Building the leaders of tomorrow by empowering exceptional youth programs today.
The Problem: A Runway That Ends Too SoonMany of us grew up along the Oregon or Northern California Coast watching too many talented kids run out of runway. The pattern is familiar: limited after-school options, long drives to opportunities, and a steady drip of peers leaving because they don’t see a path here at home. Our kids shouldn’t have to leave their community to find their future.
Oregon Coast Youth Project (OCYP) was founded to give young people a place to belong, build discipline, and find their voice. Our mission is to train and empower local youth to become our future leaders. We do this through programs that challenge their minds and bodies—like world-class instruction in dance, musical theater, robotics, and drama—while integrating the life skills of focus, respect, and resilience. We don’t just teach kids to dance or code; we mentor them as they increase in skill, knowledge, and confidence.
Our programs are working. We see students arrive quiet and guarded, then stand taller as they master a move, nail a combination, or assist in class for the first time.
But we have no affordable, reliable home space where we can put on shows and performances for the community, nor do we have enough funding to provide tuition assistance for every child who wants to participate but who otherwise cannot afford it. To serve our neighbors, as well as the hundreds of other kids who need this mentorship, we must expand our offering and deliver even more value to the community.
The Sea Spray Center will be a multi-faceted community hub designed for the next generation. This facility is not just a building; it’s a launchpad. During the week, it will be the permanent, state-of-the-art home for Oregon Coast Dance and become the host to our new, expanding programs:
On the weekends, the building will transform into the premier event and performance venue in the community. It will host our own dance and musical theater showcases, as well as booking musicians for concerts, and also renting the space for community meetings and events. This creates a new cultural asset for the entire region and provides a sustainable, earned-income stream for our non-profit so we can continue to fund those much-needed tuition scholarships.
We have the 501(c)(3) status, the team, and the vision. We are now seeking founding partners to help us secure the funding to build the Sea Spray Center. This is an investment in the kids who are showing up and doing the work. It’s an investment in a safer, more vibrant, and more resilient community for all of us.
Thank you for your support! We couldn’t do this without you.
Chris Klaus
President
Our mission is to empower the next generation of youth. We train their minds and bodies through a variety of programs spanning sports, culture, arts, and music.
We integrate needed life skills and discipline into each program and come alongside each student to mentor them as they increase in skill, knowledge, and confidence.
Along the way, we try to inspire each student to build on their newfound passions and competencies and give back to their communities and the world around them.
