UNITY Thunder Sports Programs to Offer No-Registration Fee Option for 2025-2026 School Year

Montgomery County-based nonprofit UNITY Youth Development is taking an unprecedented step by providing a no-registration fee option for its sports programs. In today’s challenging environment, many of our young people are losing access to mentorship and leadership programs. We are witnessing firsthand how this stress affects in-school behavior, academic performance, extracurricular participation, and a decline in family engagement.

This no-registration fee option encourages program and community outreach activities for each participating family. UNITY leadership believes this move will promote an inclusive and equitable space where every family feels welcome, every dollar raised counts toward impact, and every child knows their village is behind them.

“We believe that access to positive youth experiences should never come at the cost of community connection. This bold decision is grounded in our mission to promote family involvement, expand community outreach, and hold ourselves to the highest standards of fiscal responsibility,” said UNITY President Julian McElveen.

UNITY offers tackle football, cheerleading, boys’ and girls’ flag football, basketball, and lacrosse. UNITY also offers peer mentorship and a book club.

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Founded in 2004, UNITY Youth Development is a local 501c(3) nonprofit organization based in Montgomery County dedicated to providing an environment that seeks to develop and nurture well-rounded youth. With the athletic and recreational programs as a foundation, we seek to uniquely coach, guide, and develop youth both within the sport they play and in society. This unique combination of coaching and mentoring is designed to help provide youth with a complete formula for life success.