Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes GYSD Grants
The 2024 Application is closed. Meet this year’s grantees below!
$250 or $500 Youth Grants for Youth Service Month & Global Youth Service Day projects that provide opportunities for youth volunteers to create meaningful connections with their peers, caring adults, and community partners, while developing social awareness and relationship skills.
SUPPORTED BY:
YSA is excited to announce the 2024 Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Youth Grantees! With the generous support of The Hershey Company and Hershey’s Heartwarming Project, 134 youth changemakers, representing 39 US states, territories, and Canadian Provinces have been awarded grants of up to $500 to improve their communities. During Youth Service Month (April 12-May 12), grantees will organize, lead, and engage their peers in awareness, direct service, advocacy, and philanthropic projects!
Meet the 2024 Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes!
| State/Province | Grantee | Age | Project Title | Sponsoring Organization |
| American Samoa | Margaret L. | 17 | Safe Samoa Initiative | Leo Club |
| California | Aaron D. | 14 | Birthday Buddies – Youth Supporting Youth – Create Birthday Boxes | James Storehouse |
| California | Clara C. | 16 | Wired4Dance | GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County |
| California | Hasset M. | 17 | Multi-Club No Sew Blanket Event | California Scholarship Federation |
| California | Kaitlin T. | 20 | Spreading Awareness on Ring Road | Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
| California | Kristie T. | 17 | Stuffies for Seniors in Orange County | Hearts Against Hate |
| California | Landon T. | 15 | Lunchmakers Youth Initiative | Glide |
| California | Lee M. | 14 | Random Acts of Kindness | Dream Quest |
| California | Natalie S. | 19 | Solely Sunshine: Letters of Encouragement to Mental Health Patients | Science Consulting Group |
| California | William W. | 17 | Hygiene Kits for Foster Teens | Hope in a Suitcase |
| Colorado | Isabella C. | 16 | Packing Hygiene Resource Bags for Migrant Families | Colorado Young Leaders |
| Colorado | Khanh B. | 21 | We V-Care: CitizenReady Initiative | We V-Care |
| Colorado | Madison L. | 16 | Young Artists 4 Equity | Friends of Denver School of the Arts |
| Connecticut | Brandom C. | 17 | Blossom Bonds | Health360 |
| Connecticut | Morgan B. | 23 | Senior Prom at Windham Senior Center | Health Education Center |
| Connecticut | Tylie K. | 15 | Kind Hearts Initiative; Kids Against Violence Drive | St. Luke’s School |
| Delaware | Lilyan F. | 14 | Upcycling for Animals | Positive Outcomes Charter School JDG |
| Florida | Elena C. | 16 | DreamBuilders: Empowering Miami’s Latina Youth | Centro Mater |
| Florida | Jessie B. | 17 | Letters of Love | Ta Ta for Now, Inc. |
| Georgia | Camille S. | 12 | Toiletries for Tweens and Teens in Foster Care | Because One Matters |
| Georgia | Chris M. | 16 | Making Change Workshop: Kids Supporting Seniors | Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation |
| Georgia | Dalun L. | 16 | Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level | Together We Can Foundation |
| Georgia | Jolie Ann A. | 18 | Glued Inc. Feed the Homeless Giveback | GLUED Inc. |
| Georgia | Joshua L. | 17 | The Race to End Racism | Together We Can Foundation |
