Scarsdale's Chase Kantor Wins Service Award for Improving the Well-Being of Worldwide Youth

After founding Goalkeeper in ninth grade, a nonprofit that works to address the needs of communities around the world, Scarsdale High School Junior Chase Kantor ended 2024 on a high note when he received a Youth Service Award from the Westchester County Youth Bureau in recognition of his hard work.

The annual Youth Service Award Ceremony which honors “exceptional high school juniors and seniors who have distinguished themselves through their leadership and commitment to service and social justice,” was held on December 19th. In addition to Scarsdale’s own Chase Kantor, this year the ceremony celebrated ten remarkable students from around Westchester.

According to the Westchester Government website,“To qualify for nomination, they completed impactful projects on topics ranging from developing technical assistance for individuals with developmental disabilities to fostering literacy among young readers and raising funds for youth in homeless shelters both locally and internationally.”

Describing the work he’s done, Chase Kantor said he founded Goalkeeper “to give back some of what I have gained living in a town with adequate resources to support an active and healthy lifestyle. Since then, I've raised over $40,000 through annual pickleball tournaments at Fenway Golf Club, basketball skills clinics at Chelsea Piers, securing business advertisements from Scarsdale staples like Giannonis, marketing branded merchandise, and organizing S'mores and Waffle Stands at Chase Park.”

Kantor added, “These funds have directly addressed needs in communities around the world, improving outcomes for youth, creating opportunities for mental and physical development in underserved areas. We provided $11,639 for clean water systems and field renovations in Senegal and $13,280 to support basketball programs and educational opportunities for youth athletes in Dakar, two of our largest projects to date.”

Additionally, Goalkeeper has “Collected 150 donated professional NBA and NFL jerseys worth over $10,000, which were distributed at zero dollar Holiday Pop-up shops at Mt Vernon Boys and Girls club and White Plains Coachman Family Center this December, providing access to symbols of athletic achievement that might otherwise be beyond these kids' reach.”

Kantor says he also coaches flag football at both locations, which inspired him to develop a course combining wellness, fitness, and entrepreneurship, which he taught this past summer. “Every class included simple workouts that students could replicate at home, handouts with stories of people turning ideas into successful fitness ventures, and motivational activities, like designing a journal with fitness goals or posters with inspirational quotes from famous athletes.”

When asked what inspired him to create Goalkeeper, Kantor said, “Sports and outdoor activities have always been an important part of my life. It’s one of the reasons my parents chose to move to Scarsdale- they wanted my brother and I to have access to outdoor spaces and community programs. Growing up, I participated in nearly every recreational league Scarsdale had to offer. Those early experiences helped me be active, social and taught me the value of teamwork and hard work.

While I knew that not everyone has the same opportunities we have in Scarsdale, after a conversation I had with a family friend who worked in communities across Africa, who explained how many villages lacked funding for soccer programs, clean water for their athletes, and even basic field maintenance, I decided to do something about it. Since then, I’ve worked independently and in collaboration with other organizations similarly devoted to improving access to recreational, wellness, and developmental opportunities for youth around the world.”

Whether he’s working to ensure that soccer players in Africa have access to clean water, or designing fitness lessons to teach the importance of wellness and nutrition, Cantor hopes to build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities through hands-on engagement and fundraising, locally and abroad.