We believe opportunity
changes everything.

Think U1 is a youth-development organization creating pathways for young people to grow through sports, academics, wellness, leadership, and exposure to new opportunities.

We meet young people through the activities that engage them—and surround them with the support, relationships, and experiences that help them thrive in school, in sports, and in life.

CONFIDENCE. CHARACTER. COMMUNITY.

Explore Our Programs

Our Story

Think U1 was created to expand what is possible for young people.

Founded in 2020:

Think U1 was founded in 2020 with a belief that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of a young person's life.

Sports can open the door. A coach can become a mentor. A team can create belonging. Academic support can build confidence. Exposure to a new school, profession, or career can change what a young person believes is possible.

Think U1 brings these experiences together.

Our work uses youth sports as a powerful entry point while extending far beyond athletics. Through partnerships with schools, community organizations, public agencies, educators, coaches, and professionals, we create environments where young people can develop academically, physically, socially, and personally.

Today, Think U1 is building an integrated youth-development model centered around four areas:

SPORTS • ACADEMICS • WELLNESS • LEADERSHIP

Everything we do is designed around a simple idea: young people deserve access not only to programs, but to people, experiences, resources, and opportunities that help them move forward.

Our Mission

To expand access to high-quality sports, educational, wellness, and leadership opportunities that help young people build the confidence, character, skills, and relationships they need to thrive.

Our Vision

A future where every young person—regardless of zip code, school, or circumstance—has access to the opportunities, guidance, and support needed to reach their potential.

The Think U1 Model

More than Sports.

We surround young people with opportunities to grow.

SPORTS

High-quality athletic experiences that build confidence, discipline, teamwork, belonging, and healthy competition.
ACADEMICS

Academic enrichment through ScholarAces Prep that strengthens skills, supports student growth, and helps families navigate educational opportunities.
WELLNESS & PERFORMANCE

Programming that helps young people understand their bodies, develop healthy habits, strengthen resilience, and care for their physical and emotional well-being.
LEADERSHIP & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Mentorship, career exposure, leadership experiences, speakers, and opportunities that help young people imagine—and prepare for—their futures.

What Guides Us

CONFIDENCE

We create experiences that help young people discover their abilities, develop their voice, take healthy risks, and believe they are capable of more.
CHARACTER

We emphasize accountability, discipline, integrity, resilience, teamwork, leadership, and how young people show up for themselves and others.
COMMUNITY

Young people thrive when they feel supported and connected. We intentionally build relationships among students, families, coaches, educators, mentors, schools, and communities.

How We Create Opportunity

Opportunity is bigger than a program.

Our work is built around meeting young people where they are and connecting them to what comes next.

That may begin with a basketball practice, an academic enrichment session, a wellness workshop, or a conversation with a mentor. From there, we work to create deeper pathways to learning, leadership, competition, mentorship, educational opportunities, and career exposure.

Leadership

Led by educators, coaches, youth-development professionals, and community leaders.

Founder & Executive Director

Daniel Peña

Daniel Peña is an educator, coach, and youth-development leader who believes in the power of opportunity to transform lives.

With years of experience in education and athletics, Daniel saw firsthand how mentorship, academic support, and exposure to new experiences can open doors for young people.

He founded Think U1 in 2020 to bring these elements together—using sports as a starting point and building a model that supports young people academically, physically, socially, and personally.

Daniel’s vision is simple: surround young people with the people, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive in school, in sports, and in life.

Better Together

We believe lasting youth development requires collaboration.

Think U1 works alongside schools, public agencies, community organizations, educators, coaches, families, and mission-aligned partners to bring high-quality opportunities directly to young people and the communities they call home.