Developing Champions
On and Off the Field
Rising MVPs equips student-athletes with the leadership skills, mentors, and community connections to succeed in sports, school, and life.
Our Mission
Sports as a Gateway to Leadership
We believe every student-athlete carries untapped potential that extends far beyond the scoreboard. Since 2016, Rising MVPs has partnered with Chicago-area schools to create structured pathways that turn athletic drive into lifelong leadership.
Through mentorship, service, and skill-building, we help young athletes discover who they are — not just as competitors, but as scholars, neighbors, and future leaders of their communities.
Character
We develop integrity, accountability, and resilience — qualities that define champions in every arena of life.
Mentorship
Every athlete deserves a guide who has walked the path before them. Our mentors show what's possible.
Community
Great athletes lift others with them. We cultivate a deep sense of belonging and responsibility to community.
Core Programs
Three Pathways to Excellence
Each program addresses a different dimension of athlete development — and together, they create a complete foundation for life.
Workshops · Seminars · Skill Building
MVP Leadership Academy
A year-round program equipping high school student-athletes with essential leadership skills through weekly workshops, guest speakers, and experiential learning. Athletes develop public speaking, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills that translate to the field and beyond.
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Service · Impact · Belonging
Community Champions
Student-athletes complete 40+ hours of community service annually, partnering with local organizations to address food insecurity, tutoring needs, and neighborhood beautification. Champions earn recognition and college recommendation letters from community partners.
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Guidance · Connection · Growth
Athlete Mentorship Network
One-on-one matching between student-athletes and professional mentors — former college and pro athletes, coaches, and executives — who guide mentees through goal setting, college planning, and career exploration over a 12-month structured relationship.
Learn MoreMeasurable Impact
The Numbers Behind the Mission
"The data doesn't lie. Students in the Rising MVPs program maintain higher GPAs, lower suspension rates, and dramatically better college acceptance outcomes than their peers. This is what transformative programming looks like."
Dr. Lamont Hayes
Chicago Public Schools · District Partnership Office
2016
Founded in Chicago
Our Story
Built From the Sidelines,
For the Game of Life
James Carter spent five years coaching in Chicago public schools, watching talented young athletes slip through the cracks — not for lack of skill, but for lack of support. In 2016, he left the sidelines to build the program he wished had existed.
Rising MVPs launched with eight athletes, one volunteer mentor, and a borrowed gym on the North Side. Today, we serve 500+ student-athletes across 12 partner schools, with a team of 40 staff and volunteers and a network of mentors that spans professional sports, business, and academia.
Every decision we make traces back to a simple belief: that the same discipline, resilience, and teamwork that make great athletes also make great human beings — and that every young person in Chicago deserves a chance to find that out.
Read Our Full StoryVoices
Heard From Our Community
"Rising MVPs didn't just make me a better athlete — it made me a better person. The leadership training gave me confidence I didn't know I had."
Marcus Johnson
Alumni · University of Illinois, Class of 2024
"As a mentor in the network, I wish this program existed when I was coming up. These young athletes are going to change their communities."
Coach DeShawn Williams
Mentor · Former NCAA Division I Basketball
"Our school has been a Rising MVPs partner for four years. The transformation in our athletes — academically and socially — is remarkable."
Principal Angela Torres
Partner Principal · Lincoln Park High School
What's Coming
Upcoming Events
Rising MVPs Annual Gala
Our premier annual event celebrating outstanding student-athletes, honoring community partners, and raising funds for the next year of programming. Dinner, awards, and live entertainment.
MVP Spring Combine & Showcase
High school athletes from partner schools compete in skills challenges and scrimmages in front of college coaches and scouts. Open to all Rising MVPs enrolled athletes.
Leadership Summit: Chicago
A full-day leadership development intensive featuring keynote speakers, breakout workshops, and networking for current MVP Academy participants and alumni.
From the Field
Latest Stories
What Sports Teach About Leadership That the Classroom Can't
The locker room, the huddle, the final seconds of a tied game — these moments forge a kind of character that no textbook can replicate. Here's why athletic experience is one of the most powerful leadership development tools we have.
James Carter, Executive Director
March 10, 2026
How Our Athletes Achieve a 92% College Enrollment Rate
The national average for students from under-resourced communities is 45%. Our athletes beat it by a wide margin — and it comes down to mentorship, preparation, and community.
Priya Nair, Programs Director
February 24, 2026
Why We Treat Community Service Like Practice
We require 40+ hours of community service from every athlete we serve. Not as punishment — as training. Building empathy, humility, and perspective are core athletic skills. Here's how Community Champions works.
DeShawn Williams, Community Director
February 3, 2026
Take Action
Join the Rising MVPs Movement
Whether you give your time, your treasure, or your brand — every form of support helps a Chicago student-athlete reach their potential.
Volunteer
Mentor a student-athlete, lead a workshop, or support our events. Your expertise and presence can change a young person's trajectory.
Become a VolunteerDonate
Every dollar goes directly to programming, mentorship matching, and scholarship support. 100% of online donations fund athlete development.
Make a DonationSponsor
Corporate and foundation sponsorships power our annual gala, combine events, and leadership summits — and put your brand alongside Chicago's next generation of leaders.
Explore SponsorshipRising MVPs is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN: 47-XXXXXXX