The New York Life Foundation today announced Coaching the Future, a new strategic focus area to expand access to trusted guidance for young people across the country. Through this initiative, the Foundation will support organizations that train, equip and sustain coaches and mentors who help young people grow — on the field, off the field and across all abilities.
For New York Life, trusted human guidance has long been central to helping individuals and families pursue what matters most. Coaching the Future extends that belief beyond financial guidance, recognizing the powerful role coaches and mentors play in helping young people build confidence, character and opportunity.
“At New York Life, guidance is at the heart of what we do. Our agents and advisors coach individuals and families through some of life’s most important moments,” said Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation. “Many of them bring that same commitment to their communities as coaches and mentors. Coaching the Future builds on that foundation, making this a natural extension of who we are and how we show up.”
The new focus will concentrate on three areas:
- On the Field Coaching — strengthening youth sports through youth-development focused coach training and access to equipment, sports facilities and resources.
- Off the Field Coaching — supporting mentorship and coaching programs that help young people develop life, leadership and career skills.
- All Abilities Coaching — expanding inclusive opportunities so children and youth of differing abilities can participate and thrive.
“In communities across the country, coaches and mentors are often the people who show up consistently and help young people see what’s possible,” said Amy Miller, corporate secretary for New York Life and vice chair of the New York Life Foundation. “Coaching the Future is about standing with those leaders and helping expand access to the guidance young people need to thrive.”
Initial Strategic Grants
As part of the launch, the New York Life Foundation has issued its first wave of strategic grants totaling $15 million over three years to national nonprofit organizations advancing youth sports, mentorship, career readiness and inclusive coaching. As part of this work, the Foundation aims to help train 25,000 coaches and mentors over the next three years, expanding access to high-quality guidance for young people nationwide.
Examples include:
- A new partnership with Best Buddies to advance inclusive mentoring for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, expanding mentor training and chapter support nationwide, and mobilizing New York Life agents and employees in Friendship Walk events across the country.
- An expanded relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to strengthen youth sports programs in communities across the country — supporting coach training, equipment and facility upgrades, and community activations that help young people build confidence, teamwork and healthy habits.
- An expanded collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA to grow Cookie College, a hands-on entrepreneurship experience that equips girls with financial literacy, goal-setting and leadership skills, supported by a new bilingual national toolkit and mentorship from New York Life agents and employees.
- A partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance to train thousands of coaches, including New York Life employees and community members, in youth development–focused practices through in-person and virtual sessions. An initial rollout of 1,000 free virtual coach training slots will be available to the public to help expand access nationwide.
Additional Coaching the Future grants and partnerships will be announced over time.
The Foundation’s efforts will be amplified by employee and agent volunteerism and engagement that supports nonprofit partners and helps extend the reach of coaching and mentorship in local communities. For example, through a New York Life Foundation partnership with DonorsChoose, New York Life employees and agents are already supporting classroom and school-based coaching efforts.
Coaching the Future complements the Foundation’s continued leadership in bereavement support, which remains a cornerstone of its work. The Foundation has invested nearly $100 million in grief support since 2008, and this commitment continues alongside the new coaching focus area.
For more information on Coaching the Future, visit newyorklife.com/foundation/coaching-the-future.
About the New York Life Foundation
Inspired by New York Life’s tradition of service and humanity, the New York Life Foundation has, since its founding in 1979, provided over $490 million in charitable contributions to national and local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation invests in programs that benefit young people, particularly in the areas of coaching and bereavement support. The Foundation also encourages and facilitates the community involvement of employees and agents of New York Life through its Volunteers for Good program and Grief-Sensitive Schools and Grief-Supportive Workplace Initiatives. To learn more, please visit www.newyorklifefoundation.org.
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