CHRIS DANTZLER
Going the Extra Mile
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON photos by CHARLOTTE BERKELEY
How One Lowcountry Nonprofit Is Transforming the Future of Beaufort’s Youth
In Beaufort County, South Carolina — where marshland beauty, military tradition, and tight-knit neighborhoods shape the rhythm of everyday life — there is a quiet movement changing the trajectory of young lives, one conversation, one mentorship session, and one opportunity at a time. The movement is called the Extra Mile Club of the Lowcountry mentoring program.
Founded in 2008 by Beaufort native, U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and mentor Chris Dantzler, the nonprofit organization has become far more than an after-school initiative or youth development program. Today, the Extra Mile Club (EMC) stands as one of the region’s most impactful grassroots organizations dedicated to empowering young people through mentorship, leadership development, athletics, academic support, and life-enriching experiences.
For nearly two decades, EMC has operated on a simple but powerful philosophy: Every child deserves exposure, guidance, accountability, and the opportunity to become the best version of themselves. That philosophy has produced extraordinary results.
The organization has helped guide dozens of students toward higher education, military service, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. It has provided structure and encouragement for youth who may otherwise lack consistent support systems. And perhaps most importantly, it has created a sense of belonging for young people navigating a world increasingly filled with uncertainty, distractions, and social pressures.
As communities nationwide continue searching for sustainable solutions to youth violence, educational disparities, and mental health challenges, the Extra Mile Club has quietly built a model rooted in consistency, relationships, discipline, and genuine care.
A CALLING ROOTED IN SERVICE
For founder Chris Dantzler, the mission of EMC has never been about recognition. “It is a passion and a calling,” the organization states. That calling is deeply connected to Dantzler’s own life journey. Chris Dantzler is a 1987 graduate of Beaufort High School. Dantzler served in the United States Army from 1988 to 1994, including service during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. His military career earned him numerous honors, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
After returning home, Dantzler built a successful career as both an entrepreneur and community leader. He became the owner of Dantzler Pest Control, LLC, while also continuing his commitment to public service through his work at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort. But despite professional success, he recognized a growing need in his community. Too many young people lacked positive mentorship. Too many students had potential but limited exposure. Too many boys and girls needed someone to believe in them before they believed in themselves. So he created the Extra Mile Club.
What began as a vision to mentor local youth has evolved into a multifaceted nonprofit organization serving children and teenagers throughout Beaufort County. Today, EMC reaches boys and girls across multiple age groups, including focused cohorts of middle and high school students through the organization’s Elite 25 boys and Elite 25 girls programs. The organization also operates an after-school program at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy.
Current participation includes approximately 25 Elite 25 boys, 22 Elite 25 girls, and 16 after-school students. But the impact of the organization extends far beyond numbers.
BUILDING LEADERS BEYOND ATHLETICS
At first glance, some may assume EMC is primarily an athletic mentorship program. Athletics certainly play an important role. Strength and conditioning sessions, youth sports participation, camps, combines, and track and field development all help students build discipline, resilience, teamwork, and confidence.
In 2025, EMC expanded its reach with the launch of the Elite 25 Girls track and field program, providing young women with increased access to athletic development and collegiate exposure opportunities. Yet athletics are only one part of the organization’s larger mission. The real goal is leadership.
EMC’s programs are intentionally designed to help prepare students not just for competition, but for life. Mentorship sessions focus heavily on character development, accountability, communication skills, discipline, and self-esteem. Students participate in leadership training and community service initiatives that teach responsibility and civic engagement. Academic development is equally central to the mission.
Students are exposed to college readiness programming, public speaking opportunities, writing development, and academic accountability support. Many participants experience college visits and environments they may not otherwise have access to.
The organization also believes in exposing youth to real-world experiences that broaden their understanding of both opportunity and consequence. Participants have engaged in experiential learning opportunities ranging from golf clinics and kayaking to yoga, court observations, and detention center tours. These experiences are designed not only to educate but to inspire perspective. The message is clear: Your future is shaped by your decisions. And according to those who know the organization best, that message is resonating.
MEASURABLE IMPACT IN THE LOWCOUNTRY
In the nonprofit world, passion matters, but measurable outcomes matter too. And the Extra Mile Club has plenty of both.
The organization reports that 55 program participants have graduated from college, with 21 additional students currently enrolled in higher education programs. EMC has produced 2 NFL players, and one currently preparing for the NBA draft. Its alumni have also gone on to serve across multiple branches of the U.S. military, including the Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marines.
