Walk into a gym full of bouncing basketballs, nervous smiles, and the hum of excited chatter, and it might just look like another youth clinic. But pause for a moment, and you’ll feel something deeper—something transformational. You’ll see kids listening intently to college athletes. You’ll see high-fives exchanged between strangers who suddenly feel like family. And you’ll hear stories that stick.
This is what youth leadership training looks like when it’s done right.
At Believe in Me, we believe that every young person has the potential to lead, especially those who’ve had to fight harder to be seen and heard. That’s why we’re investing in programs like Cougs 4 Kids—a powerful initiative that partners with Washington State University student-athletes to mentor, motivate, and inspire marginalized youth across Washington and beyond.
Together, we’re building a movement—one that proves leadership is not about status or privilege. It’s about service, voice, and action.
Why Leadership Training Matters—Especially for Marginalized Youth
When we talk about youth leadership programs, we’re not talking about lectures or theoretical models. We’re talking about equipping young people with the practical skills and emotional confidence they need to rise—skills like communication, decision-making, empathy, conflict resolution, and community engagement.
Unfortunately, many youth—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—never get the chance to access these tools. Whether it’s due to lack of resources, role models, or support systems, the deck is often stacked against them.
That’s where Believe in Me comes in.
Our mission is to close that opportunity gap through education, mentorship, and leadership development. And through Cougs 4 Kids, we’re doing exactly that—by empowering college athletes to step into leadership roles that ripple through entire communities.
What Is Cougs 4 Kids?
Cougs 4 Kids is more than a program—it’s a movement.
Developed as a collaboration between Believe in Me and Washington State University, this initiative mobilizes Cougar student-athletes to mentor K–12 students across the state. Through reading days, youth sports clinics, motivational talks, and service projects, these athletes become the faces—and hearts—of leadership in action.
They’re not just coaching sports or posing for photos. They’re showing up. They’re listening. They’re telling kids, “I’ve been where you are. And you can get to where I am.”
That kind of representation is powerful. For a young child in a rural or underserved community, meeting someone who shares their background and has made it to college—on a scholarship, as a first-gen student, or after overcoming serious adversity—can change the trajectory of their life.
Real Stories, Real Impact
We often say that leadership development happens in everyday moments, not grand gestures. And that’s never been more true than during a Cougs 4 Kids reading day held at a local elementary school.
WSU student-athletes sat down with second graders and read books aloud, answered questions, and shared personal stories about growing up, facing challenges, and finding their paths to college. One young girl waited quietly until the very end before raising her hand. “I want to be like you someday,” she whispered.
That simple sentence speaks volumes. It’s the reason we do what we do.
These aren’t isolated feel-good moments either. Across the state, Cougs 4 Kids events are driving measurable outcomes—boosting student engagement, strengthening school-community relationships, and increasing interest in post-secondary education.
In one town, a youth sports clinic run by Cougs 4 Kids turned into a full-blown mentoring circle. The athletes led a discussion about perseverance, mental health, and academic focus. Several high schoolers followed up afterward to ask how they could apply to WSU and how to become mentors themselves.
That’s how impact multiplies.
The Believe in Me Philosophy
At Believe in Me, we know that empowerment starts with belief—both in yourself and from others. That’s why everything we do is designed to be student-centered, culturally responsive, and grounded in real-world application.
We often get asked questions like:
“What makes your leadership programs different?”
Our answer: they’re built for youth who’ve been overlooked. We focus on building trust, offering consistent mentorship, and connecting students with relatable role models.“How do you measure success?”
We look at long-term outcomes—academic improvement, increased self-confidence, reduced dropout rates, and greater community participation. And we also count the intangibles: the spark in a kid’s eye, the bond between mentor and mentee, the moment someone realizes, “I matter.”“How can I get involved?”
There are so many ways. From volunteering and fundraising to hosting events or mentoring students, community members are essential to our success.
Programs like Cougs 4 Kids work because they’re not top-down—they’re grassroots. They’re shaped by the needs of the community and led by people who’ve walked in the shoes of those they serve.
A Full-Circle Model of Leadership
One of the most powerful aspects of Cougs 4 Kids is its full-circle design.
We train and support college student-athletes to step up as mentors. Those athletes engage with youth in schools, after-school programs, and sports settings. And the youth they mentor? They start seeing themselves as leaders too.
It’s not unusual for a sixth grader who participated in a Cougs 4 Kids clinic to later become a high school mentor in their own right. This peer-driven ripple effect transforms individual development into community-wide change.
And it doesn’t stop with kids.
Educators have told us that the presence of Cougs 4 Kids energizes entire classrooms. Parents have shared how their kids come home more motivated. Coaches and community leaders have asked how they can bring the program to their towns.
Beyond the Field: Training Athletes to Lead for Life
While the youth they mentor benefit enormously, the student-athletes themselves also undergo a transformative experience.
Believe in Me provides workshops, coaching, and leadership training to prepare these young adults to make an impact—not just during their time at WSU, but long after. They develop public speaking skills, practice community engagement, and gain real-world insight into nonprofit leadership, social advocacy, and civic service.
They’re not just student-athletes anymore. They’re role models. They’re changemakers.
And that’s exactly what we want them to be.
How You Can Join the Movement
Creating lasting change takes a village—and we’d love for you to be part of ours.
Here are a few ways you can get involved:
Sponsor a student-athlete to help cover training and travel costs.
Host a Cougs 4 Kids event at your school, nonprofit, or community center.
Mentor a youth leader or share your expertise through our workshops.
Donate to Believe in Me to support the growth and sustainability of our leadership programs.
Share our stories on social media and within your network to amplify the message.
Every dollar, hour, and connection helps us move closer to a world where every kid—regardless of race, income, or circumstance—gets to rise.
Believe in Me. Believe in Them.
Leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about the ability to inspire, to serve, and to make a difference. And that’s exactly what we see every day in the students who walk through our programs.
At Believe in Me, we’re proud to partner with Cougs 4 Kids to turn potential into power. Because when you believe in a young person—and give them the tools to believe in themselves—there’s no limit to what they can do.
So let’s build this future together.
🌟 Join us. Support us. Walk with us.
Visit BelieveinMe.org or Cougs4Kids.org to learn more, donate, or get involved today.
