Athlete fundraiser
Help Naythan Mulugeta reach the next level.
Wide receiver and NFL Draft prospect. Your gift supports his Nov 21 sports showcase in Torrance, CA, his athletic training and housing while he prepares.
Ava's Place · A Place to Belong. A Path Forward.
Free courses, real support and a community in their corner, for youth, families, the disability community and aspiring athletes. From a first grader to a college freshman.
Support · Connection · Opportunity
11
free mini-courses
K–College
four learner tiers, one catalog
$0
for every family, always
100%
of Bella book proceeds to Fairfax County Schools
Resources
Find what you need, wherever you're starting.
Youth
Confidence, life skills and learning tools for kids and teens.
- 11 free self-paced mini-courses
- SAT Prep for grades 10–12
- Peer pressure & independent choices
Families
Free courses parents, homeschoolers and caregivers can use at home.
- Every course free for families
- Printable Rep Cards & certificates
- [LOCAL SUPPORT DIRECTORY]
Disability community
Accessible learning and resources for people with disabilities and the families who support them.
- Self-paced courses, any device
- [ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS & PARTNERS]
- [ADVOCACY & BENEFITS GUIDES]
Aspiring athletes
Mindset and life skills for young athletes on and off the field.
- Confidence beyond stats & wins
- Bouncing back from setbacks
- Taking coaching & feedback
- Book: Confidence Built Rep By Rep
- Support Naythan Mulugeta
Mini-courses
Eleven free courses in four tracks.
Each one closes a gap students run into the moment there's no script to follow.
Knowing yourself
Confidence & Self-WorthSelf-worth tied to grades, likes and wins Peer Pressure & Independent ChoicesGoing along with the groupWorking with others
Handling Uncertainty & AmbiguityFreezing when there's no clear answer Conflict Resolution & CompromiseDisagreements with peers and teammates Absorbing & Applying FeedbackHearing criticism as a personal attackBuilt for every age
One catalog, four learner tiers.
Every course adapts its stories, practice and session length to where a learner is.
K–5
Sprouts
20-minute sessions
Stories, games, movement and picture cards.
Grades 6–8
Builders
30-minute sessions
Scenarios, pair work and simple trackers.
Grades 9–12
Launchers
40-minute sessions
Case studies, role-play and personal plans.
College & first-year adults
Leaders
50 minutes or self-paced
Real-life projects, peer coaching and reflection writing.
How a session works
Three beats, every time.
Hook
Surface the problem
A story, scenario or quick game that brings the challenge to life.
Rep
Practice the skill
A low-stakes practice round. A little discomfort on purpose, in a safe setting.
Reflect
Log what happened
One line on the Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.
Every course ends with a Real-World Rep: one task learners complete outside the session, then report back on. Growth is tracked with simple before-and-after self-checks. No grades, no tests.
Our mission
Every student deserves a place to build real-world confidence.
Ava's Place Foundation builds the skills students most often lack when school stops handing them a script: handling uncertainty, taking feedback, managing time, bouncing back and making their own choices.
Our courses are free for every family, and every Bella book sold supports Fairfax County Public Schools.
[THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME — a short note from founder Carrie Yun Arredondo.]
Access
Free for families. Simple licenses for schools.
Course content is free for everyone. Schools and colleges pay one flat yearly fee for the training, support and reporting around it.
Families & learners
Free
- All 11 courses, self-paced online
- Printable Rep Cards
- Completion certificates
- For parents, students and homeschoolers
Schools & colleges
From $750 / year
- Elementary school (K–5)$750
- Middle or high school (6–12)$1,000–$1,500
- District, 5+ schools20% off each
- College or university$3,000–$5,000
Includes facilitator kit, recorded teacher training, class setup and a before-and-after results report. High schools add SAT Prep; colleges add Entrepreneurship cohorts and Pitch Day. Live virtual training is available as an add-on.
Request a school licenseTitle I schools
Free
- The full school package
- Funded by sponsors and donors
- For schools serving a high share of low-income students
Books
Books by Carrie Yun Arredondo
Picture books and guides that build confidence at every age. All proceeds from the Bella the Golden Retriever Puppy books go to Fairfax County Schools through Ava's Place.
Bella series · Book 1 · Ages 0–5
100% of proceeds to Fairfax County Schools
Bella's Backyard Adventure
A golden retriever puppy bedtime story about slowing down, for any night of the year.
"Slow, slow, Bella."
Shop Book 1
Bella series · Book 2 · Ages 0–5
100% of proceeds to Fairfax County Schools
Bella's Brave Little Boo!
A gentle, never-frightening Halloween story with a breathing cue kids can use at the door in October and at bedtime all year.
"Big breath in. Little boo out."
Shop Book 2Built
Rep By Rep
Youth Series · Ages 8–18
Confidence Built Rep By Rep
A guide for young people to build confidence, develop leadership, and set and reach goals, one rep at a time.
"Today's Reps. Tomorrow's Leaders."
Get it on AmazonBella books in paperback and hardcover. Confidence Built in paperback and Kindle.
Get involved
Sponsor a school
About $1,000 covers a Title I school's full license for a year. Sponsors are named on that school's course pages and in our annual impact report.
Become a sponsor →Volunteer or mentor
Founders and alumni can speak to students or judge Entrepreneurship Pitch Day.
Join us →