MISSION: We create volunteer opportunities to address community needs and to inspire youth for a lifetime commitment to service.
THANK YOU
You’ve done it. You have helped thousands of youth set a solid foundation for their futures, giving them the tools they need to be successful now and throughout their lives.
By empowering these youth, you have helped dozens of communities, transforming their public spaces and encouraging their citizens. But the best part about a solid foundation is what is built on top. From here, we can grow and impact even more youth and communities in the years to come. You have helped us solidify our foundation, strengthening the Youth Volunteer Corps programs who are making a difference throughout North America. Last year we launched more YVC programs than any year in our history, and this year we focused on strengthening those new programs and helping our more established programs grow even deeper roots. We’re already seeing the fruits this is yielding, and the best is yet to come, especially as we approach our 30th anniversary next year. Thank you for the impact you have had in the following stories and countless others.
Jim Hise Board Chair
David Battey President and Founder
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“ I never could have gotten into MIT if it weren’t for YVC.
- AUBREY
FUTURES BUILT:
Volunteer experience earns full-ride scholarships Volunteering has made an impact on the youth from YVC of Cedar City, UT, in so many ways. They have discovered passions, developed leadership skills, learned about their community and so much more. This year’s graduating seniors found all those benefits to volunteering plus one more: every single senior who graduated from YVC of Cedar City’s program this year earned a full-ride scholarship because of their service. Aubrey started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she’s studying math and economics on a full-ride scholarship:
“ Teamwork and helping others is a big part of the culture here at MIT. In fact,
it’s crucial. The Youth Volunteer Corps taught me how to work with others. That’s helping me to succeed at MIT right now, and I can’t wait to see how it will continue to help me succeed.
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Kaylin is pursuing a degree in nursing at Southern Utah University:
“ Without YVC I would not have found my passion nor would I have developed the “
necessary compassion that I need to have for my field. I am kinder, more reliable, more studious, adventurous, more of a leader and less of a follower.
DAY MADE: Youth line the streets with smiles “Have a great day!” “Your smile brightens the room!” “You’re cooler than pirates and ninjas combined!” These are just some of the messages that lined a busy Calgary street–renamed “Happiness Avenue” for the day–when dozens of youth set out to make their community just a little bit happier in honor of YVC Day earlier this year. These Calgary youth were teaming up with youth throughout North America who were spreading joy in honor of YVC Day, an annual day celebrating the impact that youth have had with YVC for nearly three decades. The theme for this year’s YVC Day was “Project Happiness,” a random acts of kindness campaign spreading smiles throughout North America. The day was focused on spreading joy to community members, but Calgary Youth Volunteer Tommy might have understood best when he tweeted:
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“ When people started smiling and honking, I felt more happiness than them.
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“ Being able to help in a collaborative way makes me feel so good. - DANTE
LEADER INSPIRED:
Dante created an innovative service project When Dante served on his first project with YVC of Philadelphia earlier this year, he never could have guessed everything he would have the chance to accomplish through volunteering. Within just his first few months, he hid Easter eggs, led an arts and crafts table, revitalized a neighborhood splash park, planted potatoes and worked on farms, in meadows and by rivers. It wasn’t long before he stepped up as a leader, empowering others to make a difference alongside him. He came up with an idea and ended up planning an entire service project on his own, where he and a team of 16 Youth Volunteers cleaned up a river by boat. They cleaned the Delaware River in row boats, kayaks and paddle boats to reach areas not accessible by land. The YVC staff, his fellow volunteers and the agency his project served were all impressed by his leadership and initiative, and his project has become an example for how other youth can create and coordinate their own projects too. And now, having served just under a year with YVC of Philadelphia, Dante has already volunteered nearly 100 hours, making a difference in his community and inspiring so many others to chip in alongside him.
“ YVC really brings youth together to help to provide for their communities. It’s
amazing to be able to work with so many other students in the Philadelphia area who I probably wouldn’t be able to see if it weren’t for YVC.
