At The Bush School, students are pushed to think independently, try new approaches, and question what’s already been done. For brothers Justin R. ’28 and Jacob R. ’30, that mindset turned into action when they set out to make youth sports more accessible. The result was their nonprofit, Level the Field Sports.
“It all started in 2018, my brother and I were playing soccer at Arena Sports, and the coach blew the whistle, pulled one of my teammates off the field, and benched him,” Justin explained. “Later, we found out he could not play because his family had not paid their team dues. So, the team came together and helped pay for him to play.”
Although they were able to help their teammate that day, Justin and Jacob were shocked that kids had to pay to participate in youth sports and wanted to make a change. After launching Level the Field Sports at just eight and nine years old, they’ve since raised over $250,000 in support of their philosophy: All children should have equal access to sports. These funds have supported nearly 1,000 underserved youth across Washington, ensuring they have equal opportunities to play, belong, and thrive on a team.
“It’s a very common thing as students are trying to get into sports during their middle and high school years, you’ll have someone who’s never played sports before try out for a team, and they’ll compete against student-athletes who have been playing since they were five years old,” Justin said. “Those students receive the extra coaching and support that other students may not be able to get because they can’t afford it. That’s why I think it’s very important to, you know, level the playing field, so everyone has an equal chance.”
Justin and Jacob offer support through their nonprofit by encouraging families to complete applications on their website based on their financial needs. The brothers review the documents and work with applicants to help cover sports expenses, such as equipment and uniforms. They have also organized school-wide gear drives at Bush and community-activist events, such as their “Stop Asian Hate On and Off the Field” campaign. Read more about Jacob and Justin’s inspiration nonprofit organization here.
“We worked with the Athletic Student Council to organize a gear drive last year,” Justin said. “We got to use the gear we received from Bush and distribute it to kids at Lowell Elementary School. Without Bush, many kids wouldn’t have received the support they did that day.”
The trail-blazing siblings hope to organize another gear drive for the school year, but they have their sights set on expanding Level the Field Sports to communities outside the Seattle area.
“It’s an amazing, big accomplishment to receive this award,” Jacob said. “The Bush community has really helped me nurture Level the Field Sports, and when I did a gear drive for the middle school, everyone was so supportive. Our nonprofit received a decent amount of publicity after this award, so we hope it opens more opportunities for us to make connections and network with people. We just want to expand as much as we can in Washington, and eventually, across the United States.”
Their empathy, ethical judgment, and selflessness have been recognized by Comcast and the Seattle Sports Commission, which awarded them both the Wayne and Anne Gittinger Inspirational Youth Award, which honors young Washington athletes who overcome significant obstacles and inspire others. Hear Justin and Jacob’s award acceptance speech below.
“At Bush, we have experienced what it feels like to truly belong,” Jacob said. “This has influenced how we think about belonging in both sports and school. That perspective is the foundation of our mission: that every kid should have the same opportunity to participate and feel like they belong. That’s what inspired Level the Field Sports.”
A Night to Remember
On Friday, March 13, 2026, Justin and Jacob took the stage to accept the Wayne and Anne Gittinger Youth Inspirational Award at the 91st Sports Star of the Year Awards, presented by the Seattle Sports Commission. Surrounded by some of the biggest names in Seattle sports, the moment marked a major milestone in their journey.
The evening began with a pre-event mixer, where attendees had the chance to connect with one another and speak with local media before the formal program began. The energy carried into the awards ceremony itself, which celebrated standout athletes, leaders, and stories from across the region.
In total, eleven awards were presented throughout the night:
- Sports Star of the Year (Women’s Sports) — Amanda and Hana Moll, University of Washington Track & Field
- Sports Star of the Year (Men’s Sports) — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
- Royal Brougham Sports Legend Award — Michelle Akers and Kasey Keller
- Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award — Mike and Kathy Holmgren
- Mascot of the Year — Dubs the Husky, University of Washington
- Sports Story of the Year — Seahawks to Super Bowl LX with Winningest Season
- Sports Equity and Inclusion Award — Bras for Girls
- Wayne and Anne Gittinger Youth Inspirational Award — Justin R. and Jacob R., Level the Field Sports
- Lenny Wilkens Sports Leadership Award — John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks GM
- Keith Jackson Media Award — Tony Ventrella
- Lifetime Achievement Award — Fred Couples
“It meant a lot to receive that award,” Jacob said. “The Bush community has played a big role in helping us grow this, especially with things like the gear drives. People really showed up to support it.”
Looking ahead, they’re planning to continue their work at Bush while also thinking bigger. Another gear drive is already in the works, but their long-term goal is to expand beyond Seattle.
“We’ve gotten more attention since the award, and we’re hoping that leads to new connections,” Jacob said. “Right now we want to keep growing in Washington, but eventually we’d love to take this nationwide.”
Original article written by Donés Williams, Communications Associate
Addition of “A Night to Remember” written by Erin Saunderson, Associate Athletic Director
Photos taken by Nityia Photography, Nancy Le and Erin Saunderson