccer player, she played as a child all the way through college.  She credits soccer for teaching her the value of leadership, cooperation, responsibility and accountability. “I want to participate in Coach Across America to teach people the lessons that I was taught and instill in [kids] the importance of sports and academics and the importance of being a student above all else.”

Thanks to your donation, Coach Brittany can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you for making it possible for Brittany to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Yaquelen is a Coach Across America member in Los Angeles, CA.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

One of Coach Yaquelen’s passions is working with kids. She joined CAA to give back to her community and to give kids the opportunities she never had growing up. “I wasn’t given the opportunities to be involved in sports or after school activities and I always felt as if I was missing out on so much. Now that I have the opportunity to provide experiences I never had, I find it very fulfilling.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Yaquelen can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Yaquelen to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Floyd is a Coach Across America member in Hartford, CT.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Floyd  teaches basketball to kids in his community. Coach Floyd said playing basketball growing up gave him the motivation needed to stay focused in school.  He said he joined CAA so he can give kids the opportunities he had thanks to sports. “Sport helped my life so much, I want to help others using sport and education. I feel like not everyone gets the opportunities that I had so I want to help.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Floyd can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Floyd to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Marquis is a Coach Across America member in Andover, MA. Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Marquis’ first sport was basketball but he was exposed to rowing while in graduate school.  Coach Marquis said he could see how sports can impact a young person’s life. He joined CAA because he sees sports as a way to provide high quality experiences to motivate kids in different aspects of their lives. “I view sports as a powerful tool for kids who have little opportunity.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Marquis can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Marquis to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Maria is a Coach Across America member in Los Angeles.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Maria is a veteran CAA coach, working since its establishment.  Maria has a background in nutrition and health, so she promotes staying active and balanced meals with kids. She joined CAA to give back to her community.

“I love working with kids. I also like to teach parents and students about healtier lifestyles. I believe that sports do impact the lives of youth because it teaches them to be team players and other life skills.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Maria can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports. Thank you all for making it possible for Maria to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Andy is a Coach Across America member in Chicago, IL.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States

Before joining CAA, Coach Andy was working in an “uninspiring office job.”  He was looking for a chance to make a positive impact in his community and CAA was the opportunity. Neilsen tries to enforce in the kids that they are powerful and capable of achieving their dreams.

“I think a lot of the kids I work with see a lot of boundaries when they look around, both real and imagined. I want to teach them that these boundaries aren’t as hard and fast as they look, and that in some cases they exist only as internal mental barriers.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Andy can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Andy to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Coach Austin has a passion for outdoor sports, especially snowboarding. He joined CAA to share his passion and to empower kids to live successful lives.

“I hope that my students know that they have worth and that they are valuable parts of our community. Through coaching I have an opportunity to experience the struggles of underserved youth in my community. My experience gives me compassion for their circumstances and drives me to serve more and with greater passion.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Austin can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Austin to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Dear Cherrie, Thomas, and Grace,

Coach Kari is a Coach Across America member in Chicago, IL.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Kari joined CAA because her two greatest passions are teaching and soccer, and CAA was the perfect opportunity to combine them. Kari says she understands the girls she works with face everyday challenges, and she wants to provide a fun and safe place for them:

“The girls I work with have taught me the importance of patience and that hard work pays off. Caring must be the first concern of coaching.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Kari can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Kari to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Dear Butson and Mark,

Coach Jennifer is a Coach Across America member in Denver, CO.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Jennifer  grew up playing basketball through high school and contributes her life success to her involvement in sports. Coach Jennifer is now teaching kids valuable life-skills and is learning from her athletes in the process:

“I have learned that despite socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds, sports are a universal language that everyone can participate in, grow, and learn and develop the same personal qualities from it.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Jennifer can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Jennifer to keep coaching kids for the next year!

Dear Thomas, Kim, Akhil, Elizabeth, and Ruben,

Coach Zach is a Coach Across America member in Chicago, IL.  Coach Across America (CAA) is an AmeriCorps program launched by Up2Us to provide its member organizations with the support needed to train and host highly effective coaches in sports and youth development throughout the United States.

Coach Zach calls sports the glue that helped keep great relationships with his family and others. Massey says he learned great skills from sports:

“Sports taught me perseverance, how to lead, the ability to perform at a high level of commitment even when success isn’t likely, and many other huge lessons in life.”

Thanks to all of your donations, Coach Zach can continue to inspire and empower kids through sports.  Thank you all for making it possible for Zach to keep coaching kids for the next year!