Champions of Valor Youth Leadership Program

As the Program Director of the Champions of Valor Leadership Program with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation, I am proud to collaborate alongside my colleagues with the Cleveland Guardians and the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland to foster the values of service, sacrifice, citizenship, and legacy among young individuals. Our engaging activities take place at the iconic Progressive Field, where we mentor participants ages 8-13 through meaningful experiences designed to shape them into future leaders.

Alongside the Executive Director for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation, I extensively researched Cleveland's educational landscape to develop the most effective and impactful methods for teaching today's youth about our four core pillars: service, sacrifice, citizenship, and legacy. This research included analyzing various educational programs and strategies to ensure that our approach would resonate deeply and positively with young learners in our community.

The kids dove into hands-on activities that brought the foundation’s values to life and wrapped up the day with a sprint around the bases on the field—capping off a day full of learning and fun.

This summer, our program gained local media attention, allowing me to share our mission and the transformative impact of the Champions of Valor on our community through various news interviews. It’s been a privilege to highlight how these core values, with the support of our community, can empower our youth to make positive societal contributions. I cannot wait to watch this program grow into other cities around the country.