Brecksville Resident Tom Heines Wins Connecting for Kids Board Award

Tom Heines, Executive Director of Empower Sports and a resident of Brecksville, has been named the Professional of the Year, receiving a 2026 Connecting for Kids Board Award. These awards are given to those that exemplify the mission of Connecting for Kids to provide resources, support and community to families with concerns about their child.

Empower Sports is an inclusive sports program that welcomes athletes of all abilities from ages 6 through adulthood. As Executive Director, Heines leads a team of coaches that have created an inclusive environment. His nomination pointed out that “Every athlete plays at their level, and somehow it still feels like no one is getting special treatment or left behind. Since that first pickleball season, my child has become a regular at Empower - sampling basketball, football, kickball, softball and more. She has made friends -- including a typical peer volunteer who gave up summer plans to come back and hang out with her the next season. And somehow, none of the seasons end up costing more than $35 per athlete. The fact that there is no age limit means my child can continue with Empower into adulthood.”