| Georgia | Kate M. | 22 | Operation: Love on Them | Writing Our Wrongs Inc. |
| Georgia | Kollin M. | 7 | Changing Hearts Through Art: Bridging Generations Project | Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation |
| Georgia | Madison G. | 20 | Paint & Plant Program | Connecting Generations STFCC |
| Hawaii | Keola M. | 17 | Kupu Ka Niu, Kupu Ke Kanaka | Hanai Kaiaulu |
| Idaho | Adeline S. | 17 | Blankets Building Benevolence | Growing the STEM |
| Idaho | Youssef B. | 16 | Fill the Gap | GLOCAL Community Partners |
| Illinois | Aidan T. | 21 | Chicago Youth Climate Cafe | Better Streets Chicago |
| Illinois | Ava G. | 15 | Grow Your Groceries | The Honeycomb Project |
| Illinois | Jagger B. | 18 | Shop N Drop powered by SaLT | SaLT: Service and Learning Together |
| Illinois | Sheniel R. | 13 | Be My Buddy Not My Bully | Englewood Dream Team |
| Indiana | Paij R. | 17 | Build Your Own First Aid Kit | YouthBuild Gary AmeriCorps |
| Iowa | Hadley H. | 16 | Fort Des Moines Community Cleanup | Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center |
| Iowa | Katrina K. | 24 | Youth Helping Youth | Homeward |
| Kansas | Addilyn L. | 16 | Growing Third Grade | Royal Valley FFA |
| Kansas | Andrew P. | 22 | Community Clothing Exchange: Swap, Style, Sustain | Staley School of Leadership, KSU |
| Kansas | Kate D. | 23 | Paws For Wellness Project | Staley School of Leadership, KSU |
| Kansas | Sophia T. | 22 | Cooking Up Connections | Staley School of Leadership, KSU |
| Kentucky | Ashley N. | 17 | Teaching Boys to Change the World | Sargeant’s Army |
| Kentucky | Azariah H. | 8 | Supporting Habitats Helps Everyone | Pride Elementary |
| Kentucky | Mila P. | 9 | YMCA Dog Park for the Elderly | Barren County Family YMCA |
| Louisiana | Allie T. | 14 | Warm Hugs | Ouachita 4-H Club |
| Louisiana | Madeline M. | 18 | We Care Kits | Natchitoches 4-H |
| Manitoba | Justin L. | 25 | Community Greening Day | O’KANATA |
| Maryland | Belan M. | 16 | Empowerment Packs: Essentials for Unsheltered Women | Community Bridges |
| Maryland | Evelyn C. | 14 | Empowering Youth: Fostering Sustainable Change Through Art | PM Ready |
| Maryland | Kate O. | 17 | Live Green, Think Green Mustangs | Meade Senior High School |
| Maryland | Katie L. | 16 | International Food Event | SGAP Leaders |
| Maryland | Mackenzie G. | 16 | Girls Build | buildgirls.org |
| Maryland | Meerub M. | 16 | Bringing Joy to the Homeless | Crofton High school |
| Maryland | Raj U. | 12 | Christ Episcopal School’s Free Mini Mart | Christ Episcopal School |
| Maryland | Sahana T. | 16 | Fleece Blankets for Seniors | Small Things Matter |
| Massachusetts | Emerson U. | 19 | Welcome to Boston Cards & Card Packages | Harvard Undergraduate Pediatric Cancer Buddies |
| Massachusetts | Paul W. | 17 | Project Youth4Youth | The Roxbury Latin School |
| Michigan | Bruno D. | 14 | A Day Makes a Difference | Blue Star Mothers of America |
| Michigan | Hussein C. | 17 | NHS 2024 Service Project | Universal Learning Academy |
| Minnesota | Addie L. | 18 | Backpack Blessings | Inspire Innovation Lab |
| Minnesota | Greta R. | 11 | Healing Playful Paws | Doing Good Together |
| Minnesota | Kiersten M. | 11 | Personal Care Kits for Homelessness | Doing Good Together |
| Minnesota | Miaoting Y. | 16 | BrainPower in a BackPack Thursday Weekend Food Pack | BrainPower in a BackPack/Burnsville High School |
