Team Kids Inc

To empower kids to change the world.

Founded in 2001 by Julie Hudash, Team Kids is a dynamic nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people as responsible, resilient citizens through innovative school-based and community service programs. Guided by the belief in the transformative power of youth, Team Kids fosters a dual paradigm shift—changing how young people perceive their potential as impactful changemakers and reshaping the way adults engage with and support the contributions of youth to community well-being. Stemming from a compassionate response to one child's need for funds to pay for life-saving operation in 2001, Team Kids has since engaged over 350,000 students, raised significant resources for charitable causes, and gained national recognition. The flagship program, Team Kids Challenge, exemplifies our commitment to character development, entrepreneurship education, and instilling a sense of responsibility, empowering students to address real-world issues and become leaders in their communities. With collaborative partnerships and a proven track record, Team Kids remains a beacon of hope, nurturing the potential of every child to catalyze positive change in an ever-evolving world.

Team Kids fosters youth leadership through in-school programs led by our dedicated coaches, supported by local public safety officers. These programs aim to teach the value of teamwork, leadership, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and civic engagement. Our Team Kids Challenge involves students planning and executing a completely student-led in-school carnival, supporting a local cause of their choice. Additionally, we offer a self-serve program model where kids can host lemonade stands outside of school to fundraise for causes close to their hearts.

At Team Kids, we challenge the notion that children are "too young" to make a difference. On the contrary, we believe that when empowered, children harness their boundless empathy and dream-centered drive to effect genuine, positive change in their communities. Through our initiatives, we aim to shift perceptions, showing children their potential as change-makers and encouraging adults to engage with youth as valuable partners in community building.

Top 3 Accomplishments from the Last Year:

Record Student Participation Nationwide – More than 17,700 students across 35 schools and 18 districts took part in Team Kids programming this year, with 85% from minority communities and 67% from Title I schools, amplifying our mission of equity and access.

Youth-Led Philanthropy Milestone – Students raised over $12,600 through Team Kids Carnivals, directly supporting 42 charities nationwide. From animal welfare to children’s health, kids led the charge in creating real community change.

25th Anniversary Kickoff – Launched a year-long celebration of 25 years of Team Kids impact, starting with our June 18th milestone event and uniting supporters, alumni, and partners to build momentum for the future.

Goals for the Next 12 Months:

Elevate Golf Classic Impact: Build on the success of the Golf Classic by enhancing its reach, securing new partnerships, and exploring innovative ways to make it an even more impactful and memorable fundraising event.

Innovate Team Kids Challenge: Introduce innovative elements to the Team Kids Challenge program, diversifying volunteer projects, and empowering students to address a broader spectrum of community issues.

Strengthen Corporate Collaborations: Forge strategic alliances with corporate partners to develop co-branded materials and incentives, fostering mutually beneficial relationships that amplify our presence and impact.

Enhance Reporting and Visibility: Implement comprehensive reporting mechanisms to showcase the tangible outcomes of Team Kids programs, effectively communicating the positive change created by student-led initiatives and attracting further support.

Team Kids Challenge Program Expansion Funding: As we continue to expand into new communities and schools, securing additional funding is essential to reach more young minds and empower them to become responsible, resilient citizens.

Technology Infrastructure Upgrade: Upgrading our technology infrastructure is crucial for streamlining program delivery, communication, and data management, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in our operations.

Professional Development Initiatives: Investing in ongoing training and professional development for our staff and volunteers is vital to stay at the forefront of youth development strategies, ensuring our programs remain innovative, impactful, and aligned with the evolving needs of the communities we serve.

Community Engagement and Partnerships: Strengthening relationships with local communities and forging new partnerships with schools, organizations, and businesses is essential for sustained program success. Collaborative efforts will further integrate our initiatives into the fabric of communities, fostering lasting positive change.

Southern California: Orange County, Los Angeles County
Arizona: Maricopa County
New York: New York City

I am so lucky to be living my dream. I have the great fortune to serve as the founder/CEO of Team Kids, a nonprofit delivering empirically-validated youth development school programs in CA, AZ, VA and NY! My dream is to ensure that EVERY child knows they matter, they are significant, and that their community needs them as capable leaders. Youth show up in this world with a wide open window of compassion and with big dreams to make our world a better and more equitable place for all. Whether it's to help endangered animals, to find a cure for cancer, or to end homelessness, I believe it's our most privileged responsibility to ensure that our future leaders, social entrepreneurs, and philanthropists have the support, experiences and mentors they need to make their biggest dreams come true.

Our published research establishes that the Team Kids Challenge increases thriving indicators for youth to succeed while strengthening protective factors to reduce high-risk behavior. Our youth face unprecedented challenges including pediatric mental health issues, gang violence, and substance abuse. Team Kids helps youth navigate these obstacles by connecting them to peers and public safety role models to ensure they feel seen, heard, and capable of being heroes in their community.

Together with my esteemed Board of Directors, we’re guiding our strategic planning and amplifying Team Kids as a national model for youth empowerment. We’ve been able to advance our five-week Team Kids Challenge program – enabling students from diverse backgrounds to recognize their significance and fostering resilience and leadership. We are deeply committed to collaboration, and uniting with educators, police, firefighters, business leaders, charities, and generous philanthropists, to keep
our momentum growing.

Since 2001, Team Kids has impacted over 350,000 students, nationwide. As an innovative force in youth development, Team Kids is more than an in-school program — it’s a movement with a mission to change the world by sparking and mobilizing our world’s most valuable resource – our youth!

It is an honor to serve as President of the Team Kids Board of Directors, working beside the most passionate leaders from our business, education, and public safety communities.

From the moment I met Julie Hudash, I knew we were kindred spirits with a shared dream to change the world alongside kids. Team Kids’ mission resonates deeply with my personal and family values, as well as with our work at MacKenzie and Next Gen Collaborative to ensure all voices are heard.

Team Kids is not only empowering our youngest leaders, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists; we are also inspiring entire communities to invest in their success, from California to New York.