#WhyWednesday: Our Generation, Our Potential, and the Benefits of Volunteering
The end of the year is around the corner, and you’ll be see #GivingTuesday populating your social media platforms & inboxes. Every 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is developing, building, and launching their end of year fundraising plan, and we are no different — our goal is $25,000 by the end of the year!
As usual, we wanted to set ourselves apart from “the norm.” We are introducing a new hashtag: #WhyWednesday. Our #WhyWednesday campaign is an opportunity to share with you why we love what we do with high school students and why your giving makes a difference in the lives of the next generation of community changers.
#WhyWednesday – This Generation
We asked our students to define their generation….
“When most people think of my generation they first think of the flaws that we have created for ourselves. However, when I think of my generation, the generation that I was born into, I think of all of our potential and talent. My generation is extremely underestimated. We are strong and have the optimism and curiosity to overcome all of the obstacles that are thrown our way. Colorado Young Leaders helps our generation overcome all of the stereotypes that the world has created about us and for us to believe. Colorado Young Leaders is helping us put down our iPhones and help others… one story and one life at a time.”
(Stevie, East HS)
“With technology advancing so quickly, our generation is headed in the wrong direction. However CYL can change our course. Through CYL, we are being equipped with the skills and perspectives that will change our generation for the better forever.” (Jack, Mullen HS)
“Our generation is misunderstood. Often times, it is hard for our parents and teachers’ generation to adapt new changes; however, this generation is excited to take risks. In CYL, we are learning that failure is part of a great story.” (Emma, South HS)
Do you believe in this generation? 
#WhyWednesday – Why We Exist
CYL is made up of over 100 high school from 26 different schools who are continuing to put common good, over personal ambition. There are over 300 high schools in the state of Colorado, with over 260,000 high school aged students walking into the classroom each day. Our program appeal to high school students, who desire to learn outside of their school walls, who desire to give back to their community, and who desire adventure both in the outdoors and among their communities. CYL provides an outlet for the athlete, the scholar, the misfit, the musician. CYL caters to an inclusive audience of young people. We define “at-risk youth” a bit differently at CYL, because we argue that all of our students are “at risk” of exiting high school without perspective, purpose, and passion.
This is why we exist – to help identify passion, to provide purpose, and to strengthen the leader that exists in every young person.
We know we are not alone in this effort to develop leaders. Many leadership development programs exist, but are often singularly focused on a particular demographic, i.e. inner city, gifted, hispanic, disabled, or athletic. Colorado Young Leaders exists for every high school students, regardless of zip codes, ethnicities, religions, resources, and/or talents. We believe leaders are made, not born, and we truly seek to be the premier leadership development organization in Colorado for every student.
Help us.
Aside from building a new generation of servant leaders, we are helping Colorado thrive. There are currently 25,000 registered non-profits in the the state of Colorado; these non-profits are identifying a community need and providing sustainable, good solutions. Our CYL community continues to provide consistent, energetic volunteers to local organizations that are underserved. Together, we have served over 3,000 collective hours in our founding year, and the students have set a much higher bar for 2015 – 10,000 collective hours.
#WhyWednesday – Benefits of Volunteering
- Stronger Sense of Purpose: Through our Dynamic Leadership Process, our Young Leaders work to identify their passion and gain perspective through volunteering.
- College Admission: Mount Cameron pushes our Young Leaders to commit to one cause, and college admission teams often look for these sustained commitments as a representation of commitment and time management.
- Future endeavors: Volunteering gives a student real-world experience and teaches necessary skills for their future career.
- Academic Credit & College Scholarships: Many schools require community service hours requirements, and Colorado Young Leaders will often go above and beyond these requirements. Those who provide college scholarships are philanthropists themselves, and they are more eager to provide students with money if the students gives back to others as well.
- Connections: The people a student meets while volunteering can help him or her throughout life and allows our Young Leaders to further develop their networking skills.
- A Broader Worldview: Experiecing diversity is central to volunteering, and we teach our Young Leaders to embrace differences.
- Higher Self-Efficacy & Self-Esteem: Our Young Leaders are active, positive contributors to society, and with the impact they are making… it’s hard not to feel good about yourself!
Do you want to read more on the benefits of volunteering? Click here.
#WhyWednesday – We need your help
You can be part of our growth in three ways when you give before Dec. 31st:
1. Simply give to our End of Year Giving Campaign to raise $25,000.
2. Provide in-kind technical development support. Email us today.
3. Become a Corporate Sponsor, sign up for a Corporate Service Adventure and/or fund one of our 2015 initiatives. Email us today.
Ready to give? #ChooseCYL as your non-profit for end of year giving. We need your help with this future generation!