Fielding dreams, fostering futures

EIN: 30-0712494

About Us

OUR HISTORY

From the Start

It all began in the hills of Novi Sad, Serbia, where 150 young people and a basketball brought about a new initiative. The U.S. Embassy in Serbia reached out to me to lead a peace camp in partnership with I Came to Play, a program aimed at promoting peace and unity in the former Yugoslavian region.

During my 26-hour journey back to the US, the idea for a non-profit organization dedicated to serving foster youth took shape. Since its establishment in November 2011, our vision has expanded to include a range of programs and initiatives, including sports clinics, trophy recycling, financial literacy workshops, a scholarship fund, and more.

I am grateful to the numerous volunteers and donors who have made this journey a reality. With their support, we have been able to impact the lives of thousands of young people who might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Years Serving Foster Youth

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From 2011

Our History

2011

The Beginning

The idea for our non-profit organization was born in 2011, during Shane's trip to Novi Sad, Serbia, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Serbia. With a mission to provide hope and support to foster youth in local communities, Shane took the initiative to bring his vision to life. In November 2011, he filed the IRS form 1023 on his own and successfully obtained 501(c)3 status, paving the way for the start of our organization's journey. The rest, as they say, is history!

2015

International

After four years of making an impact in local communities across the United States, Shane joined forces with some friends to extend their reach globally. They planned a trip to help communities in need, and also to revisit Novi Sad, Serbia where the journey began. The trip was made possible through the generosity of family and friends who supported the mission through fundraising, ensuring that local resources for foster youth were not impacted.

Thessaloniki, Greece
PAI has joined forces with a church ministry that offers support to a gypsy community near the local airport. The team stayed close by and organized daily events for the youth, making lasting memories and leaving behind essential sports equipment
Novi Sad, Serbia
The team returned to the birthplace of PAI, reuniting with old friends and fulfilling the promise to bring resources to the community. Through daily sports clinics and educational sessions, they carried out their mission and made a lasting impact
Manila, Philippines
In response to the devastating typhoon that struck Manila in 2015, a volunteer reached out to Shane with a desire to offer aid. Upon connecting with Gentle Hands, an orphanage in Manila, Shane and Katerina quickly sprang into action, bringing over 500 pounds of supplies to help the community during a trying time. In addition, they also conducted daily sports clinics, providing support and hope to those in need

2017

Expansion Year

With the growth of our programs and the increasing number of youth we serve, we sought to optimize their experience by refining our approach. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to introduce several new programs, including:

Trophy Program
As our events gained more participants, we wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the young people who displayed exceptional sportsmanship and teamwork. We created awards that recognized the development of important life skills and positive behaviors. So far, this initiative has had a significant impact on the youth in our program and remains one of our most impactful programs
Mexico Partnership
PAI has joined forces with Build a Miracle in Tijuana, Mexico to bring positive change to a rural community. Our collaboration, along with support from corporate sponsors and a high school baseball team, raised funds to construct a state-of-the-art sports complex. Our ongoing commitment includes supporting the salary of a full-time athletic director, who manages year-round programs at the complex

2023

Rebrand

Our journey as a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization has been nothing short of remarkable. With our sights set on the future, we're excited to continue providing valuable programs and resources for the youth we serve. In order to better reflect the scope of our work beyond sports, we've decided to rebrand ourselves as the Freedom Youth Foundation, stepping away from our previous name, Progression Athletics International. This change reflects our commitment to helping young people in all aspects of life, not just through athletic programs.

Sports Programs
Our mission remains steadfast as we continue to provide complimentary sports clinics to foster youth and their siblings. We believe in harnessing the power of sports to foster growth, inspire confidence, and build relationships
Financial Literacy
Our goal is to empower foster youth as they transition into adulthood and leave the foster system. We believe that financial literacy is a crucial aspect in establishing a strong foundation for their future
Scholarship Fund
At the Freedom Youth Foundation, our goal is to instill a sense of self-worth and potential in every young person we serve. We believe that education and financial literacy play a crucial role in creating a solid foundation for life after foster care. Our scholarship fund is designed to provide hope and support for our youth to continue their education or secure employment. Eligibility criteria include maintaining a 3.0 GPA or higher, good school attendance, participation in our sports programs, completion of our financial literacy program, and submitting a scholarship application
Build a Miracle
Thanks to the generosity of our corporate sponsors, we are able to provide a full-time athletic director to run programs at our sports complex. These programs reach over 300 youth daily and provide a positive impact on their lives
Gentle Hands
Our annual sports programs for the 80+ orphans at the orphanage are made possible through the support of our corporate sponsors