.png)
.png)
KNOWLEDGE
IS POWER.
Our mission is to bridge achievement gaps by bringing together talented community leaders from Houston and beyond to empower underserved youth with the knowledge, skills, and guidance they need to rise above negative influences.
Winner's Circle 2025 HEADLINER @jahkiljackson
270+
Over 300 at-risk Mentees Honored with U.S. Presidential Excellence, Achievement, and Congressional Awards.
31K
Over $31,000 in in-kind and cash support raised through 40+ corporate partnerships.
91%
91% of all resources continue to be directed toward advancing our mission.
752mi²
Reaching across 752 square miles in Texas, spanning northwest to south.
700+
To date, our motivational presentations have inspired and impacted over 700 audience members.
15+
Over 15 Awards, Honors and Distinctions.
20+
Endorsed and supported by over 20 elected officials across all levels of government.
7,000
Nearly 7,000 collective volunteer hours to date.
800+
Over 800 meals served to underserved youth and dedicated volunteers through our programs.
2023
Since Established.
_20241024_165722_00.jpg)
Khristopher Fields, Principal Officer
I still remember how impactful it was when I received a congratulatory letter from President Obama back when I was in school—it made me feel like I mattered. I want these kids to experience that same feeling.
_edited.png)
Wise Up To Rise Up Foundation Inc. proudly acknowledges the generous sponsorships and partnerships from Walmart, Google Inc., Canva, Microsoft Inc. and TopGolf just to name a few.
.png)
TEACHER'S APPRECIATION WEEK 2025
WINNER'S CIRCLE 2025
.png)
.png)
Featured In
%20(9).png)
"We envision a world where kids in underserved communities no longer feel trapped by negative influences or harmful cultural norms, but instead become lifelong learners, eager to challenge the status quo and dream beyond their current circumstances."
Alexa Young, CA
“Our purpose is to transform how kids see learning and challenge the negative influences and cultural pressures they face, offering a path where ambition, intelligence, and ethical behavior lead to success
Alexa Young, CA
"Big thank you to the Raising Cane's crews across Houston for backing us and helping us inspire the next generation! Extra shout-out to Lisa Soto over at the West Road location and all the Houston spots that have jumped in to make a real difference in our mission. You guys are fueling some serious inspiration and setting up the next generation for a lifetime of achievement!"
.png)
Community Spotlight
Marquis J. Hill's Legacy Beyond A LIFETIME
At just 20 years old, Marquis Hill—better known as @Realmjhill—is already a voice for this generation. Not because he went viral. Not because he’s shared stages with legends. But because when life knocked him down, he stood back up and turned his pain into purpose.
Basketball was supposed to be his future. But a heart condition ended that dream in a moment. Most would’ve disappeared. Marquis didn’t. In the quiet that followed the heartbreak, when the crowd stopped cheering and the court went silent, he discovered something louder than applause: his voice. And he used it—not just to speak, but to lift others out of the silence they were stuck in too.
One video. That’s all it took to change everything. After being laughed at and counted out, he posted a message that reached over 1.5 million people. That moment led him all the way to a national feature on NBA on TNT, sharing the screen with Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, and others. But fame wasn’t the win. The real victory was the character he’d built before the world was watching—the nights no one saw, the tears no one noticed, the decision to keep going anyway.
Since then, Marquis has been unstoppable—speaking on stages from Disney to the U.S. Department of Justice, from Discover to Chicago Public Schools, from the State of Georgia to Morehouse College. His message doesn’t change: love yourself. Stay focused. Don’t fold when life gets heavy. He doesn’t preach—he connects. He doesn’t perform—he tells the truth. And somehow, that truth makes people feel seen in a way they didn’t know they needed.
Through Loveyaself Co., Marquis didn’t just launch a brand—he launched a movement. A movement that tells young people it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be real. It’s okay to heal out loud. His work reminds us that being vulnerable is not weakness—it’s power. And that healing isn’t loud or flashy—it’s sacred, quiet, and world-changing.