| Mississippi | Jameshia A. | 20 | Democracy in Action: Youth Electoral Education Initiative. | Girl Scouts Troop 30123 |
| Mississippi | Jeremiah J. | 19 | Unity Pantry: Strengthening Our Community | Sunflower County Youth Court |
| Missouri | Aeneas L. | 21 | Empower YOUth to Better Eating Habits That Lead to a BETTER YOU!!! | St. James Community Outreach |
| Missouri | Sophie B. | 24 | Grow Healthy | VolunteenNation |
| New Brunswick | Taylor C. | 13 | Nackawic Middle Book Drive and Reading Groups | Nackawic Middle School |
| New Jersey | Reeti R. | 16 | STEM Workshop | WeMake 4-H |
| New Jersey | Samia D. | 16 | Project Your Flo, My Flo | The International Girls Academy |
| New Jersey | Spencer C. | 14 | Argument Architects: An Introduction to Speech & Debate | Eloquence Academy, Inc. |
| New York | Elizabeth W. | 16 | Clean Coney Island Creek Park | YA-YA Network |
| New York | Hailey R. | 16 | Puzzle Distribution Day | Puzzles To Remember |
| New York | Isabella H. | 17 | Impact Library at Brizzi Playground | My Friends Place NY, Inc. |
| New York | James S. | 16 | Peter Lovett Community Garden | Fort Hamilton Recreation Center |
| New York | Landon D. | 11 | Garden-in-a-Bag | Family Services League of Long Island |
| New York | Laurel A. | 16 | Chessin1day “Let’s Play” at Horizons Bridgeport! | St. Luke’s School |
| New York | Maya P. | 17 | Fresh Opportunities: Students United Against Hunger | Ramaz |
| North Carolina | Kemani R. | 11 | Sewing Seeds & Knowledge | Diversity Nurtures Achievements Community Youth Center |
| North Carolina | Michelle S. | 17 | Greenville Community Garden & Orchard | Love A Sea Turtle |
| North Carolina | Schyler J. | 14 | Schyler’s Homeless Giveback | Raise a Child of the Carolinas |
| North Carolina | Sophia B. | 11 | Everyone Deserves the Right to Feel Clean | The Oakwood School |
| North Carolina | Yehudi D. | 11 | Adopt a Grandparent | Foundation YMCA of Wilson |
| Ohio | Anna K. | 17 | Scholarship Program and Walkathon Fundraiser | The Student Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees |
| Ohio | Audrey B. | 12 | The Incredibles Fight Hygiene Poverty | SPARK Medina |
| Ohio | Davis L. | 11 | Adena Cancer Center Go Bag | Bishop Flaget School |
| Ohio | Judah M. | 13 | Voter Registration While Upgrading the Peace Park | Wings of Hope |
| Ohio | Leila H. | 11 | We Are STEM | Leila’s Promise |
| Oklahoma | Aushalaya L. | 17 | No Soul Left Behind | Victorious School Of Ministries |
| Oklahoma | Danica M. | 14 | Dani’s Dream-Sharing the Love of Art | Pontotoc County 4-H |
| Oklahoma | Eli W. | 18 | Mindfulness Trail | Marshall County 4-H |
| Oklahoma | Greyson A. | 9 | Growing Goodness: 4-H Flower project | Seminole County 4-H OSU Extension |
| Oklahoma | Joshua C. | 16 | Foster Backpacks | Jackson County Oklahoma 4-H |
| Oklahoma | Scott B. | 16 | Empowering Low Income & Foster Youths to Lead “ThunderTeens HoopFest” | Tulsa Cornerstone Assistance Network’s YouthWorks Initiative |
| Oklahoma | Sophia O. | 16 | BreakFree Initiative | John Marshall High School |
| Oklahoma | Tristen M. | 16 | NICU Baby Fleece Blankets | Cherokee County 4-H |
| Ontario | Muskaan W. | 20 | EmpowerUp | Results Canada |
| Ontario | Manha Y. | 12 | Look Good, Feel Good: Personal Hygiene Kits Improving Mental Health | Stamp Out Stigma for Mental Health |
