The Standing Tall Initiative is an ongoing recognition program that offers schools, clubs, and youth organizations a tool to build better citizens, stronger communities, and confident young leaders.

“Sport has a responsibility that extends far beyond competition,” says program founder David Schooley, CEO of the KW Titans. “Standing Tall challenges sports organizations to recognize character in real time. When we reward integrity, kindness, resilience, and leadership, we help shape better people.”

While academic achievement and athletic success are important, Standing Tall intentionally looks beyond grades, rankings, and scoreboards. The initiative encourages the recognition of behaviours such as leadership and accountability, teamwork and resilience, acts of kindness and inclusion, volunteering and community service, and efforts that build confidence and self-esteem in others. By recognizing these behaviours as they happen, sport becomes more than entertainment — it becomes a powerful force for positive reinforcement.

WRSE (Waterloo Region Sport & Entertainment), the parent organization of the KW Titans and Kitchener Panthers Baseball, has committed to putting Standing Tall into the hands of educators, coaches, and mentors — empowering them to create thousands of meaningful moments of recognition for youth and families.

“A family pack of tickets isn’t just access to a sporting event,” says Schooley. “It’s a shared family moment of validation and pride — a memory tied to effort, integrity, and leadership, experienced together.”

Through Standing Tall, the KW Titans are encouraging sports organizations of all sizes and disciplines to embrace intentional, values-based recognition.

The Standing Tall Initiative empowers educators, coaches, and mentors to:

• Sign up for KW Titans tickets (at kwtitans.com under “Community”)

• Intentionally recognize positive character traits

• Inspire young people to rise to the challenge of being their best selves