Sports have long been celebrated not only as a pursuit of physical excellence but also as a platform for inclusion, unity, and personal growth. Beyond the excitement of the game, athletics instill values of teamwork, resilience, and self-confidence that shape young people for life. Yet, for many children, financial limitations, social barriers, and accessibility challenges often stand in the way of participating in these transformative experiences. Leaders who recognize this gap are the ones driving meaningful change, ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow both on and off the field.
One such leader is Dr. Christopher Khoury, Co-Founder & President of the NextGen United Champions Sports Foundation (NextGen UCSF). With over two decades of dedication to advancing academic initiatives, supporting students with disabilities, and promoting inclusive opportunities, Dr. Christopher Khoury has built a career rooted in service and impact. At NextGen UCSF, he leads efforts to break down barriers that prevent youth from accessing sports, while also fostering community, character, and empowerment through athletics. Alongside this role, he also serves as CEO of Endeavor Education LLC, where his entrepreneurial vision drives innovative solutions in education and advocacy—further reflecting his lifelong commitment to shaping a more inclusive future.
Transforming Education Through Personal Experience
Dr. Christopher Khoury began his professional career in 2004 as a special education teacher and coach, where he found his calling to support economically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth. His dedication was shaped by his own experience of growing up with an undiagnosed reading disability. Often told that his struggles were because of a lack of effort or environment, he persevered with determination and earned his PhD through unconventional methods. This personal journey inspired his lifelong mission to ensure young people do not face the same barriers he once endured.
Over the years, Dr. Christopher Khoury has worked extensively in both public schools and higher education. Since 2018, he has served as an Educational Diagnostician with Prosper Independent School District in Texas, identifying learning differences, developing individualized education plans, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Alongside this role, he has contributed to higher education as a Senior Contributing Faculty Member at Walden University since 2013, where he trains future special education teachers. He has also played an active role in key academic committees and accreditation processes, further advancing the quality of educator preparation.
Building Opportunities Through Sports
Inspired by the transformative power of athletics in his own life, Dr. Christopher Khoury co-founded the NextGen United Champions Sports Foundation with Josh Stewart. The foundation was created to address the declining participation in youth sports, particularly among children facing financial barriers. Its mission is to provide economically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth with access to equipment, funding, and opportunities to participate fully in athletics. A special initiative within the foundation promotes flag football for girls, one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the United States. At its heart, the foundation is built on the belief that every child deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive through sports.
Currently, Dr. Christopher Khoury is finalizing his memoir, Keep Pushing Forward (expected late 2025). The book offers a candid reflection on his challenges with an undiagnosed learning disability and how perseverance shaped his path to academic and professional success. More than a personal account, it provides valuable insights for educators, parents, and caregivers on recognizing hidden potential and creating supportive environments for every learner.
Building Confidence and Community Through Sport
NextGen United Champions Sports Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering economically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth through access to inclusive sports programs, mentorship, and community-building initiatives. The foundation provides free or subsidized league fees, player gear, team equipment, and skills development, striving to break down barriers and foster resilience, leadership, and lifelong confidence among young people from all backgrounds. Their mission centers on promoting diversity and equal opportunity in youth sports by supporting access, teamwork, and personal growth.
Innovative Methods and Programs Driving Impact
At NextGen UCSF, two core flagship programs currently drive its mission—the R.I.S.E. Program and the G.E.A.R. Program.
1. R.I.S.E. Program
The RISE Program provides economically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth with essential sports resources such as equipment, uniforms, and cleats, while also helping families cover league and team fees. By removing these financial barriers, the program ensures equal opportunities for participation and also supports coaches with the necessary team gear and equipment, while providing coaching education courses to help support a positive playing experience for the players
2. G.E.A.R. Program
The GEAR Program, NextGen UCSF’s other flagship initiative, focuses specifically on creating opportunities for girls in flag football, one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the U.S. Beyond funding and resources, it offers coach training to promote supportive, inclusive environments, ensuring female athletes have safe and equitable access to the game.
To further strengthen support systems, NextGen UCSF is working to introduce parent training programs, equipping families with tools to actively and constructively support their children in sports participation. Through the GEAR Program, the foundation is also building a mental wellness program in collaboration with a sports psychologist specializing in female athletes. This initiative incorporates counseling, team bonding activities, and strategies tailored to address the emotional challenges girls often face in sports and life.
By providing such holistic support, NextGen UCSF ensures that young athletes participate and develop resilience, confidence, and healthy coping skills to manage pressures from school, home, and competition.
Small Beginnings, Big Impact
One story that truly reflects the purpose behind the NextGen United Champions Sports Foundation is the impact it has made in a very short time. Although the foundation is a new nonprofit—officially approved by the IRS only this past June—it has already provided jerseys and equipment to over 30 young athletes, both boys and girls, giving them the opportunity to return to the field and continue playing the sport they love.
Each of these young athletes holds special meaning for the foundation, and their journeys serve as a constant source of inspiration to keep moving forward. NextGen UCSF is closely following its progress as it begins new seasons, including participation in the upcoming Regional and Super Regional flag football tournaments. This early achievement represents just the beginning, as the foundation remains committed to learning, evolving, and expanding its programs to create an even greater positive impact on youth and the community.
