Strategic Kids Collaborative

Have a positive impact in the community by teaching children life strategies through games.

Our story cannot start without introducing our parent company, and its 2 co-founders, Adam Brody and Blake Hepburn.

Adam Brody's journey was shaped by his experience as a foster child and the support he received from the Orangewood Children's Foundation. Inspired by their assistance, he made a commitment to give back. He actively participated in fundraising events for underprivileged children, and spoke about his experiences. After graduating from college, Adam joined Academic Chess in 2007 and became its director in January 2009. Under his leadership, Academic Chess expanded from operating in 27 schools with 290 students to reaching 180 schools with 2,500 students. In January 2016, he became the owner of Academic Chess of Orange County, aiming to impact children in low-income schools.

Blake Hepburn has dedicated almost 20 years to working with children. He began as a camp counselor for the YMCA, where he discovered his passion for using games as educational tools while creating a fun environment. Blake continued to work with the YMCA in their after-school program, assisting elementary-aged students with tutoring and engaging them through various group games. After earning a degree in Public Administration with a minor in Recreation from SDSU, he took on the role of Assistant Director of Children's Ministry at a church. There, he recruited and hired Sunday School teachers and volunteers for diverse programs. Upon moving to Colorado in 2007, Blake worked as an Assistant Branch Manager for Chase Bank and as an Election Manager for Elbert County. In both positions, he successfully managed staff and projects.

In 2013, Adam and Blake co-founded Strategic Kids LLC to run high-quality programs in the Denver metropolitan area. In 2015, Strategic Kids introduced LEGO and Magic programs to Orange County. Blake has served as the Executive Administrator of Strategic Kids, overseeing programs in Colorado. Under his guidance, the program has flourished, expanding to approximately 85 programs in over 60 schools. Chess, LEGO, Cartooning, Origami, and Magic classes are among the primary offerings.

As of 2023, SK LLC has expanded its presence across multiple states, including California, Washington, and Colorado. Currently, our programs are being offered in over 350 schools, serving a remarkable number of 4,200 students per week. In total, we will have the privilege of reaching and positively impacting the lives of over 50,000 students this year. This growth and widespread engagement demonstrate our commitment to providing educational and entertaining experiences to a diverse range of young learners.

Since its creation in 2013, Strategic Kids LLC has quietly provided scholarships to numerous students. However, recognizing the importance of distinguishing its philanthropic efforts from its business operations, the organization took a significant step forward in 2022. Introducing Strategic Kids Collaborative, the organization consolidates its commitment to its charitable initiatives.

Although it is a branch of SK LLC, Strategic Kids Collaborative’s vision remains the same: to deliver exceptional programs that educate and engage children. Our mission extends beyond individual lives and aims to the betterment of the entire community. SKC strives to create a lasting, positive impact on the lives of young individuals and society as a whole.

Strategic Kids Collaborative has awarded hundreds of scholarships across California, Washington, and Colorado. We take great pride in our efforts to assist and uplift numerous students, enabling them to lead better lives. In 2022, specifically in Washington, we granted a total of 71 scholarships across 14 schools.

Our organization has 3 main needs:
• Funding is needed to offer scholarships and financial aid to helping students.
$200 covers the cost of one class (lasting 10 weeks) for a single student.
• Indoor Equipment: We are in need of various indoor supplies to enhance the learning experience for children.
$400 provides equipment for one class of 20 students. This includes items such as LEGO sets, chess, pens, pencils....
• Outdoor Equipment: We need outdoor equipment for our students.
$300 equips one class of 20 students with items like cones, balls, buckets, flags...

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