grow healthy kids

What grow healthy kids does

GROW Healthy Kids, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization headquartered in Sanford, Florida, operating across Central Florida. Founded by Colleen Gonzalez and incorporated in 2015 (with roots in a 2009 school running-club effort), the organization delivers four interconnected youth wellness programs: GROW Steps distributes athletic shoes to K-12 public school students in need; GROW Recess delivers portable recess equipment to K-5 classrooms; GROW Run supports public elementary school running clubs with incentives and training materials; and the Cops & Kids Initiative equips first responders and law enforcement with sports balls to foster trauma-informed engagement with at-risk youth. The beneficiary population is Central Florida K-12 public school students, particularly those identified with immediate footwear or wellness needs, and the programs are delivered via partnerships with schools, school resource officers, teachers, social workers, and corporate/community sponsors rather than through a paid product distribution model.

The organization runs no proprietary technology platform; its "product" is the program delivery infrastructure and donor/recipient logistics supported by digital channels (website donation portal via QGiv, Amazon Wish List, social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn). Revenue mechanics are exclusively charitable: tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants, supplemented by recurring fundraising through Team GROW Healthy Kids, an official charity partnership program with the TCS New York City Marathon (since 2020). Major disclosed partners include Enterprise Mobility, Orlando Health, AdventHealth, Fleet Feet, Track Shack, Good Sports, Panasonic, Home Depot, and Addition Financial; foundation funders include the McLind Foundation and Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.

The business is operated by a 1-10 person team under founder Colleen Gonzalez and a Board of Directors, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or institutional investors. Accountability is reinforced by Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating and GuideStar Platinum Transparency 2023 seal, with Form 990 publicly accessible under EIN 81-0912291. Operating footprint remains concentrated in the Central Florida region with no disclosed geographic expansion, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed on the website despite the availability of Form 990 filings.

Name

grow healthy kids

Legal name

GROW Healthy Kids, Inc.

Website

https://growhealthykids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GROW Healthy Kids is a Central Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers athletic shoes, recess equipment, run club support, and law-enforcement youth engagement programs to K-12 public school students in need through community, school, and corporate partnerships funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Wellness Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Physical Education (PE) & Fitness Programs (EDAJAJAC), Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Youth wellness programs
• School physical activity
• Athletic shoe donation
• Trauma informed youth
• School run clubs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sanford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting youth wellness programs. Operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GROW Healthy Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free youth wellness programs to K-12 public school students in Central Florida. It distributes athletic shoes (GROW Steps), recess equipment (GROW Recess), and run club support (GROW Run), and equips law enforcement and first responders with sports balls (Cops & Kids Initiative) to foster trauma-informed connections with at-risk children. All programs are funded through tax-deductible donations and corporate sponsorships; no fees are charged to participating schools, students, or families.

Product overview

GROW Healthy Kids is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates as a single, unified grassroots wellness program rather than a platform-based architecture. The organization offers four interconnected program initiatives: GROW Steps (shoe distribution), GROW Recess (recess equipment delivery), GROW Run (school run club support), and the Cops & Kids Initiative (sports balls for first responders). Additionally, Team GROW Healthy Kids serves as the charity fundraising arm through its TCS New York City Marathon partnership. All programs work together to increase opportunities for youth physical activity and healthy living through trauma-informed practices, focusing on whole-child wellness (body, mind, and spirit).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Team GROW Healthy Kids: A charity fundraising team that participates in the TCS New York City Marathon to raise funds for GROW Healthy Kids programs. Since 2020, this has been an official charity partner team.

Products and services

• GROW Steps A shoe distribution program that provides quality athletic shoes to K-12 public school students identified with an immediate need for footwear, improving children's access to education, physical activity, and employment opportunities and boosting self-esteem. School resource officers, teachers, coaches, and social workers help identify students in need.
• GROW Recess Delivers versatile recess equipment to K-5 public school classrooms, encouraging independent, child-led active play through portable and adaptable kits that inspire creativity and movement, enhance classroom focus, foster cooperation among peers, and transform play zones into spaces for imaginative engagement.
• GROW Run Provides incentives and training materials for public elementary school run clubs, creating accessible opportunities for physical activity and team participation while promoting physical and mental health, building self-confidence, and positively impacting academic performance.
• Cops & Kids Initiative Equips first responders, law enforcement, school resource officers, and social workers with sports balls to foster meaningful connections with at-risk children through play, utilizing a trauma-informed approach. Sports balls act as grounding devices for children in crisis and serve as a bridge to initiate healing. Resource bags also connect communities with vital health and public safety information.
• Team GROW Healthy Kids An official charity partner program of the TCS New York City Marathon that allows fundraisers to raise funds for GROW Healthy Kids programs while training for the endurance event. Since 2020, it has served as the organization's primary charitable fundraising team.

