Hello Academy 4 friends,

We are off to a great start this school year and have the privilege of serving more than 14,600 students in 63 schools across North Texas, Austin and Memphis. After our very first Academy 4 Friday of the year, a fourth grader got tears in his eyes and said, “I’m not ready for it to end.” Moments like that remind us why this work matters so much. And it also reminds me that we have so many more 4th graders who could be experiencing the joy and impact of their very own mentor! We have a waiting list of more than 60 schools who we don’t want to keep waiting any longer!

So with that motivation, we are excited to announce the official launch of our Make Room 4 One More movement as we work to double our reach and impact by the 2028-29 school year and add another 63 schools. Keep reading to learn more about the movement and how you can continue making a difference through Academy 4.

John Shearer

Executive Director, Academy 4

A couple of weeks ago, we officially launched our Make Room 4 One More movement, and one of the highlights was hearing from Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia, who said:

"We don’t have to figure out which children deserve a champion, because they all deserve one. Every child needs somebody in their corner. Imagine what happens when that becomes normal."

Chief Garcia's words were a powerful reminder of why this work is so important.

As we enter our 15th year, Academy 4 is reaching a pivotal moment, moving from building an organization to launching a movement. We want to Make Room 4 One More: more students, more schools, and more futures transformed through mentoring relationships.

This movement is about saying yes to the 60+ schools currently on our waitlist and creating opportunities for thousands more students and mentors to build life-changing relationships together.

And we know we can’t do it alone. With more champions, volunteers, donors, and community partners, we can Make Room 4 One More.

This year has been one of exciting growth for Academy 4 as we welcomed eight new elementary schools!

We are thrilled to welcome Morningside, Hubbard Heights, and Meadowbrook Elementaries in Fort Worth ISD; Bryant and Miller Elementaries in Arlington ISD; Eagle Heights Elementary in Azle ISD; Kate Burgess Elementary in Wichita Falls ISD; and Norwood Elementary in Burleson ISD to the Academy 4 family.

Check out one of our newest campuses, Bryant Elementary, where mentors are already making a meaningful difference and helping students start the school year with confidence and hope.

People often ask how Academy 4 is funded. The answer is simple: by people like you! Academy 4 programs are provided to schools at no cost, thanks to a community of generous supporters who believe in changing lives through relationships.

By joining our Builders Circle as a monthly donor, you can help make this a life-changing year for every Academy 4 student and mentor. Together, we can truly Make Room 4 One More and expand our impact to reach even more students.

Share your Story

A mentor, who had been having a hard time connecting with her student all year, said that her student told her, "Thank you for always showing up. I know I can count on you to be there for me."

You might not always see your impact, but the students feel it.

Thank you for showing up!