About me
Dr. Carl F. Martin, Jr. is the co-founder of Real Champions Inc., a South Carolina organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable children through long-term mentoring relationships. A former member of Clemson University’s 1981 National Championship football team, Carl has spent decades investing in young people through leadership development, mentoring, and community engagement. After earning degrees from Clemson University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Carl served in pastoral leadership and coaching roles before launching Real Champions to expand mentoring support for children and families across South Carolina. Through Real Champions, Carl has helped develop mentoring models that pair trained advocate mentors with students beginning in early elementary school and continuing through high school graduation. Carl is passionate about strengthening communities by equipping caring adults to mentor and guide the next generation. He believes meaningful change happens when people show up consistently in the lives of young people and invest in their growth, resilience, and future success.