Quantifiable outcome

• GROW Steps provides quality athletic shoes to K-12 public school students identified with immediate need for footwear
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Enterprise MobilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting GROW Healthy Kids programs and initiatives.
• Orlando HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing support for youth wellness initiatives.
• Good SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports equipment partner helping provide gear for youth physical activity programs.
• PanasonicsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting nonprofit youth wellness programs.
• Fleet FeetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRunning specialty retailer partner supporting run club and running programs.
• Addition FinancialsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution partner supporting community programs.
• Amber Brooke FarmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner supporting GROW initiatives.
• Home DepotsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for programs and facilities.
• Track Shack Youth FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting youth running and fitness programs.
• AdventHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner supporting youth wellness and health programs.
• Orange County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner for positive interactions between cops and kids through sports balls and trauma-informed programs.
• Track ShackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRunning specialty retailer partner supporting running events and programs.
• Orlando City Soccer FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoccer foundation partner supporting youth fitness and soccer programs.
• Forever Alexis StrongminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMemorial foundation partner supporting youth wellness.
• Jinx ITsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing IT support services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Large national youth-development nonprofit providing after-school programming including physical activity, sports, and wellness for at-risk youth. Operates as a broad incumbent that overlaps with GROW's target population (vulnerable children) and wellness/movement offering, but with a much broader youth-development mandate.

Regional players

• Orlando City Soccer Foundation: Central Florida professional sports team's youth foundation supporting youth fitness and soccer programs. An active GROW partner and regional peer operating youth-physical-activity programming in the same Central Florida service area, though focused on soccer specifically.

Direct peers

• Good Sports: Nonprofit that donates sports equipment, shoes, and apparel to youth in need. An active GROW Healthy Kids strategic partner (Good Sports supplies gear), but independently operates as a direct peer in the same physical-activity-equipment-distribution space for underserved K-12 youth.
• Fuel Up to Play 60: National in-school health and fitness program funded by the dairy checkoff that encourages students to eat healthy and be active for 60 minutes a day. Comparable to GROW's combined physical-activity and wellness mission delivered through K-12 schools, with a national funder/sponsor model.
• Action for Healthy Kids: National nonprofit that partners with schools to promote healthy eating and physical activity for K-12 students, including run clubs and recess programs. Directly comparable to GROW Healthy Kids' mission, school-based delivery model, and program mix; GROW itself has been recognized by Action for Healthy Kids (2014 Health School Hero award).
• Marathon Kids: Nonprofit that runs school-based walking and running programs (run clubs) for elementary students with mileage tracking and incentives. Closely comparable to GROW Run in its school-run-club model, K-5 target audience, and incentive-driven participation format.
• Playworks: Nonprofit that partners with elementary schools to improve recess and play, including equipment provision and trained coaches. Directly comparable to GROW Recess in its school-delivered recess equipment and active-play focus, with similar emphasis on safe, inclusive play environments.
• Girls on the Run: National nonprofit operating school-based running and life-skills programs for elementary and middle school girls. Comparable to GROW Run in targeting school run clubs, building self-esteem through physical activity, and using a character/wellness curriculum bundled with running.
• Students Run LA: Nonprofit that pairs students with mentors to train for and complete the LA Marathon, building academic and life skills through running. Comparable to GROW's Team GROW Healthy Kids marathon charity program in using endurance events as a youth-development and fundraising platform.
• Track Shack Youth Foundation: Central Florida youth running foundation tied to Track Shack running retailer, supporting youth running events and training. An active GROW partner and direct regional peer in youth running program delivery and community-based fundraising in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@growcentralflorida2083
• Facebookfacebook.com/GROWHealthyKids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grow-healthy-kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/growhealthykids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about grow healthy kids