Others have entered the workforce, started businesses, or pursued careers in public service. According to the organization, approximately 60 participants are either employed or operating businesses, while additional alumni now serve as firefighters.
Beyond educational and career success, EMC also reports measurable social impact indicators among participants. Youth involved with the organization are reportedly 55 percent less likely to be negatively influenced, 78 percent more likely to volunteer regularly, and 130 percent more likely to take on leadership roles.
Perhaps most encouraging is the finding that 90 percent of participants express interest in becoming mentors themselves. That statistic may best capture the organization’s long-term significance. The Extra Mile Club is not simply developing successful students, but also cultivating future community leaders who understand the value of giving back.
WHY MENTORSHIP MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER
Across the nation, communities continue grappling with rising concerns surrounding youth mental health, social isolation, educational inequities, and violence.
For many families, structured mentorship and enrichment programs remain financially or geographically inaccessible. Organizations like EMC help fill that gap. By creating safe, healthy, and supportive environments, the Extra Mile Club provides consistency that many young people desperately need.
Students are surrounded by mentors who encourage accountability while reinforcing the importance of discipline, faith, respect, and service. The organization’s approach is holistic. It recognizes that academic success cannot be separated from emotional support. Leadership cannot exist without confidence. And exposure often determines whether a young person can envision opportunities beyond their immediate environment.
That broader vision is especially important in underserved communities where access to resources may be limited. For many students, participation in EMC may represent their first college tour, first leadership conference, first athletic showcase, or first meaningful mentorship relationship. Those moments matter. They create possibility. And possibility can change everything.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING PROGRESS
One of the reasons EMC has sustained momentum over the years is its collaborative approach. The organization works alongside schools, agencies, healthcare organizations, churches, and community partners throughout the region.
Current partnerships include the Beaufort County School District, the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, Beaufort Charities, Beaufort-Jasper Comprehensive Health Services, Whale Branch Early College High School, local churches, civic organizations, and the Beaufort Community Partnership.
These collaborations help extend EMC’s reach while strengthening support systems for participating youth. They also reflect a growing understanding that youth development requires community-wide investment. No single mentor, school, or nonprofit can solve every challenge facing today’s youth. But together, communities can create ecosystems of support capable of changing lives.
THE CONTINUED NEED FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Despite its measurable success, the Extra Mile Club faces many of the same challenges confronting nonprofits nationwide. Demand for services continues to grow. Resources remain limited. And sustainable funding remains one of the organization’s greatest needs.
Transportation is another significant barrier. For many families, reliable transportation determines whether a student can consistently participate in mentorship programs, athletic training, educational opportunities, or enrichment activities.
The organization is also seeking increased volunteer engagement and long-term community partnerships that will allow it to expand programming and reach additional youth across Beaufort County.
Perhaps most transformational would be securing a dedicated facility. A permanent home would provide EMC with expanded opportunities for mentorship sessions, academic programming, athletic development, leadership training, and community events. It would also create a lasting physical space where students could consistently gather, learn, and grow. For organizations rooted in community development, facilities represent more than buildings. They become anchors. They become safe spaces. They become symbols of permanence and belief. And for young people, those symbols matter deeply.
A LEGACY STILL BEING WRITTEN
The most remarkable aspect of the Extra Mile Club may be that its story is still unfolding. While the organization has already impacted hundreds of lives across Beaufort County, its leadership believes the work is only beginning. Each new student represents another opportunity. Another future. Another life that can be redirected toward purpose, education, leadership, and service.
In a time when many headlines focus on division, crisis, and uncertainty, organizations like the Extra Mile Club remind communities what is still possible when people choose to invest in one another. Its success is not built on celebrity endorsements or massive corporate campaigns. It is built on consistency. On mentorship. On volunteers showing up. On leaders refusing to give up on young people. And on a founder who believed Beaufort’s youth deserved more opportunities than circumstance alone might provide. That commitment continues to ripple throughout the Lowcountry.
From classrooms and athletic fields to military service, college campuses, businesses, and community leadership roles, the impact of the Extra Mile Club can now be seen in the lives of the young people it has helped shape. But sustaining that impact requires continued investment from the broader community.
Financial contributions, volunteerism, partnerships, sponsorships, transportation support, and community advocacy all play critical roles in ensuring organizations like EMC can continue serving future generations. Because when communities invest in their youth, they invest in their future. And in Beaufort County, the Extra Mile Club is proving every day that going the extra mile can change lives.
For more information about the Extra Mile Club of the Lowcountry, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships, or ways to support its mission, visit www.extramileclub.org or contact extramiletigers@gmail.com.
