Co-Founder Cathy DeSchouwer Named as a 2026 UF Gator100 Honoree

What began as a visit to a familiar campus became an unexpected and meaningful milestone.

Last summer, while accompanying ten Crossover Mission student-athletes to the University of Florida Gators Basketball Camp, Co-Founder and Executive Director Cathy DeSchouwer returned to the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, where she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Master of Accounting degrees through the Fisher School of Accounting.

While touring the entrepreneurship center, Cathy came across information about the prestigious Gator100, an annual recognition honoring the fastest-growing businesses and organizations led by University of Florida alumni.

“It caught my attention because I realized I might actually qualify,” Cathy recalled. “There were a few requirements, including being a University of Florida alumna who founded or led an organization meeting specific growth benchmarks. I thought, ‘Why not apply?'”

She submitted the application in November.

Months later, Cathy learned she had been selected as a 2026 Gator100 Honoree.

The recognition is presented to University of Florida alumni whose organizations have demonstrated exceptional growth and success. For Cathy, however, the honor is inseparable from the mission she and Co-Founder Antoine Jennings began more than a decade ago.

Founded in 2014, Crossover Mission has grown from a grassroots basketball and mentoring program into a year-round youth development organization that helps young people become successful adults through athletics, academics, mentoring, leadership development, and college and career readiness.

“What makes this recognition so meaningful isn’t the award itself,” she said. “It’s what it represents. Every milestone we’ve reached has been made possible by students who have trusted us, families who have partnered with us, staff and volunteers who have invested their time, and donors who have believed in our mission. I’m honored to accept this recognition on behalf of everyone who has helped build Crossover Mission.”

Reflecting on her time at the University of Florida, Cathy added, “My exceptional business education at the University of Florida helped prepare me for the unique challenge of building and leading a mission-driven nonprofit—one that combines philanthropy, business discipline, and innovative revenue strategies to create lasting opportunities for young people.”

While the Gator100 recognizes entrepreneurial leadership, Cathy believes the true measure of success is found in the lives being transformed every day through Crossover Mission.

“This recognition reminds us that when a community invests in young people with consistency, compassion, and high expectations, extraordinary things can happen. I’m grateful to the University of Florida for this honor, and even more grateful for the people who have made Crossover Mission what it is today.”

As Crossover Mission continues to grow, DeSchouwer hopes to strengthen her network within the University of Florida community while continuing to create new opportunities for young people to pursue higher education, meaningful careers, and lives filled with purpose. She views the Gator100 recognition not as a destination, but as encouragement to continue investing in students and expanding Crossover Mission’s impact for years to come.