In this video interview, Steve Mesler, Co-Founder of Classroom Champions, and Seth Rosenzweig, the organization’s new CEO, discuss what the organization does and the recent change in leadership.
Steve Mesler
Seth Rosenzweig
PRESS RELEASE
Calgary, AB – Classroom Champions, a leading global charity empowering students socially, emotionally and academically through the mentorship and mindset of World Class Athlete Mentors, today announced a significant leadership transition. After over a year of planning, Steve Mesler, co-founder and Olympic gold medalist, will be stepping down from his role as CEO after 15 years and will take on a new position as Chair of the Board of Directors. Concurrently, Seth Rosenzweig, a seasoned nonprofit leader and former CEO of Team IMPACT, will assume the CEO role at Classroom Champions and guide the organization into the future.
Mesler, a renowned U.S. Olympic bobsledder who broke the country’s 62-year draught when he won a gold medal in the four-man event at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, co-founded Classroom Champions in 2009 with his sister Dr. Leigh Parise. Under his leadership, Classroom Champions has transformed the lives of hundreds of communities by connecting thousands of children with over 350 Olympic, Paralympic, NCAA, and professional Athlete Mentors who inspire and motivate them to achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond. Mesler has been instrumental in the organization’s development and growth, expanding its reach to serve millions of students across North America and around the globe through powerful partnerships such as NBC Olympics, the NHL, Airbnb, Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart charity, the Bualo Bills, Team Canada, Google, GoNoodle, and many more.
Through his work building Classroom Champions over the past 15 years, Mesler has been recognized as a finalist for the International Champion for Peace, one of Sports Illustrated’s “Athletes Who Care,” and was recently awarded the Government of Canada’s second highest civilian award, the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, for Classroom Champions’ contributions to educational opportunities for Canadian children. As Chair, Mesler will remain deeply involved and work with Rosenzweig to propel Classroom Champions into thousands more schools to reach millions more children.
Reflecting on his transition, Mesler said, “Seeing Classroom Champions evolve into what it is today is both exciting and humbling. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved for so many children and look forward to continuing to support the organization’s mission in my new role as Chair of the Board of Directors. From the moment I met Seth, I recognized that his personal character, combined with his incredible experience building organizations leveraging athletes to help kids, meant that he could be the ideal leader to usher Classroom Champions into its next phase of growth and impact. I feel fortunate and excited he’ll be putting on the Classroom Champions jersey.”
Seth Rosenzweig brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and a passion for youth empowerment to his new role as CEO of Classroom Champions. As the former CEO of Team IMPACT, Rosenzweig spearheaded the organization’s eorts to connect children facing serious and chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, fostering impactful relationships that provided crucial emotional support and inspiration. In his eight years stewarding Team IMPACT, Rosenzweig led the organization to unprecedented growth. Among Rosenzweig’s core objectives in the role is to expand Classroom Champions’ footprint across North America.
Rosenzweig said, “I am honoured to join Classroom Champions as CEO and to work alongside such a dedicated team making a tangible dierence for students. I am deeply inspired by the organization’s mission to empower students through mentorship, and I am excited to begin advancing our impact and reach. I look forward to collaborating with our athlete mentors, educators, and partners to create positive change in the lives of even more deserving students.”
As Classroom Champions embarks on this new chapter, the charity remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering students to become resilient, compassionate, and confident community leaders.
About Classroom Champions
Classroom Champions is a non-profit that has empowered over 5 million children to thrive socially, emotionally, and academically through the mentorship and mindsets of world-class athletes. Working with over 300 Olympic, Paralympic, NCAA student-athletes and professional athletes who volunteer as mentors, Classroom Champions has provided program and curriculum grants to underserved, rural, and Indigenous communities across the continent. Students participating in Classroom Champions see significant improvements in the classroom, teachers see improved engagement, and athlete mentors learn new skills to prepare for life after sport. Learn more at: www.classroomchampions.org.
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024.
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