Classroom Champions
Classroom Champions, founded by Steve and his sister, Dr. Leigh Parise, is the world’s leading Sport-for-Education organization. Connecting students with world-class athletes to inspire mentorship, resilience, and life skills. Through its innovative programs, it empowers educators and students by fostering durable skills, academic improvement and building strong communities. Classroom Champions has impacted over five million students globally, creating a lasting legacy of mentorship and growth.
Classroom Champions
Classroom Champions, founded by Steve and his sister, Dr. Leigh Parise, is the world’s leading Sport-for-Education organization. Connecting students with world-class athletes to inspire mentorship, resilience, and life skills. Through its innovative programs, it empowers educators and students by fostering durable skills, academic improvement and building strong communities. Classroom Champions has impacted over five million students globally, creating a lasting legacy of mentorship and growth.
Inspiring The Next Generation
Through his charitable organization, Classroom Champions, Steve has created lasting impact by connecting millions of students with world-class athletes who mentor them in resilience, teamwork, and emotional strength.
Steve works with philanthropists and organization boards to support bringing their mission and vision to life with impact and sustainability.
About Classroom Champions
Before retiring from sport, Steve started visiting schools to share motivational talks with students, inspiring them for a moment but then leaving, wondering if there could be a deeper impact.
Going into his final season, what would become his Gold Medal run, he and his sister Leigh asked themselves, “Will this be the last chance to make an impact?” That question sparked a powerful vision – to go beyond a single speech and become a steady, positive presence in students’ lives.
In 2009, as he trained for his final Olympics, Steve and Leigh launched what became Classroom Champions. Starting with just nine classrooms, Steve became the first mentor, guiding students toward greater engagement, growth mindsets, and a supportive classroom culture. This was the beginning of a transformative movement, rooted in the belief that mentorship can unlock the potential in everyone.
Achievements
Today, Classroom Champions is the world’s leading sport-for education organization, connecting 350+ Olympians, Paralympians, Pro and College Student-Athletes to 5,000,000+ students across the globe. It has raised more than $60m in support.
Leveraged by schools in all U.S. States and Canadian Provinces and Territories
Won the International Olympic Committee’s Olympism in Action Award
The only North American NGO to win the International Fair Play Diploma
Earned official classification as a Certified Mentorship Program for schools
Awarded two of P&G's international Athletes for Good grants
Partnered with major institutions in sport, media, and education
Build Your Own Champion Mindset
Steve’s charitable work shows the power of long-term impact, mentorship, and unlocking potential. From students navigating their way through school to senior leaders navigating high-stakes challenges in the corporate world, consistent guidance is a crucial element of building resilience to achieve growth.
Steve’s executive and performance coaching offers the same transformative mentorship on display with Classroom Champions. His approach leverages his core strengths – creating a growth-oriented mindset, fostering resilience, and driving actionable results – helping clients reach their highest potential in life and in work.
Steve Mesler’s Newsletter
I write about "getting better at getting better" for work, life, health, and performance. Delivered just twice-monthly to thousands of Leaders, Educators, Olympians, & soon, I hope, YOU.
