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A single coach who guaranteed every kid real playing time changed Kevin Dunbar’s life—and now that ethos powers CFY’s county-wide movement to remove barriers for 15,000 young people. We dig into a simple promise with outsized results: if a child wants to play, learn water safety, or pursue college, money won’t stand in the way. With an endowment that covers operating costs, every donated dollar goes straight to a kid’s fees, gear, or scholarship—turning access today into leadership tomorrow.

We walk through the mechanics behind the mission: a pay-what-you-can model that preserves dignity, partnerships with schools and community policing that direct support where it’s needed most, and scholarships that send first-generation students to college with ongoing mentorship. Kevin shares how CFY scaled from three to fifteen football and cheer programs across Pinellas County by listening to local leaders, keeping metrics tight, and celebrating wins publicly so donors, families, and teams see the impact. The result is a flywheel of trust: fund, deliver, measure, and share.

Technology keeps the engine humming. A robust HubSpot-powered site lets programs request grants, students apply for scholarships, and supporters plug in instantly. Social media moments—like “big check” presentations alongside championship coaches—aren’t PR fluff; they’re signals that access is real and repeatable. We also unpack how other communities can adapt this model: define your promise, reduce friction at registration, align with credible partners, and track outcomes that actually change lives. Want to be part of an approach that turns a $250 gap into a lifetime of possibility? Visit cfypenellis.org and follow CFY Penellas on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people discover the power of access.