This is your chance to make a dent in the world by reaching out to those who need your spark of inspiration!

Please look through these vetted and approved resources to help create sparks of momentum for disadvantaged youth. If you have an agency you’d like to add for your part of the world, please send me an email and I will do my best to accommodate you!

Please consider exploring these eight options to give, help, and volunteer in a way that creates sparks for the next generation!

Amachi

In Chapter 10, I relate the story of the many years I have mentored Elijah and other economically disadvantaged children. I originally became connected to these children through Amachi.

Amachi is an organization that partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters to provide mentors to children of prisoners. It is widely recognized as the nation’s premier mentoring program for children of prisoners. Amachi currently operates 210 mentoring programs in all 50 states. Another program connecting mentors to children of imprisoned adults is Kidz2Leaders.

I can personally vouch for the professionalism and effectiveness of Amachi.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AMACHI

Big Brothers and Big Sisters

Closely related to Amachi is Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Being a Big Brother or Big Sister is one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling things you’ll ever do. You can help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering them to achieve. And the best part is, it’s actually a lot of fun. You and your Little can share the kinds of activities you already like to do. There are many ways to get involved, including donations but I recommend volunteering to be a “big.”

I can personally vouch for the professionalism and effectiveness of this organization.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

Habitat for Humanity

I have been involved with this inspiring organization for 25 years as a volunteer, donor, and director on the local board. Here are four things I love about Habitat:

1. There is no better way to turn around the life and esteem of a family than providing them a safe and solid home.
2. Recipients have to “pay it forward” and earn their house by working 500 hours on Habitant projects.
3. Before they receive a home, they go through classes on money management and homeownership.
4. It is a lot of fun to build a house. Even if you’ve never held a hammer before, give it a try!

I can personally vouch for the professionalism and effectiveness of this organization.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

3DE Schools

This organization was featured in Chapter 10. I am blown away by what’s happening in the 3DE high schools and the way they are equipping students with business skills and life skills. 3DE is breaking through traditional barriers and redesigning the framework of education from the inside out.

Check out their website and spend some time on the “Impact” tab to see what’s happening there! On the website, there is no obvious way for volunteers to connect, so if you’re interested, please email Lori Gries, Director of Partner Activation & Engagement at [email protected].

I can personally vouch for the professionalism and effectiveness of this organization.

LEARN MORE ABOUT 3DE SCHOOLS

Junior Achievement

Closely related to 3DE is Junior Achievement. JA 106 local programs across the nation. This is the largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s programs — in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy — ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the digital economy.

Junior Achievement has been vetted and approved by corporate responsibility specialists.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

Wears Valley Ranch

Over the years I’ve befriended many staff members from the awesome Wears Valley Ranch. The Ranch provides homes and education for children typically described as “traumatized young people with a problem in the home, not of their own making.” The problems vary widely. The children may be coming from a family home plagued by addiction, neglect, and sexual abuse.

Wears Valley Ranch is located in East Tennessee but accepts children from across the United States. They describe the need for their care as “staggering” and they could use your prayers, support, and donations.

I can personally vouch for the professionalism and effectiveness of this organization.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEARS VALLEY RANCH

Children’s Restoration Network

CRN is a nonprofit organization providing direct services to homeless children and mothers. CRN operates 130 group homes and shelters nearly 7,000 homeless children annually. CRN also provides physical, academic, and emotional support for homeless adults to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

This organization has been vetted and approved by corporate responsibility specialists.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CRN

Power My Learning

One of the ideas in my book is that a spark of opportunity for disadvantaged children has to be nurtured and sustained over years. Power My Learning aims to do this by involving families in the education process. By forming an ongoing partnership between teachers, students, and parents, PML strives to build long-term esteem in the child.

This organization has stepped it up with new initiatives and programs designed to support in-home learning. CRN has been vetted and approved by corporate responsibility specialists.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLM

Connections Homes

Connections Homes is a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting former foster kids with caring mentoring families. In America, there is an estimated 85,000 young men and women between the ages of 18 – 24 disconnected from any family or caring, stable adult. These young people are living on our streets, in our shelters, and in dangerous situations like sex trafficking because they have nowhere to turn.

Connections Homes is committed to creating sparks of opportunity for this forgotten population by connecting them with families who will walk with them in life and guide them to a successful future.

Connections Homes has been vetted and approved by corporate responsibility specialists.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CONNECTIONS HOMES