Mentorship is recognized as a powerful tool for youth development, yet gaps remain in understanding how shared ethnic backgrounds between mentors and mentees influence outcomes—particularly in an increasingly diverse nation. In the context of the GripTape Challenge, this study examines the impact of ethnic congruence and frequency of interaction within the Youth Challenger–Adult Champion dynamic on Challengers’ psychological markers of purpose and hope. Before and after the 10-week youth-led learning challenge, 103 Challengers were surveyed on their levels of purpose and hope using standardized scales. Data analysis sought to determine whether Challengers in ethnically congruent pairs experienced greater positive changes compared to those in incongruent pairs. Using SEM, results indicated that while ethnic congruence did not significantly influence purpose or hope, frequency of interaction significantly predicted change in purpose: the more frequently Challengers interacted with their Champion, the more their sense of purpose increased over the 10 weeks.