R2Cares is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization built on a simple but powerful belief: your past doesn't have to define your future. We believe that being open about challenges and asking for help isn't weakness—it's actually a sign of strength and good leadership.

We work with young people in underserved communities, especially student-athletes, giving them tools to build mental strength, develop leadership skills, and grow as individuals. Our goal is to create a chain of mentorship and community leadership that keeps going for years to come.

We know that young athletes face special challenges. They deal with pressure to perform, questions about who they are, and expectations from everyone around them. All of this can really affect their mental health during some of the most important years of their lives. Our R2Cares Emerging Leaders Program helps them handle these challenges by teaching resilience, emotional wellness, and leadership skills.

Sports give us a natural way to talk about mental health without it feeling awkward or embarrassing. By bringing mental health into sports settings, we make it easier for young people to open up and get help. When kids join our program, they get:

• Science-based mental fitness training through TEAMUP for Mental Fitness
• Life skills like managing money and succeeding in school
• Professional coaching in baseball and softball

What makes R2Cares different is that we don't just work with the athletes—we work with everyone around them. We train coaches, parents, and teachers to recognize mental health needs and know how to help. Through our R2Connects mentorship network, we match young athletes with professional players and coaches who share their own stories about overcoming tough times and managing pressure. These mentors show kids that taking care of your mental health is just as important as physical training.