As we close out 2024, I want to take a moment to reflect on a year that tested us, taught us, and ultimately made us stronger. This is not a polished annual report. This is an honest look at where we are, where we struggled, and where we are headed.

The highlights are real. We crossed 2,000 active students for the first time. Our Hyderabad chapter, which launched during the pandemic, grew from 180 to 450 students. We held our second annual Crossover Cup tournament with participation from all three cities. And our high school completion rate remained at 85%, consistent with our five-year average. These are numbers we are proud of, and they represent real kids whose lives are different because this program exists.

But 2024 also brought challenges we need to be honest about. Funding was tighter than expected. Two major grants we had budgeted for came in at reduced amounts, which forced us to delay our planned expansion into two new Bangalore neighborhoods. We also lost three experienced coaches to higher-paying positions at private schools, a reminder that we need to invest more in coach compensation and development. We cannot build a world-class program on volunteer-level wages.

Our girls program continued to be our strongest pillar. Sixty percent of our active students are girls, and female participation actually increased this year. We attribute this to our deliberate recruitment strategy and to the growing number of female coaches in our system. Representation matters. When girls see women coaching, they see a future for themselves in leadership.

Looking ahead to 2025, our priorities are clear: expand the Hyderabad chapter to three new neighborhoods, launch our first college readiness cohort in Bangalore, increase coach compensation by 20%, and begin formal planning for a fourth city. We have our eyes on Pune, where initial community conversations have been encouraging. The mission has never been more urgent. The model has never been more proven. Let us keep going.