Fuel the Drive Aims to Quintuple Youth Sports Impact by 2026

Fuel the Drive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to golf and tennis for children from low-income families, has announced ambitious plans to substantially increase the number of young people it assists in the coming year. Founder and president Terry Aikin stated that the organization aims to impact at least five times as many young people as it did in 2025. The organization, which removes financial barriers to youth sports participation, sponsors children's introduction to golf and tennis by covering essential program costs including registration in local PGA Junior League and U.S. Tennis Association programs, along with training guidance and equipment.

Aikin emphasized that participation in these sports fuels personal growth and helps children develop confidence, self-discipline, and leadership skills. He noted that as children develop their golf or tennis games and compete with peers, they learn to lead, believe in themselves, and create pathways to more successful futures. The organization has documented how participation contributes to transferable life skills including teamwork and problem-solving, with one success story highlighting how a participant named Mavarro developed patience and confidence through golf while earning an award for perseverance.

Building on its existing impact, Fuel the Drive has set a specific goal to expand its golf programming to serve more than 500 young athletes in 2026, a significant increase from serving more than 100 children annually in recent years. The organization has also provided access to tennis programs for more than 500 children. Aikin identified cost as one of the most significant barriers to participation in organized youth sports and explained that by removing that obstacle, the organization enables children to engage in structured environments that promote self-confidence, perseverance, and personal growth.

To achieve these expansion goals, Fuel the Drive is actively working to grow its donor base through increased outreach efforts. The organization has launched a new website at https://www.fuelthedrive.org and is expanding its digital outreach to engage partners, community stakeholders, and potential donors. Aikin acknowledged the generosity of existing donors while emphasizing the need for additional support to achieve the 2026 objectives. With expanded donor support, the organization believes it can fuel personal development in significantly more children, helping them achieve greater success both on and off the course and court.