EMERGING
“I found my sport. I put in the work. Now the pathway is pricing me out.”
Getting into the game is only the first barrier. As young people progress, a second one appears: club fees, travel, tournaments, specialized coaching, gear. The further a committed kid goes, the more it costs to keep going, and for lower-income families, the pathway simply ends.
#Ready2Grow exists so that commitment, not income, decides how far a kid can go.
What it is
#Ready2Grow is the third stage of ShareWaves' Continuum of Opportunity.
Sustained support for motivated young people who have shown real commitment to their sport but lack equitable access to the developmental opportunities their peers walk right into.
Flexible support follows the athlete into the club, team, or program they choose, and we pay providers directly — so every dollar goes to keeping a kid in the game.
How it’s built
Anchored in income, never talent
We don't scout, rank, or pick winners. Eligibility starts with the income barrier and the young person's own commitment — this is access work, not talent identification.
The athlete names the sport, the program, and why it matters to them. It's their pathway; we take down the wall.
Kids choose the path
Clubs and programs that welcome a #Ready2Grow athlete join us in opening the pathway — because a committed kid should never be a full-price transaction.
Partners in the pathway
How it works
A committed, income-eligible young person is referred — through #Ready2Play, GameChanging Grants families, or partners like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City.
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The athlete names their pathway; we work with the club or program to clear what blocks it.
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We pay providers directly.
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We stay with the athlete season over season — because staying on the path is the whole point.
Where it fits
#Ready2Grow completes the Continuum of Opportunity.
An honest note: this support is limited, and not every eligible athlete receives it right away. We use clear, commitment-based criteria so selection is fair — and we're building toward a Kansas City where fewer kids need it at all.
Deliberately small while we build it right.
#Ready2Grow is our newest program. Our first demonstration project is in development now with a Kansas City partner, with more to follow as the model proves out