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NEED MET:
Youth step up to help elderly neighbor
A team of youth were going around town collecting Thanksgiving food with YVC of Alpena, MI, this fall when they noticed something. An elderly woman was out raking her yard by herself. Without any prompting from their Team Leader, the youth decided to step up and help. The team introduced themselves to Millie and soon got to work. It was only then that they learned that the woman out struggling to rake her yard on her own was 101 years old. Here’s what Brooke Mainville, YVC of Alpena’s Team Leader, had to say:
“ The woman was lost for words–she was so surprised that a group of kids who did not know her would take time to help her. The volunteers only know three things about the woman they helped: Her name, age and that she was so appreciative of them taking 30 minutes out of their day to help her complete a task that would have taken her days.
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With the youth’s energy and teamwork, it was only a few minutes before every leaf was bagged up. They said goodbye to their fellow community member and picked up right where they left off on their food drive to make someone else’s day.
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“ These dedicated and selfless individuals are our future leaders.- BROOKE
THE NUMBERS: Impacting youth and the communities they serve 132,976 Volunteer Hours
7,198
Youth Volunteers
4,232 Projects
299 Youth Volunteers earned Milestone Awards for serving at least 100 hours with YVC in a single year Including 3 youth who earned the World-Changer Award for serving at least 1,000 hours in their YVC careers
In surveys of youth who have volunteered at least 30 hours with YVC:
96%
95%
say they can relate to people who are different from them
say they want to volunteer again
96%
say they have a stronger work ethic
YVC AFFILIATES:
Making a difference throughout North America Alexandria, LA • Alpena, MI • Anderson, SC • Ann Arbor, MI • Baton Rouge, LA Bay City, MI • Billings, MT • Brooklyn, NY • Calgary, AB • Cedar City, UT Charleston, SC • Cleveland, OH • Corvallis, OR • Danbury, CT • Des Moines, IA Farmington Hills, MI • Grand Prairie, TX • Kansas City, MO • Macon, GA Madison, WI • Manhattan, KS • Muskogee, OK • Newport News, VA • Omaha, NE Pennsauken, NJ • Philadelphia, PA • Plymouth, MI • Portland, OR • Racine, WI Reading, PA • Sioux City, IA • Southgate, MI • St. Joseph, MO • Staunton, VA
Thank you for helping build solid foundations in these communities and beyond.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Hise Board Chair
Peggy Dunn Vice Chair
Mark Tatum Secretary
Melanie Tucker Treasurer
Audrey Langworthy Immediate Past Chair
David Battey President and Founder
Tristen Caudle
Vicki Clark
Cathi Duchon
Stephanie O’Connell
Margi Pence
Elizabeth Potterf
Lisa Rinehart Hoffman
Laurie Sepanski
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS: Program Expenses
Income & Expenses Income: $799,323 Expenses: $782,377
Contributions
Assets & Liabilities
Assets: $799,814 Liabilities: $29,166 Net Assets: $770,648
HOW YOU CAN HELP: THANK YOU for believing in youth! Interested in doing more to help out? Here’s how:
Volunteer
Youth between the ages of 11 and 18 are encouraged to volunteer with YVC. Adult volunteers are also needed throughout the year to help with event planning, administrative duties and more. Contact info@yvc.org to get involved.
Connect
Do you know a community that could benefit from meaningful youth service opportunities? Contact us at info@yvc.org to tell us about a community that needs a YVC program. Most YVC affiliates launch as a program of an existing organization such as YMCA, United Way, Parks and Recreation, etc., so it’s especially helpful if you have contacts at a similar organization.
Share
Are you inspired by the compassion, energy and wisdom of our nation’s youth? Share their stories with others! Find us on social media on Facebook (facebook.com/youthvolunteers), Twitter (@yvolunteercorps) and Instagram (@youthvolunteercorps).
Give
Empower even more youth to set solid foundations in their lives and in their communities by donating. Visit yvc.org/donate to give today.
“Everyone working together will make the world a better place.� -Adrian, 14
1025 Jefferson Street Kansas City, MO 64105 816-472-9822 • yvc.org