Second Chance First connects ambitious young people with mentors, advisors, and coaches who help turn big dreams into real achievements — no matter their background or resources.
Many kids have big goals but lack the connections, resources, or guidance to pursue them. We fix that — for free.
Whether it's sports, academics, arts, or business — every ambition is welcome here.
We match you with someone who's been there and can guide you step by step.
With the right support, no dream is out of reach. We stay with you the whole way.
We believe every child deserves a champion in their corner — someone who can help them see the path forward.
Second Chance First is a free mentorship nonprofit based in Highland Village, Texas, serving the greater DFW area. We connect ambitious K–12 students with mentors, advisors, and coaches across academics, athletics, arts, entrepreneurship, and more.
Many kids are not without goals — they are without the means and knowledge to achieve them. Our mission is simple: help bridge that gap between a dream and a reality. We have coaches and mentors ready at a moment's notice. And if we don't have the right person for your child's specific goal yet, we will work tirelessly until we find one. That's our promise.
We don't sort kids by likelihood of success. Every child who comes to us gets the same level of commitment and care.
Our services are always free. A family's income should never determine a child's ceiling.
We're from DFW. We serve DFW. We know these kids, these schools, and these communities personally.
We give kids the wisdom of experience without making them pay the price of failure to earn it.
In life, second chances are one of the most valuable opportunities you can encounter. Trying and failing in the first opportunity allows you to gain valuable knowledge you can use on your future risks and opportunities.
However, the price of such valuable knowledge is often the sacrifice of the initial opportunity. You learn, but you lose — and for many kids, that first loss can be the one that defines the trajectory of everything that follows.
Our goal is to provide the wisdom of a second chance without the failure that they warrant. Through mentors who have already walked the road, made the mistakes, and found the way through — we give children the insight that usually only comes from falling down first.
Thus, you get a second chance — but on your first try. That became our name: Second Chance First.
We believe no child should have to fail to gain the wisdom to succeed. That's the entire reason we exist.
Second Chance First was founded by Neil Butler, a junior at Edward S. Marcus High School in Highland Village, TX. As a math tutor, UIL Number Sense captain, Academic Decathlon state competitor, and AAU basketball player, Neil has seen firsthand what the right mentor can unlock in a young person — and what's missing when that guidance isn't there.
He started Second Chance First to make sure every ambitious kid in DFW has access to the kind of guidance that can change the trajectory of their life — regardless of their background, connections, or resources.
Tell us about your child and their goal. We'll take it from there — completely free.
Fill out the form below and our team will reach out within 48 hours to begin the matching process. You can also reach us directly at SecondChanceFirst@yahoo.com or (972)-292-0005.
Share your expertise and change a child's life. It only takes a few hours a month.
We're always looking for passionate coaches, advisors, and professionals ready to invest in the next generation.
The people behind Second Chance First are just as passionate about kids' potential as you are.
Second Chance First was founded by a student who knows firsthand what the right mentorship can do — and wanted to make sure every child had that same access.
Founder & Executive Director
We're growing — join the team!
Have a question? Want to partner with us? We'd love to hear from you.
SecondChanceFirst@yahoo.com
(972)-292-0005
Leave a message if we can't get to you
Highland Village, TX
Serving the DFW Area
@secondchancefirst