12th year of working with YSA for GYSDAY. Always helpful staff, they "get" working with youth leaders. Great resources and funds for non profits, youth and student groups to do significant work in their communities and schools. YSA walks the talk of youth engagement.
I've been serving with Youth Service America as a volunteer grant reviewer for about four years and each experience is more enjoyable than the last. It is so important that we get our youth engaged in solving their community's problems through community service. YSA has been an excellent organization to volunteer with and a tremendous asset to our communities.
Youth Service America does an incredible job of providing the resources, support, and training to engage young people around the world as leaders in their communities. The curriculum resources, grant programs, training, and recognition opportunities YSA provides students as young as 5 years old are empowering youth around the world to take action and give back to their communities. Through programs like Global Youth Service Day, they help youth and adults around the world connect with others who are passionate about service and service-learning. Personally, the support and guidance YSA’s staff have provided me, as well as the use of their resources, has helped me expand my own service work engaging students in ocean conservation projects! It is an honor to work with this great organization!
Youth Service America provides children from ages 5 to 25 a range of opportunities to devlop interpersonal skills, confidence and responsibility. I discovered these traits from my readings and evaluation of proposals that applicants send in. As a volunteer reviewer for YSA, since 2011, I have learned a lot not only about reviewing proposals but also about the creative value of young people. When prompted and given the opportunity, children and youths from around the world put their dreams and creativity into words.
My greatest satisfaction and joy comes from reading proposals by younger applicants. I cannot help but admire and marvel at the sensitivity of children and youths as they create and develop proposals to help communities. The projects that are funded by YSA teach children and youths the value of community, friendship and organizational collaboration.
YSA has been a huge benefit to me, my friends and community! Because of YSA, I have received grants and resources to create an award-wining community service project that is reaching international levels. All teens that want to make a difference and go on to college need to be members of YSA.
I've been volunteering with YSA for four years and every time have found it to be a pleasure. The staff are highly responsive and seem to love what they do. And I can see why! The impact that their grants make on young lives and those communities is amazing.
Youth Service America is a great resource for community service and volunteering. We use their website often to share service and funding ideas to our schools and clubs. The monthly newsletter that is sent out is a great way for our organization to learn about grants and other opportunities that we can join in on.
As a teacher of gifted students, allowing them to volunteer in our community teaches them a life long habit as well as immediate success. YSA has provided avenues for us and help find grants to continue our program. I so enjoy receiving my YSA newsletters.
Youth Service America does an amazing job and provides an amazing opportunity to volunteer to support their efforts. They always do such a great job of communicating with volunteers, keeping things well organized and thanking them. In many non-profit organizations, volunteer management is often not managed well, but Youth Service America knows how to do it right. With great staff and volunteers they are able to do some amazing things for young people!
I've worked with YSA on Global Youth Service Day for the past four years. YSA understands that youth are capable of taking on a leadership role to create change and gives them the platform (GYSD) and encouragement to do so.The technical support they offer Lead Agencies each year to help get GYSD off the ground is phenomenal. By following their lead, GYSD has grown each year in our community. Youth I've worked with have led their own service projects, doing everything from raising thousands of dollars to fight childhood cancer to raising awareness about animal abuse to training guide dogs for people with visual impairments. I'm especially thankful for the Youth Service Institute they organize annually. The training gives me the opportunity to share ideas and network with others in the field. I always learn something new and I always leave inspired.
Youth Service America has a fantastic understanding of the youth service field and a solid plan for how to capitalize on the energy of young people across American and expand it. They do exceptionally well at managing grants and re-distributing money out to non-profits and youth led organizations and their Global Youth Service Day brand is very well known.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a knowledgeable and technologically savvy group. All encounters with the staff at YSA has been professional with a correct answer. I cannot wait to work with them again!
I have reviewed YSA grant proposals for two years. The training was clear and succinct. Some of the proposals I reviewed were extraordinary.
I am glad I was able to write comments about specific proposals. One in particular, had not yet developed the broad community support that the most extraordinary proposals had developed, but it rang true and seemed like the kind of project that would "take off" and make a big difference with a little time and support. The raw score for this organization was lower than I felt it deserved and I am glad I could say so.
I have recommended YSA to many friends. Some I hope will support it as a reviewer. Others will encourage young people whom they supervise, to apply for grants for their community service projects.
I have been a grant reviewer for YSA for three years. The agency does a great job promoting volunteer activities for children and teens. They spearheaded the creation of Global Youth Service Day and work with many corporate entities to create grant opportunities to inspire youth to serve in their communities. They oversee Sodexco, Disney, State Farm and United Healthcare grants, among others. They routinely communicate grant and service opportunities for youth and profile youth achievements in community service.
The true enjoyment I have had as a grant reviews for YSA for the past three years. The outreach to youth and the solicitation to engage them is phenomenal. I am amazed by YSA to get corporations like Disney and Sodexo to give huge amounts of dollars for social projects. And, to read the compassion our young people display and willingness to engage to be the change they seek.
The staff at YSA is always professional and responsive. Once, I forgot my commitment to be a grant reviewer and Amanda kindly sent me a reminder email the day before review deadline. Because it was Amanda from USA, I stopped what I was doing, working on a major client's project, to complete all 16 applications.
I honestly wish USA could be in every state so that more young people could seize the opportunities USA offers. Keep driving your mission USA!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Jewell, MPA, CNM
YSA provides a unique opportunity to empower youth so that they can pursue their passion and positively impact their community. Programs extend far beyond community service actions. Participants are fully vested in their cause and work to involve others to create a meaningful, actionable plan. As a grant reviewer, I have had the opportunity to witness the creativity, passion, and thoughtful activities centered around MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day. I am continually inspired by these youth service agencies and individuals who apply for support and the programs that come to fruition. Kudos to YSA for investing in youth service organizations and fostering youth leadership and activism.
We need an organization that provides purpose and meaning for different youth service organizations to talk to one another and work together. Youth Service America serves a meaningful niche in bringing life to a network of youth service practitioners. Youth Service America is an influential model organization for how to incorporate meaningful youth voice and leadership into program, strategically move missions and causes forward, and carefully report the impact that we are collectively having.
The programs encompass multiple age groups of volunteers, creative projects, and excellent program management.
I have been part of a lead agency for a couple of large projects, including MLK a Day and Global Youth Service Day. The methodical way that YSA approaches projects for our nation is a recipe for success for any partner, big or small. The tool kits and training webinars allow even the smallest newbie staff to succeed and implement an amazing day of service for their community from beginning to the end.