Where youth generosity grows
Generosity is already alive in the young people we serve. We see it in the small ways they look out for friends, help classmates, and support their families and neighborhoods. These everyday actions quietly strengthen the places they call home.
CYC builds on that generosity. In our afterschool programs, youth have room to explore what they care about and discover how their strengths can make a difference. With steady support from caring adults, their natural drive to help others grows and becomes something that can shape entire communities.
How one idea became a community resource
When Balboa High School junior Callista first shared her idea with the after-school team, she spoke quietly but with a clear purpose. She had spent years noticing who needed support, especially bilingual students who did not always feel comfortable asking for help. “I wanted to do something big,” she said. “Something that would actually help students who don’t always get support.”
That single idea led her to the Youth Empowerment Fund, a youth-led grant program from the YMCA of Greater San Francisco. For the first time, it became clear to her that she didn’t have to watch these moments unfold. She could help shape a solution.
With encouragement from CYC staff, Callista began shaping her vision into a full proposal. She drafted a curriculum, outlined how the tutoring sessions would run, and worked through questions that felt new and challenging. “Applying for the grant made me nervous,” she said. “But it helped me grow, especially in how I speak and how I carry myself.”
Gabrielle Wood, Balboa Site Coordinator, guided her throughout the process. “She came in with a ten-page document that was more detailed than what some adults submit,” Gabrielle said. Their weekly meetings became a time to refine ideas, discuss concerns, and practice for the interview.
When the acceptance email arrived, awarding Callista $10,000 to bring her tutoring program to life, the impact was immediate. “I didn’t know how to express myself,” Callista said. “But I was really proud.” Gabrielle felt the same. “She is improving her own community, and other students will see this and know they can do something like it too.”
Callista’s story illustrates what becomes possible when youth receive thoughtful guidance to develop strong, well-shaped ideas. With support from caring adults and a grant that recognized her leadership, she created something that will have a lasting impact on her school.
An invitation to be part of young people’s generosity
The generosity youth show is a gift every day. When you support CYC, you help that generosity move outward into homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Your contribution becomes part of the care young people offer each other and the leadership they bring to their communities.
We invite you to give today and stand with the young people who are already shaping a brighter future for our city.