Key Achievements & Recognitions of Dr. Khoury
- Special Education Educator of the Year – Prosper ISD (2021)
- Faculty Excellence Award – Walden University (2022)
- Inducted – Marquis Who’s Who in America
- Featured – Marquis Who’s Who Top Professionals
- Pinnacle Professional Member – Continental Who’s Who & The Inner Circle
- Featured – Inner Circle Magazine & Millennium Magazine
- Who’s Who of Distinguished Leaders (2025) – The Wall Street Journal
- Featured Guest – Two appearances on Up Close Radio Podcast with Doug Llewelyn
- Memoir: Keep Pushing Forward (releasing late 2025)
- Volunteer Work – Dallas Children’s Charities
- Champion of Inclusive Education & Youth Empowerment Award- The Global Icons of Impact 2025
Empathy as the Foundation of Leadership
For Dr. Khoury, the most meaningful lesson he has gained as a leader and educator is the ability to work with people by recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and helping them grow in both areas. This approach extends beyond students to include colleagues, employees, and teachers, with a focus on building on existing strengths while guiding improvement in areas of challenge.
His capacity to connect with others is rooted in his own life experiences. From a young age, he learned the importance of understanding people, adapting to their needs, and offering the right balance of support and flexibility. This skill has been vital in his role as an educational diagnostician, where he evaluates students with learning disabilities and designs personalized plans to support their success.
What distinguishes Dr. Christopher Khoury is that his expertise is not only based on theory but also on lived experience. Having faced learning disabilities himself, he is able to empathize with students on a deeper level, often sensing what they are feeling and what kind of support they require. While it took him many years to accept his own diagnosis—fighting it for about 15 years—embracing it ultimately became a turning point, allowing him to transform personal challenges into a source of strength for guiding others.
Fueled by Experience, Driven by Purpose
Dr. Khoury’s motivation as a leader has always been shaped by his difficult childhood. He did not have a supportive home life or positive school experiences until he attended North Carolina State University at the age of 22. It was there that, for the first time, someone believed in him and encouraged him—an experience that completely changed the course of his life.
His core value is simple: “I don’t want any child to feel the way I did or have to wait until they’re adults to receive encouragement and support. I want every child—whether at school, on the field, or at home—to have that belief and opportunity early on.” This belief drives him to constantly do more and strive for better. He often feels that his work is never enough, which pushes him to improve continuously. Every time he helps a child succeed—through education or through NextGen UCSF—it reignites his passion. Sharing his journey and the challenges he has overcome motivates him to provide children with the support he once needed.
Together with his co-founder Josh Stewart, Dr. Christopher Khoury recognizes the powerful role that sports and genuine care played in shaping their own lives. This culture of care, encouragement, and opportunity has become central to their organization. Through it, they focus on creating environments where children feel supported, challenged, and inspired.
He is also motivated by a personal determination to overcome the doubts of those who had once overlooked or discouraged him, including family members who offered little support. As Dr. Christopher Khoury explains, he channels that experience into helping others and proving that success is possible despite the obstacles.
Open Letter for Aspiring Leaders in Education and Sports
Dear Future Leaders,
My advice to those pursuing leadership or entrepreneurship in education and sports is simple: do it for the kids. Let your passion for helping children be the reason you show up every day—not money. There is far too much greed in sports, but real impact comes from genuine care and a commitment to making a lasting difference in children’s lives.
Along the way, you will face obstacles—some small, others overwhelming. But I encourage you never to stop pursuing your goals. Keep pushing forward. The journey will not always be straight; it will twist, turn, and require you to pivot. Yet, if you remain focused on your vision and keep striving toward the light at the end of the tunnel, you will get there.
With dedication and belief, you have the power to change lives.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher Khoury
5 Key Takeaways from Dr. Christopher Khoury’s Inspiring Journey
1. Overcoming Personal Challenges to Help Others
Dr. Khoury’s personal struggle with an undiagnosed learning disability fuels his mission. His experience of perseverance and overcoming barriers inspired him to dedicate his life to ensuring that no child has to face similar challenges, both in education and sports. His memoir, Keep Pushing Forward, highlights this journey.
2. Education and Sports as Tools for Empowerment
He believes that a holistic approach to youth development, combining academic support with athletic opportunities, is key. Through his work at Endeavor Education LLC and the NextGen United Champions Sports Foundation (NextGen UCSF), he uses education and sports to build confidence, resilience, and a sense of community for young people, especially those from underserved backgrounds.
3. Breaking Down Financial and Social Barriers
The NextGen UCSF, a new nonprofit, is actively working to make sports accessible to all. Its RISE and GEAR programs provide essential resources like equipment, uniforms, and financial assistance. The foundation specifically promotes flag football for girls and increasing participation in all sports for economically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth, addressing a need for inclusive and equitable athletic opportunities.
4. Empathy and Lived Experience are Crucial for Leadership
Dr. Khoury’s leadership is rooted in empathy, stemming directly from his own life experiences. He believes that understanding people’s strengths and weaknesses, and offering the right kind of support, is vital. His ability to connect with students and colleagues on a deeper level is a direct result of having faced similar struggles himself.
5. A Driving Purpose: Do It for the Kids
His core motivation is simple yet powerful: he doesn’t want any child to feel the way he did growing up. Dr. Khoury’s open letter to future leaders emphasizes that the true reward of working in education and sports is not money, but the lasting positive impact on children’s lives. This commitment to genuine care and purpose drives his continuous efforts to improve and do more.
