AACE partners with A.N.A.’s Friends to bring mentorship, fun to local youth through pickleball
Laughter echoed across the courts and new friendships took shape as dozens of local children and teens stepped onto the courts at Southwest Florida’s newest pickleball facility for an unforgettable day of learning, mentorship and fun. Nearly 50 youth supported by A.N.A.’s Friends, a nonprofit offering programs and services for children and teens who have […]
Local student-led nonprofit honored with national award in Washington, D.C.
Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment receives recognition for service learning at National Youth Leadership Council conference Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment (AACE) has been honored with the Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Excellence Award at the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) annual conference in Washington, D.C. The students from Canterbury School were recognized at the June […]
AACE Tutoring Rebuilds Confidence & Improves Academics
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month and a group of high school student-athletes is helping younger students rebuild confidence, improve academics and develop coping skills, proving a little guidance can make a lasting difference real. Athletes Activating Champions and Empowerment, or AACE, is a nonprofit based out of Canterbury School, worked with the kids of […]
Students give back and make a difference
By Noah Moon For many high school students, community service and volunteering are a school requirement. But for others, volunteering is a deeper passion, rather than just a tick on the graduation checklist. In 2025, I founded Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment (AACE), a nonprofit that provides a supportive space for underserved youth to build self-esteem, resilience and positive relationships through mentorship and guidance […]
AACE member spreads message of well-being at Tommy Bohanon Foundation Man UP Seminar
Members of the student run nonprofit Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment, or AACE, recently attended the 7th Tommy Bohanon Foundation Man UP Seminar, spreading a message to local high schoolers about mental health and well-being. AACE Board Chair Juan Lopez, Founder and President Noah Moon, Secretary Gilliane Fort Cannock and Ambassador Joslyne De La Nuez took part in the Jan. 27 event held at The Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers. Lopez, a former Division I college athlete, talked about his personal story as he struggled with […]
NFL Hall-of-Famer Warren Sapp to speak at AACE’s Game Changers session
NFL Hall-of-Famer Warren Sapp will be the guest speaker at Athletes Activating Champions and Empowerment’s (AACE) next session of its Game Changers series. Session No. 2 of the free virtual Zoom series designed to inspire, support and guide middle- and high-school students and young athletes will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Sapp was one […]
Founder of high school nonprofit awarded first place in U.S. District Court essay contest
Noah Moon recognized for advocating for justice The founder of Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment (AACE), Noah Moon, was recently awarded first place in the 2025 High School Essay Contest for the United States District Court Middle District of Florida. The Middle District of Florida is a federal court covering 35 of Florida’s 67 counties organized into five regions – Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando and Tampa – […]
AACE Helps Fort Myers Families During the Holiday Season
Holiday cheer was spread throughout Tice Elementary School in Fort Myers recently, all thanks to a group of students from AACE. AACE held a food drive for several weeks to help fill a bag of food for Thanksgiving for each of the 500 students at Tice. Those 500 bags were delivered by the AACE students […]
Stronger Together: The Power of Connection, Community and Athletes Who Lead
For AACE founder and president Noah Moon, sports have always been more than a game. They shaped his identity. Inspired by soccer, pickleball, and coaching, Moon founded AACE to promote leadership through service and mentorship. AACE’s partnership with APP Academy shows how sports build confidence and connection. The nonprofit creates safe spaces for athletes to […]
AACE is delivering a joyful Thanksgiving to Tice Elementary
Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment (AACE), a nonprofit dedicated to using sports as a catalyst for personal growth and community impact, is raising funds to bring Thanksgiving joy to families at Tice Elementary School. On Tuesday, Nov. 18, AACE student-athletes will deliver 500 baskets filled with nonperishable food items to Tice Elementary students, ensuring that […]