Sweethearts & Heroes

What Sweethearts & Heroes does

Sweethearts & Heroes is a privately held, founder-operated human development organization founded in 2009 and headquartered in Saint Albans, Vermont. The company designs social-emotional learning (SEL), leadership, and resilience programs for K-12 schools, with extensions into military, law enforcement, sports, and industrial/trades audiences. Its core methodology is the H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Possibilities Exist) framework, delivered through the HOPE Classroom (a strength-based online platform hosted on Thrively), Circle Practices (facilitated group sessions), the BRAVE Youth Leadership system for grades 7-12, and the S.T.E.P. (Student-Teacher Empathy Program) where high school students mentor elementary students.

The product surface spans digital content (40+ courses, 48+ activators, coloring books), in-person services (assemblies, keynotes, Community Ambassador yearlong placements, Circle Training), vertical-specific programs (5th Wire for trades, SRO training, military services), published books (A Bridge Named Amos, 13 Pillows for Affective Teachers, Boredom School), a Forged Through HOPE documentary series, and the annual Youth Leadership Summit co-produced with Spartan. Curriculum is crosswalked with CASEL, CSED, DBT, and NYS CR-SE standards and meets ESSA Tier 4 evidence-based criteria.

The business model combines professional-service fees (custom contracts for assemblies, training, and ambassador placements), tiered annual subscriptions to the HOPE Classroom (Base and Premium), book and merchandise sales through Amazon and a company store, grant-funded distribution (A Vision of HOPE Grant at $2,999 reference value), and referral-driven demand via a Champion Teacher network of trained educators. GTM is sales-led and event-driven, anchored on keynote storytelling by founders Tom Murphy and Rick Yarosh, Spartan partnership amplification, and grassroots referrals within school districts concentrated in New York and Vermont.

Name

Sweethearts & Heroes

Legal name

Sweethearts & Heroes

Website

https://sweetheartsandheroes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sweethearts & Heroes is a Vermont-based human development organization that delivers SEL, leadership, and resilience programs through the HOPE Classroom platform, Circle Practices, and BRAVE youth leadership curricula, serving K-12 schools alongside military, law enforcement, and trades audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Social-Emotional Learning Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based SEL Curriculum & Instructional Programs (EDAKAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

School Counseling Services (EDAJAIAA), Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting) (EDAJAMAJ)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Social emotional learning
• Character education training
• Anti-bullying curriculum
• Leadership development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Albans

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Service Fees - Assemblies & Training: Direct service delivery including K-12 assemblies, Circle training, Community Ambassador programs, and keynote presentations. Billed through contracts with schools and organizations.
2. HOPE Classroom Subscription: Base and Premium subscription tiers for access to online courses, Circle training resources, and youth leadership content hosted on Thrively platform. Contact pricing with discounted rates bundled with in-person services.
3. Book Sales: Published books including A Bridge Named Amos, Boredom School, and 13 Pillows for Affective Teachers sold through Amazon and book order form.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and Post-it notes sold through online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sweethearts & Heroes delivers HOPE-based social-emotional learning (SEL) and youth leadership development programs for K-12 schools, including in-person assemblies, Circle training, the B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leadership System, the S.T.E.P. Student-Teacher Empathy Program, and Community Ambassador placements. The organization also provides specialized training for military, law enforcement, electrical/construction trades, and sports, and offers the HOPE Classroom online subscription hosted on Thrively, alongside published books and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Sweethearts & Heroes is a human development organization offering a suite of programs centered on H.O.P.E. (Hold On, Possibilities Exist) and Action for schools and organizations. Their core offerings include The HOPE Classroom (a strength-based online platform hosted on Thrively), Circle Practices (community-building facilitation), B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leadership programs (grades 7-12), and S.T.E.P. (Student-Teacher Empathy Program). They provide in-person services including assemblies, keynotes, Community Ambassador placements, and specialized training for law enforcement, military, electrical contractors, and sports teams. The organization also publishes books (A Bridge Named Amos, 13 Pillows for Affective Teachers, Boredom School), produces content series (Forged Through HOPE, Youth Leadership Summit), and offers a merchandise store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOPE Classroom: A strength-based online platform hosted on Thrively, containing courses, lessons, and resources for schools to implement Sweethearts & Heroes programs.
• The Circle Classroom
• 5th Wire Circle Training
• Community Ambassador Program (C.A.P.)
• S.T.E.P.
• B.R.A.V.E.
• A Vision of HOPE Grant
• Forged Through HOPE
• Youth Leadership Summit
• Champion Teacher