Marquis Hill is living proof that you don’t need age, money, or permission to make an impact. All you need is courage. Courage to tell your story. Courage to keep going when it hurts. Courage to believe you were born for something bigger than your circumstances.
In recognition of his powerful contributions to youth, culture, and personal empowerment, Marquis Hill is being awarded the prestigious Legacy Beyond a Lifetime Award—the highest honor from the Wise Up To Rise Up Foundation—accompanied by a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from a United States Congress member, and several other major commendations from respected institutions who have seen and affirmed the reach of his impact.
Because of Marquis Hill, thousands of young people are learning that being broken doesn’t mean you’re done—it means you’re human. And being human is the starting point of greatness.
He’s not just building a legacy. He is one. And he’s only just getting started.
Community Spotlight
Celebrating Kionne Kemp’s Lifelong
Dedication To Leadership and Youth Empowerment
Kionne Kemp, M.S., M.Ed., is the kind of person who makes you feel seen, heard, and believed in—even on your worst day. She’s spent her life walking alongside others, helping them rise, not just through her roles as a counselor and therapist, but through the way she shows up—with heart, with humility, and with hope.
As a School Counselor at IDEA Public Schools, Kionne does more than help students succeed—she reminds them they matter. She listens, encourages, and lifts them up. To her, every student has a future worth fighting for, and she pours her energy into helping them see that too.
Outside the school walls, her heart continues to lead the way. She’s helped families heal from trauma, guided children through deep emotional pain, and offered a steady hand during moments that could have broken others. Her compassion is quiet but powerful—she doesn’t just do the work; she becomes a safe place for those who need it most.
And when it comes to serving her community, Kionne is all in. She’s volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Houston Food Bank, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation—not for the spotlight, but because she believes in doing the work that changes lives.
One of the most beautiful things she’s done? Leading the effort to honor 100 students at IDEA Spears Campus with the U.S. Presidential Educational Excellence and Achievement Awards. That moment wasn’t just about medals—it was about giving kids something they could carry with them forever: the feeling that their hard work is seen and celebrated.
Her impact has reached far and wide—recognized by the U.S. Congress and the Texas House of Representatives—but the truest measure of her success is in the stories of the lives she’s touched.
Now, as a Board Member of the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation, Kionne continues to pour into others with that same quiet strength and unwavering belief that people—especially young people—can rise above anything when they’re supported, loved, and given the space to grow.
Kionne’s legacy isn’t built on titles or accolades. It’s built on people—people who now walk a little taller, dream a little bigger, and believe a little deeper because she crossed their path.
SPENCER TILLMAN
2025 WISE UP TO RISE UP AWARD HONOREE
🏈 From the gridiron to the broadcast booth, Spencer Tillman has exemplified excellence and leadership every step of the way! 🏆 A National Champion with the Oklahoma Sooners, Super Bowl XXIV Champion with the 49ers, and a beloved Houston Oiler, Tillman’s legacy shines both on and off the field. 🌟
🎤 As a trailblazer in sports media and a dedicated philanthropist, he continues to inspire through his work with non-profits like the Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation, uplifting Houston and beyond. 💪✨ #SpencerTillman #HoustonLegend #LeadershipInAction #RiseUp
_edited.png)
.png)
.png)
STREAM
HIGHLIGHTS
Stream Highlights from Wise Up to Rise Up Foundation's Impactful Initiatives and Inspirational Stories.
About
Wise Up to Rise Up™
Through mentorship, recognition programs, motivational events, and creative community partnerships, we make achievement visible, character admirable, and education exciting—especially for those who’ve been overlooked.
At Wise Up To Rise Up, we introduce kids to the highest level of human achievement across every field—science, literature, computing, public service, athletics, the arts—and challenge them to imagine their place in that history.
.png)
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION
JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
Get the Latest News & Updates