Fuel the Drive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to golf and tennis for children from low-income families, has announced an ambitious goal to quintuple the number of young people it assists by 2026. Founder and president Terry Aikin stated the organization is far from satisfied with its current impact and seeks to help at least five times as many children as it did in 2025.
The organization removes financial barriers to youth sports participation by covering essential program costs for eligible participants. This includes funding for registration in local PGA Junior League and U.S. Tennis Association programs, along with providing training guidance and equipment. Aikin emphasized that involvement in these sports fuels personal growth, helping children develop confidence, self-discipline, and leadership skills that create pathways to more successful futures.
Research consistently shows that participation in structured sports programs contributes to developing transferable life skills including teamwork and problem-solving. Aikin shared the story of Mavarro, who has participated in the PGA Junior League program for three years with Fuel the Drive's assistance. His father reports that playing golf has helped Mavarro develop patience and confidence, earning him an award for perseverance, while his analytical skills from golf have translated to better tackling challenges in school and life.
During each of the past three years, Fuel the Drive has introduced golf to more than 100 children and provided access to tennis programs for more than 500 children. Building on this foundation, the organization now aims to expand its golf programming to serve more than 500 young athletes in 2026 alone. Aikin identified cost as one of the most significant barriers to participation in organized youth sports, noting that removing this obstacle enables children to engage in structured environments that promote self-confidence, perseverance, and personal growth.
To achieve these expanded goals, Fuel the Drive is actively growing its donor base through increased digital outreach and a newly launched website. Aikin acknowledged the generosity of existing donors while emphasizing the need for significantly more support to reach the 2026 objectives. The organization's expansion represents a critical intervention in youth development, as access to sports programming has been shown to correlate with improved academic performance, better health outcomes, and enhanced social skills among participants from underserved communities.