Products and services

• The HOPE Classroom A strength-based online learning platform hosted on Thrively that delivers Sweethearts & Heroes courses, lessons, and resources including the HOPE Series, Circle Training, and youth leadership programs for schools and educators.
• Circle Practices A facilitated community-building practice that fosters empathy, connection, and belonging through group discussions using formats including FLASH Circles and Round Table Circles, for schools, organizations, and adult teams.
• B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leadership A peer-to-peer, age-mixed youth leadership program for grades 7-12 that builds resilience, empathy, and leadership through H.O.P.E. and Action, with courses including BRAVE JRs and BRAVE 101-104.
• S.T.E.P. (Student-Teacher Empathy Program) A program that trains high school students to deliver the foundational K-2 and 3-5 anti-bullying and empowerment message to elementary students in small group classroom formats, named in honor of Kennedy Columbus.
• Community Ambassador Program (C.A.P.) A yearlong placement program placing Sweethearts & Heroes team members in schools to spread the HOPE and Action message, establish Circle Culture, and implement the B.R.A.V.E. Role Model System.
• Assemblies and Keynotes K-12 assemblies and keynote presentations featuring champion speakers delivering the HOPE and Action message, with offerings including military, virtual, and sports-themed formats.
• 5th Wire Circle Training A 2-day industrial Circle Training program using the Prevention-by-Design framework for electric, line, and construction workers, empowering gatekeepers, foremen, and managers to build belonging and peer support.
• Youth Leadership Summit A 3-day youth leadership event powered by Spartan Race partnership combining leadership seminars, Circle work, and obstacle course racing for student participants.
• Law Enforcement (SRO) Services Services for law enforcement including SRO Circle Training, FLASH and Round Table Circles for agency squads, and programs to build trust between officers and K-12 students.
• Military Services Services for military personnel including Circle, Leadership, and Keynotes that strengthen brotherhood, build resilience, and foster HOPE and belonging.
• Electrical Contractors Services Services for electrical contractors and construction workers including the 5th Wire Circle Prevention Program to build culture of belonging and brotherhood in the trades.
• Sports Services Services for student athletes and NCAA competitors to build cultures of belonging, accountability, and resilience with mindset and leadership training.
• A Bridge Named Amos An illustrated children's book telling the story of Amos, a black Labrador training to be a service dog, and his bond with retired Army soldier Rick Yarosh, teaching lessons about resilience, love, and hope.
• 13 Pillows for Affective Teachers A fictional allegory inspired by true stories of loss and H.O.P.E., offering 13 enduring principles for creating a caring culture in education, written as the story of Bruce Brier.
• Boredom School A playful anthology of clever rhymes exploring education through students' eyes, tackling fitting in, breaking stereotypes, and finding joy in the journey, written by Pat Fish.
• Merchandise Store Branded merchandise including FREE HUGS apparel, HOPE RIP t-shirts, hoodies, coffee mugs, and Post-it Note pads sold through the Sweethearts & Heroes online store.
• Funding Assistance Services Grant assistance services helping schools access federal and state funding including ESSA Titles I-V, IDEA, Carl D. Perkins CTE Act, ESSER III, BOCES, and NY State OASAS Opioid Abatement Funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• $11 return for every $1 invested in building life skills (cited from research)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Spartan (Spartan Races)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship partnership powering the annual Youth Leadership Summit - a 3-day youth leadership event combining transformative leadership seminars, collaborative Circle work, and Spartan obstacle course races. Spartan is a global fitness brand with 10+ million community members. Event builds grit, resilience, and social-emotional skills through physical challenge and Circle practices.
• ThrivelycoreTechnology or IntegrationStrength-based online platform that now hosts The HOPE Classroom. Thrively provides student strength assessments, well-being indices, and hope measurement tools integrated with Sweethearts & Heroes content.
• Buckingham ManufacturingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner125+ year old company protecting climbers at height. Proudly supports the 5th Wire Program for lineworker mental health and resilience. Partnership extends commitment beyond equipment to human wellness in the trades.
• IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) LocalsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor5th Wire Circle Prevention Program delivered through IBEW Local 163, Local 42, Local 1319, and others. Programs bring Circle practices to electrical workers for peer support and mental health.
• NorthlineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization for 5th Wire Program delivery in electrical trades.
• OCE (Organized Crime Enforcement)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization for 5th Wire Program delivery.
• Fox NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia coverage featuring Rick Yarosh's story of overcoming adversity and the power of HOPE.
• Tunnel to Towers FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on Tunnel to Towers for Rick Yarosh's story as injured Army Sergeant. Organization supports injured veterans.
• Incident Prevention Magazine (iP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured publication covering The 5th Wire article on lineworker suicide prevention.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• The Jed Foundation: JED is a youth mental-health nonprofit providing school and college programming similar to Sweethearts & Heroes' youth suicide-prevention and resilience work.
• Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise offers K-12 school-based mental wellness and violence-prevention programs that overlap with Sweethearts & Heroes' anti-bullying/HOPE message and SRO/law-enforcement focus.

Direct peers

• Aperture Education: Aperture Education delivers SEL measurement (DESSA), curriculum, and educator training — closely aligned with the HOPE Classroom's Well-Being/Hope Index assessment layer and CASEL alignment.
• CharacterStrong: CharacterStrong delivers K-12 character education and SEL curriculum, training, and assemblies — directly overlapping Sweethearts & Heroes' BRAVE Youth Leadership, assemblies, and Champion-style educator training offerings.
• Move This World: Move This World offers K-12 SEL curriculum and facilitator-led programming that competes with Sweethearts & Heroes' Circle Practices and in-person assembly/wraparound services.
• EVERFI: EVERFI provides digital SEL, mental wellness, and character-building curricula to K-12 schools and is a direct competitor to the HOPE Classroom subscription product.
• Rethink Ed: Rethink Ed provides SEL, behavioral health, and mental wellness tools for K-12, overlapping with the HOPE Classroom platform's student wellbeing assessment and CASEL-aligned curriculum.
• Committee for Children: Committee for Children is one of the largest K-12 SEL curriculum providers (Second Step program) and the most direct competitor to Sweethearts & Heroes' CASEL-aligned SEL curriculum and assemblies model.

Broad incumbents

• Navigate360: Navigate360 is a broader K-12 safety, SEL, and wellbeing platform serving districts at scale, competing with the HOPE Classroom at the district-procurement level.

Others

• Buckingham Manufacturing / 5th Wire Peer Support: Buckingham Manufacturing is both an existing Sweethearts & Heroes partner (5th Wire Program) and a reference point for the broader trades-focused mental-health/peer-support category in which the 5th Wire Circle Training competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SweetheartsandHeroes
• Xx.com/SweetheartHero

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sweethearts & Heroes