Fuel the Drive, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to golf and tennis for children from low-income families, has announced an ambitious growth target for 2026. The organization seeks to substantially increase the number of children it assists in the coming year, aiming to impact at least five times as many young people as it did in 2025.
Founded to remove financial barriers to youth sports participation, Fuel the Drive sponsors children's introduction to golf and tennis by covering essential program costs. Eligible participants receive funding for registration in local PGA Junior League and U.S. Tennis Association programs, along with training guidance and equipment. Founder and president Terry Aikin states that the organization has been able to help many kids accelerate their personal growth and expand their opportunities, but emphasizes they are far from satisfied with current impact levels.
The organization's mission centers on giving kids access to more promising futures through sports participation. According to Aikin, children's involvement in these sports fuels their personal growth and helps them develop confidence, self-discipline and leadership. As kids develop their golf or tennis games and compete with peers, they learn to lead, believe in themselves, and create pathways to more successful futures. Time and again, participation in these programs contributes to the development of transferable life skills including self-discipline, teamwork and problem-solving.
One success story highlighted by the organization involves Mavarro, who has played 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. Furthermore, Mavarro's love for golf has translated into increased analytical skills that help him tackle challenges in school and life.
Fuel the Drive has introduced golf to more than 100 children during each of the past three years and has provided access to tennis programs for more than 500 children. Building on this impact, the organization has set a specific goal to expand its golf programming to serve more than 500 young athletes in 2026. Aikin identifies cost as one of the most significant barriers to participation in organized youth sports, noting that by removing that obstacle, they enable children to engage in structured environments that promote self-confidence, perseverance and personal growth.
To achieve these objectives, Fuel the Drive is increasing outreach to enlist more donors. While acknowledging their existing donor base has been very generous and made current impact possible, Aikin reports they are seeking to significantly grow that base for 2026. The organization has just launched a new website and is expanding digital outreach to engage partners, community stakeholders, and bring more new donors into the fold. With generous support from new and existing donors, Aikin believes they can fuel the drive in many more children so they can achieve more in their lives. To learn more, visit https://www.fuelthedrive.org.
