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2025 End of Year Report

2025 End-of-Year Report

A Message from Our Foundation

In 2025, we expanded our outreach to better support youth across our partner communities. We are honored to share updates highlighting the meaningful progress and accomplishments of our partners, as well as the continued growth of our foundation.

This year, we broadened our support within the University of California system, partnering with UCLA’s Theater, Film and Television (TFT) department to advance student wellness programming. Our partnership with NorthWest Vocal Arts in Portland, Oregon, continues to flourish, with the organization on track for financial sustainability in 2026.

We remain committed to supporting organizations aligned with our mission across the Bay Area and beyond, working closely with partners to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.

NWVA with All Classical hosts Christa Wessel and Freddy Vilches

Arts

Our support of the Arts continues to grow through both traditional arts education and a  new wellness-focused initiative. We remain committed to ensuring that all young people have access to creative expression.

The Art Project – East Bay

Chance to Excel continues to support arts education programs in the East Bay. Working with The Art Project by Dan McClain, we have contributed funding to help bridge gaps in classroom materials and supplies. This ensures that elementary school students (Grades TK–5) have access to a rich array of art resources throughout the school year.

ArtsBridge – UC Santa Cruz

The ArtsBridge program at UC Santa Cruz continues to thrive. We are planning continued collaboration for the 2026–2027 school year, focused on sustaining and expanding access to arts education.

NorthWest Vocal Arts (NWVA)

In 2025, NWVA presented four major performances, offering young singers opportunities to learn challenging repertoire and work alongside professional musicians.

Key Highlights:
– 45 youth singers participated in the Evergreen Youth Choir
– 4 major performances throughout the year
– Featured on All Classical Radio
– Launch of Summer Choral Academy (22 students; 6 advanced into the choir)

NWVA also expanded its Educational Outreach Program with local schools and is well positioned for sustainability in 2026

NWVA Choral Academy High Voice Class, Alishia Garcia, Instructor

Sports

Monterey Bay Rugby Association (MBRA)

Our work with MBRA continues to flourish with rapid growth:

  • 67 players (2024–2025)
  • 138 players (2025–2026)

This represents over 100% growth. Programs expanded across youth and high school divisions, with teams competing regionally.

A key milestone was the high school team’s 40–38 inaugural home game victory.

Student Wellness

UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television (TFT)

In 2025, we expanded into student wellness through our support of the UCLA TFT Wellness Center.

Program Impact:

  • 6 Community Connection events (~60 attendees each)
  • Ongoing wellness programming including yoga and themed spaces
  • Career development programming

Perhaps the most exciting programmatic development this cycle has been the launch of CREW CALL. Crew Call is a new student leadership and wellness ambassador program. CREW CALL selected 10 exceptional student ambassadors to lead programming and outreach alongside our professional staff. Thanks to their dedication, the TFT Wellness Center has expanded from approximately 8 hours of open, staffed access per week to 20 hours, more than doubling availability for students who need a space to connect, decompress, and find support. Since expanding our hours, the Center now serves around 10 students a day, if not more, reflecting a real and growing need within our community.

CREW CALL ambassadors are also in the early stages of planning professionalization events to help students build the communication and industry-readiness skills they will carry throughout their careers. We are especially excited about the Career Pathways Summit CREW CALL is organizing for later this spring.

This initiative empowers students to lead programming while building leadership skills.

“The TFT Wellness Center has been such an important part of my adjustment to UCLA and the pace of production at TFT. Without it, I would have struggled much more in making friends and finding a space to decompress.”
Victoria Atilano
First year transfer, Theater Undergrad

Looking Ahead to 2026

We look forward to continuing to expand our reach with additional support to programs focused on Art, Sports & Learning Differences in 2026!

Thanks to all of our supporters and partners who are working with local communities to make a lasting impact for our youth!

Chance to Excel 2025 End of Year Letter: Looking forward to 2026

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The Foundation supports programs committed to the development of mind, body, and spirit for all children through mentorship and education in the arts, creation and expansion of sports activities, and ensuring the availability of testing to those whose creative strengths lie in differences.

Chance to Excel is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

EIN: 81-4603684 

Chance to Excel Foundation does not allow discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment) or bullying based on a persons actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, nationality/national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification/ethnicity, age, religion, marital status/ pregnancy / parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identify, gender expression, genetic information, medical information or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

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