By Youth for Youth is a volunteer committee of 24 Dane County high school students who make investment decisions in youth-led programming. This year’s youth-selected focus areas include racial equality, reduction of the achievement gap, LGBTQ+ support and awareness, gender equality, and much more. Their work addressed the needs of the community through projects developed and implemented by youth to serve youth.

The following sponsors make $37,000 available for investment: •United Way of Dane County Community Engagement CBT

• Dane County Youth Commission
• City of Madison, Office of Community Services
• City of Madison, Madison Peace Project

BYFY member, Anna Hildebrand, Freshman at Edgewood, expands more on what it means to be a United Way volunteer

“BYFY provides me with an opportunity to make a bigger impact in the youth community. It allows me to take on a role of responsibility. The experience has definitely opened my eyes more. I am more aware of my community and what is happening in it. Now there are a lot of things I want to do in the community. Being more aware of the community has made me want to continue as a volunteer.

Being a [United Way] volunteer makes me feel happy and successful. I want to be a leader in the community and this opportunity puts me in [that] place.”

The Youth Volunteer Corps is a group of young people (ages 13-18) who are passionate about volunteerism and making an impact in their community. The group takes a leadership role in planning, organizing and participating in Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). Now in its 29th year, GYSD is the largest and longest-running youth service event in the world, and the only event dedicated to celebrating the contributions that young people make to their communities year-round – you can sign up here!

Nelly Santiago, Edgewood Senior, explained how much participating in YVC has meant to her:

“YVC provides an opportunity to be more involved in service in order to make a positive impact in the community. The space also provides me with an opportunity to branch out and meet other youth who want to make a difference. I also get the opportunity to learn more about myself and others because we all have a safe space to share ideas and perspective with each other.

This experience has opened my eyes to issues in the community. Because of that I now think proactively about what I can continuously do to make a difference in the community. The experience that I am able to gain working with other youth and the community has really opened my eyes to other perspectives other than my own.

[Volunteering at United Way means] I get the satisfaction that I did something positive. I KNOW I made a difference!”