THE BIRTH OF THE MENTORING LIFE THROUGH SPORTS ASSOCIATION In 20XX Mark Burton was a civilian working for the military in Japan. With an affinity toward In 20XX Mark Burton was a civilian working for the military in Japan. With an affinity toward sports, he recognized that, while there were many talented players on military bases, there was no bridge between Japan and America for athletes to play at the next level. That revelation prompted Mark to form the first AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team networked with other military installations in Japan for the purpose of helping athletes develop their skills.   Mark’s initiative became a mentoring bridge, ensuring athletes from all over Asia were afforded opportunities to learn about the recruiting process, connect with other athletes, and compete for college scholarships. And he was giving military young people a sense of purpose and belonging! Now residing in the United States, Mark continues his quest to help young athletes from every walk of life, domestically and internationally. As the founder of Burton Basketball Academy in 20XX, he continues to make a significant impact on student athletes by providing not only athletic skill development opportunities, but also, and more importantly, life mentoring programs to help young people become successful in all their pursuits. Mark’s vision has expanded to now make available this skill development and mentoring opportunity to EVERY student who desires to participate regardless of their financial position in life. That is why, in 2024, he formally organized the MENTORING LIFE THROUGH SPORTS ASSOCIATION (MLTSA), a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to provide financial support, enabling students to experience a highly effective mentoring program regardless of their family’s financial situation. But MLTSA cannot do this alone. It takes a village!

WELCOME