Case for Support
Funding Athletic Opportunity for Youth
Every young athlete deserves the chance to play, regardless of what their family can afford. The Dr. Meshach McKnight Foundation exists to make sure a registration fee, a set of knee pads, or a pair of shoes is never the reason a Kansas City-area kid misses out on sports.
WHO WE ARE
The Dr. Meshach McKnight Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to fund scholarships and remove financial barriers to youth athletics across the Kansas City region. Our scholarships are open to any young athlete with financial need, in any sport, regardless of which club or program they play for.
Our work is guided by three core values, Engage, Elevate, Empower, and by a simple belief: opportunity in sports should never be determined by a family's income. A Personal Mission
Founder Dr. Meshach McKnight ("Coach Tafa") played volleyball at Emmanuel University in Georgia as a Libero, finishing fourth in voting for the Erik Shoji Award, given to the top Libero in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball, and will be inducted into the Emmanuel University Hall of Fame in October 2026. Originally from Jamaica, Coach Tafa knows firsthand what sports can open up for a young athlete willing to put in the work. That belief, in athletics, in mathematics, in computer science, and in lifelong learning, is the foundation this Foundation is built on.
THE NEED
Sports change lives. They build discipline, teamwork, and confidence that extend far beyond the field or court. But for many families in our service area, the cost of registration, club fees, and equipment puts that opportunity out of reach. Without dedicated scholarship funding, talented, motivated kids get left on the sideline for reasons that have nothing to do with their ability or their character.
WHAT THE SCHOLARSHIP DOES
Every gift to the Dr. Meshach McKnight Foundation is directed toward one of four funding pillars:
Athlete Access, scholarships that remove cost as a barrier to participation Program Excellence, coaching, training, and development resources Community Growth, expanding clinics and outreach into more neighborhoods Organizational Sustainability, building a Foundation that can serve kids for years to come
The Foundation channels resources into three signature initiatives:
Access Scholarship Program, covers registration and participation fees for young athletes with financial need Equipment Initiative, provides gear and equipment so cost is never a barrier to stepping onto the field or court Community Athletics Initiative, expands free and low-cost community sports clinics across our service area
JOIN US
Whether through a one-time gift, a corporate sponsorship, or a recurring pledge, your support puts a kid on the field or court who might not otherwise get the chance. To learn more or make a gift, contact us below.
Dr. Meshach McKnight Foundation | rootsvba.com/foundation | mcknightmeshach@gmail.com
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.