| Ontario | Laiba Y. | 11 | Read a Book, Give a Book: Improving Youth Mental Health | Stamp Out Stigma for Mental Health |
| Pennsylvania | Dakota L. | 16 | Inclusive Silent Disco | Trinity Area School Districct |
| Pennsylvania | Declan C. | 14 | Hope Bags for the Homeless | Socks For The Streets |
| Pennsylvania | Oluwakemi O. | 16 | The Power In Our Differences Campaign | VOiCEup Berks |
| Pennsylvania | Sherin S. | 17 | Spring Fling, Tangled Edition | Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library |
| Pennsylvania | Sophia F. | 9 | Sunshine Smiles Infused Love Packages | Youth Infusion |
| Rhode Island | Yasmin B. | 18 | GNHCS Sensory Library & Mobile Cart | GNHCS at SMHFC |
| South Carolina | Malik R. | 9 | MMBC Community Survival Kits | Memorial Missionary Baptist Church Education & Missions Ministry |
| South Dakota | Kyera B. | 17 | Senior Citizen Prom | Minneluzahan Senior Citizen Center |
| Tennessee | Kandis H. | 14 | Turning Lemons into Lemonade | Black Lemonade |
| Texas | Alanna E. | 10 | Jewels for Ashes | Loni Luxe Candles |
| Texas | Alec C. | 25 | Transform the Earth Month | Ysleta-Young Women’s Preparatory Network |
| Texas | Alexandria F. | 23 | Human Trafficking Donation Drive | University of Houston-Downtown |
| Texas | Amanda Z. | 17 | Heartwarming Senior Letters | Clemence Youth Foundation |
| Texas | Carlos H. | 16 | Thrift Swaps for the Community | Coronado High School Earth Club |
| Texas | Elizabeth V. and Harley W. | 17 | Kids Helping Kids-Don’t Mess with Me-I’ll Tell | The Community and Children’s Impact Center |
| Texas | Ethan A. | 18 | Calming Crafts | Kayla Cares 4 Kids |
| Texas | Gabriella B. | 10 | Build A Book | I AM Media Books |
| Texas | Hadas’sah S. | 13 | Art for Mental Health: Healing Through Creativity | National Public Housing Museum |
| Texas | Jasmine B. | 14 | Moments of Kindness with Our Seniors | Action Research Center |
| Texas | Samriddhi G. | 15 | Beyond Boundaries | KidsWithinTheReach |
| Texas | Sasi K. | 17 | Care Packages For A Cause | Aid4Need |
| Texas | Sophie Z. | 14 | Project Deliver, Overcome, Vivify, Encourage (DOVE) | Awty International School |
| Texas | Terry K. | 17 | Photos For Hope – Senior Families Portraits Day | The Brook Hill School |
| Utah | Narayani S. | 14 | EcoMind: Planting Hope | Hillcrest High School |
| Virginia | Lamia T. | 16 | We Appreciate You – Thank you Teachers | Arlington Career Center |
| Washington | Ananya A. | 17 | Palette of Possibilities | Expressions Arts |
| Washington | Ananya D. | 16 | Refugee Support | Replant |
| Washington | Elliott Y. | 17 | Gift Of Music | Coordinating Council For Refugees |
| Washington | Gaurangi G. | 13 | No Sew Compassion Blanket Project for Kids | Eastside Connect |
| Washington | Hasini S. | 13 | Stop Childhood Hunger | Snohomish Community Food Bank |
| Washington | Ira G. | 13 | Love All! | Expression Arts |
| Washington | Zoya E. | 11 | Colorful Connections – Building Community through art. | Expressions Arts |
| Wisconsin | Emily O. | 17 | Youth Action Hudson Garden | Youth Action Hudson at the YMCA |
| Wisconsin | Josiah L. | 14 | Roots of Change | Awesome Young Authors Awards & Community |
| Wisconsin | Olivia M. | 17 | Basket Buddies and We Care Kits | Plymouth High School |
Feeling inspired and want to take action? Learn more about how to participate in or plan your own activity for Youth Service Month and Global Youth Service Day here!