Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire kids to discover their passion and build belief in themselves through hard work, determination, and, importantly, resilience to reach their dreams. In addition, encourage parents to show enthusiasm for their children’s passion and support them throughout the journey.

In today’s society, parents, peers, and social media often pressure young people, especially in sports, to pursue a single path they believe leads to success. This pressure can lead to burnout, low self-esteem, and disappointment. Young athletes frequently lose the joy and motivation essential for thriving when they follow a path without genuine inner passion.

Our mission highlights the importance of passion, balance, and self-driven goals, empowering kids to define their own versions of success.

Why Athletes Support Our Mission

Athletes play a crucial role in supporting our mission by generously sharing their personal stories and donating their valuable time to connect with young people and families. Their involvement goes beyond just showing up; they actively engage with kids, answering questions and offering advice reflecting their experiences.

These athletes bring our message to life, demonstrating to kids that success is built on passion, hard work, and determination. Their commitment to our cause underscores the importance of giving back and inspires youth to discover the inner drive to pursue their dreams.

We are very grateful for their support; they are the centerpiece of our operation!

Message to Parents, Teachers And Coaches

In some parts of North America, unsolicited, unstructured play has taken a back seat to structured practice aimed at rapidly building a child’s skill set. While this approach may yield short-term, tangible results, it could inhibit the child’s long-term relationship with their activity. A lasting relationship with any activity begins with a love for something genuinely fun.

As parents, let us learn to let go. Let us enjoy our child’s journey, celebrating both their triumphs and failures. Let us focus on their “Grit Pile” size rather than their “Achievement Pile.”

Passion is perhaps the most critical factor in developing grit or the ability to persevere. However, in today’s ultra-competitive world of youth sports and social media, we can lose sight of the true purpose of sports and activities. These pursuits should allow kids to learn life skills, not merely as a means to reach a set destination. When destinations are set by those outside of the individual, the child loses control of their destiny and ability to experience their own failure. Failure is an essential opportunity to build resilience. But when we, as parents, focus on “improving” our kids through endless lessons to avoid failure, we risk stifling their passion and hindering their growth.

Passion Score = Unsolicited, Unstructured Hours per Week/Structured Hours per Week

The passion score is simple. Add the unsolicited and unstructured hours spent on an activity and divide that by the structured hours spent per week. If that is below 100%, the child may not really love their activity. Or, their journey has been diluted with too much structure.

These stories allow the reader to connect with pro athletes who have experienced passion, commitment, and a ‘find a way’ mentality. We believe these three attributes are the foundation of ‘grit.’

The GPK Team

Who Are We

COACH PRESS (Greg Presseau), Founder & Author

“Grit Pile Kidz is committed to encouraging kids to find a passion and use it as a vehicle to build their Grit Pile,” said Coach Press (Greg Presseau), Author and Founder of Grit Pile Kidz LLC. “Matt Moulson’s story is a perfect example of how dedication and hard work can lead to greatness, and we believe his journey will inspire children to stay committed to their goals despite any setbacks they may face.”

Next to his day job in the finance world in NYC, Coach Press has been working with athletes from age four to eighteen year sold. His primary goal is to build strong, confident children by using sports as a vehicle to teach life lessons beyond the game. He believes teaching kids to be ‘gritty’ must come from the child’s own passion for an activity. After numerous conversations with current and former professional athletes, Coach Press realized that all the athletes were incredibly resilient more than they were ‘talented’. It was through this lens that he formulated the concept of a ‘grit pile’ as a way to articulate the importance of hard work and resilience to kids.

ANIKA CHARRON, Co Founder & Illustrator

“We are working on a series of books showcasing people who have built their Grit Piles as a stepping stone to their success in life,” said Anika Charron, Illustrator and Co-Founder. “The concept of the Grit Pile is transferable to all aspects of life, and we hope to inspire children to embrace their passions and build their foundation for their future success. If you focus on your passion the noise and chatter around you fades into the background. ”

As a former swimmer, Anika believes grit and resilience are the basis for any success in life. She graduated from college with a Master of Science in engineering and worked as an executive in fashion before starting a career in real estate. Throughout her journey, she has been an athlete. swim coach, mentor, and, most importantly, a dedicated mom to 3 teenage daughters. Finding inspiration from her own mother, who emphasized the importance of building a positive and confident self-image with strength and resilience, independence Anika works to instill those values in her daughters and, more recently, in other children through her illustrations.

PETE COLLINS, Managing Partner & Chief Communications Officer

“With Grit Pile Kidz, we are aiming to help young people identify their passion and build belief in themselves,” said Pete Collins, Managing Partner and Chief Communications Officer. “The goal is to unlock youth potential, grow confidence and improve wellbeing through consistent effort and a strong support system.”

As a former youth athlete, Pete put in the hard work in practice on the field and in the rink to enhance his performance. But some of the biggest lessons of grit, determination and resilience happened beyond the field of play balancing athletics with a summer job during middle school at Butcher Boy Market, which his parents encouraged him to take on. Operating a forklift, unloading pallets of goods off semi-trailer trucks, stocking shelves and customer service and deliveries all well managing athletics and academics provided life lessons and a foundation for success. Pete went on to win state championships for St. John’s Prep, earn a business degree from Georgetown University and have a successful career as a Communications and Public Relations Executive. He also gets to tap into one of his passions and build the next generation of grit as a youth travel soccer coach.