DONATE
We rely on the generosity of individuals, organizations, and businesses to fuel our mission. Your donations help us to continue providing essential educational opportunities to underserved youth, opening doors to a world of possibilities.
Please review our donation + sponsorship options, or scroll down to see a quick overview of our impact during the last school year!
Donate Online
Your donation, in any amount, helps us make a difference in our students' lives. Thank you!
Give By Mail
Please make checks payable to Youth Champions, Inc. and mail to:
Youth Champions, Inc.
1201 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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$1,000 (300 Available)
Our students can earn up to $1,000 for participating in the program. This provides an incentive for students to engage in learning and see the benefits of personal growth. -
$6,500 (24 available)
Our 24 weekly workshops are evenly split into 6 units on Critical Thinking, Business Skills, Financial Literacy, Character/Communications, Goal-Setting/Planning, and Positive Mindset. -
$10,000 (4 available)
Our field trips give our students meaningful opportunities to engage with industry professionals and gain new perspectives on future careers. These unique experiences include transportation, venue rentals, chaperones, programming, materials, and meals. -
UCLA Ropes Course, Junior Achievement Finance Park & Graduation
(Sponsored by Maureen and Mike Mekjian)
$16,000 (3 available)
These unique hands-on field trips give our students meaningful opportunities to overcome challenges and work together in solve problems. These experiences include transportation, venue rentals, chaperones, programming, materials, and meals. Also includes one celebratory graduation event for our top seniors! -
$33,000
Our Alumni Leadership Institute connects our alumni to opportunities to continue to learn and grow even after graduation from our program. -
$15,000
For alumni and current students featuring personal development books and facilitated bi-weekly breakout sessions with volunteers from various professional backgrounds. This covers the cost of alumni and student stipends and organizing and presenting each session. -
$30,000
Our Facilitator’s Institute, under the direction of expert mindset coach, Jim Madrid, creates a world class way for our Facilitator’s to learn and grow along with our program. -
(Sponsored by Anonymous #6)
$15,000
A series of six guest speakers, including entrepreneurs and authors, available for students, their family members, alumni, and the community to participate in.
2023–2024 School Year Impact
The 2023-24 school year was an exciting year of growth and change with Youth Champions’ transition into a paid educational internship model. One goal from the previous academic year was to increase the number of students taking part in the program and to increase student retention.
Due to the program’s new recruitment efforts, Youth Champions reached full capacity within four days of opening the application. The program was also opened to students outside of Youth Champions participating schools and utilized platforms like LinkedIn to recruit students.
To earn the educational stipend, students had to meet their participation hours through attendance at workshop sessions, Go and See educational days, and engagement with three assigned class reading materials. More than 250 students participated with 166 students earning a stipend up to $1,000 each; totaling nearly $123,800 in stipends given by the program this past year.
OUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
Youth Champions focuses on helping youth develop important life skills such as critical thinking, professional networking, the basics of finance, and a positive personal outlook not often focused on in school settings. Since inception, we have reached more than 1,125 students! The program aims to continuously offer opportunities that will help students discover their leadership potential through mentorship and learning experiences such as exposure to a variety of universities, trade schools, and careers.
40% of our students are returning champions
We've partnered with over 60 high schools
Introduced to Summer Book Club tracks with 4 books read
We went on 6 field trips during this school year
87% of YC graduates are pursuing higher education
$123,800 distributed in students stipends in 2023-24
166 received full or partial stipends in 2023–24
We Launched the Summer Book Club
This summer, Youth Champions launched a personal development book club, attracting 97 student signups! This includes 61 students for Level 1 and 36 students for Level 2 (returning students).
To enhance the book club experience and ensure its success, 21 of our Level 2 students are actively supporting Level 1 participants as Helpers by leading breakout room sessions. Additionally, 7 dedicated volunteer facilitators from diverse professional backgrounds are also assisting with breakout rooms for Level 2 students, enriching the learning environment and fostering meaningful interactions.
Students read 5 books including:
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Procrastination Priority
Teaches the ability to transform a frequent source of stress—procrastination—into a person’s greatest asset to get ahead in their goals.
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The Four C’s Formula
The 4 C’s Formula is a process centered on commitment, courage, capability and confidence to help individuals achieve success in life.
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Your Life as a Strategy Circle
Encourages individuals to stop seeing obstacles as negative, and start using them to achieve their vision for the future.
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The Gap and The Gain
Helps individuals gain confidence by encouraging them to look at their past selves and the progress they have made rather than comparing themselves to an ideal.
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The Go-Giver
Shift your focus from getting to giving. The book encourages readers to focus on creating value for others, which will in turn bring success and fulfillment.
Donor Recognitions
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our biggest champions whose unwavering support has made a lasting impact, transforming the lives of underserved youth through education.
$300,000 +
Anonymous #1
$100,000 - $299,999
Anonymous #6
Cambria & Jack Cline
$50,000 - $99,999
The BF Foundation
Maureen & Mike Mekjian
$20,000 - $49,999
Elise Cortes
Sheila, Dave and Sherry Gold Foundation
Richard Gomez
Castulo de la Rocha | AltaMed Health Services
$10,000 - $19,999
Bertha Aguirre
Friese Family Foundation
Lisa & Doug Marshall
Bob Smiland
Anonymous #2
$1,000 - $9,999
Mark Borman
Claudia & Doug Cline
Joan & Jack Cline
Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Justman Packaging & Display
Steven Freed
Bruce Gabbai
Pam & Steve Hirsh
James & Leilani Hosking
J Martin
Tk McWhertor
Tony Morales
Pacific Industrial Partners, LLC
Brian J Patrick
Up to $999
Anthony Addessi
Jesse Allen
Patrick Bainbridge
David Bales
Anonymous #3
Rachel Bethancourt
Chad Brey
Lee & Associates Calgary Inc.
Anonymous #5
Evan Childs
Kerith Leslie Dilley
Bryan Dinh
John Dobrott
Helen Durand
Michelle Durand
Matthew J Eddy
Jamie Evans
Sebastian Espinosa
Trey Fricke
Corey Franco
K Denille Franco
Matthew Fujikawa
Celestino Garcia
Heriberto Gonzalez Jr.
Bryant Gavello
Kathy Hall
Craig Hagglund
Blake Hon
Peggy & J Hosking
Amanda Hu
Jeff Jones
Evan Jurgensen
Priyanka Kumar
Elizabeth Kwak
Katherine Lui
Candy Martin
Sarah Martin
Tom Martin
Anonymous #4
Catherine Michaels
Brandi Milloy
Jeffrey Moeller
Josh McHugh
Jenny Morgan
David Mutschler
Tony Naples
Kelsey Oglesby
Fanny Oliveira
Sydney Tang & Everette Phillips
Ebe Puyolt
Jeffrey Rinkov
Lai Saelee
Shiellah Jane Sara
Rodney Stone
Sandeep Sukhija
Michelle Toh
Martin Family Trust
Boone Tucker
VIDA Private Wealth
Alexa Vallejo
Yossi Zaga
Alexander Zhang
*As of January 2024