The Hands4Hope Youth Board is the youth advisory board for Hands4Hope-Youth Making A Difference. They ensure youth voice leads the way when making decisions related to new volunteer and community engagement opportunities. In addition, the Youth Board provides the platform for youth leaders across schools to network and share information. They also work collaboratively to lead Youth Board meetings and events, plan and facilitate leadership camps, retreats and other leadership workshops, and represent Hands4Hope in the community through public speaking engagements. Finally, the Youth Board selects a nonprofit to support with an annual fundraiser held each spring.
[The Hands4Hope Youth Board ensures that] youth voice leads the way when making decisions related to new volunteer and community engagement opportunities.
The Youth Board is comprised of all presidents, vice presidents, chairs and vice-chairs from each club and committee in the Hands4Hope Education Program. In total there are typically 30 youth who sit on the Youth Board.
The Youth Board is led by the Youth Board Executive Committee which includes a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Coordinator, and three Hands4Hope Community Engagement Ambassadors - one each for El Dorado Hills, Folsom and Placerville.
GET TO KNOW YOUR 2022-23 YOUTH BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE!
Simone Caruthers, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Youth Board President | My name is Simone Caruthers and I will be a senior at Ponderosa High School this fall. This will be my fifth year working with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference and I am beyond excited to be the President of the Youth Board and a part of the Executive Committee. I will also be the Project Manager for the Kids Zone Committee.
One of my greatest strengths is my focus, which helps me to keep groups on task and working towards a common and important goal. When I'm not at a Hands4Hope meeting or doing school work, I enjoy playing music on the baritone or trombone or resting and watching a show. Throughout my years working with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, the incredible feeling of bringing joy to others has kept me motivated and inspired to work hard. Small actions like giving a blanket to someone who needs it at the Winter Boutique or showing a little kid the bunnies in the petting zoo at the Fall Festival have become so meaningful to me.
Putting a smile on someone's face, even if it's just for a moment, has inspired me beyond belief to work hard prior to and during outreaches and fundraisers.
This year, it is my goal that the Youth Board is able to bond and learn new things together as we work to make a difference. I am so excited to work with so many amazing people this year.
Mishti Shah - 2022-23 Hands4Hope Youth Board Vice President | Hey, I'm Mishti Shah and I'm going to be a junior at Oak Ridge High School. I've been with Hands4Hope-Youth Making A Difference for almost four years and it's been amazing to work with mentors and other students my age! In the upcoming program year, I will serve as the Vice President of the Youth Board. In addition, I will serve as President of the Oak Ridge High School Club and will be Committee Chair for Kids Zone and the Fall Festival Marketing and Fundraising Committee.
One of my top five Strengths, Communication, has helped me immensely because communication and contact with other peers, adults, and people who you are working with is super important. Without communication, it is hard to stay productive and accomplish tasks. One hobby of mine is dance, which I have been doing for almost 13 years. Whether it's ballet, tap, Bollywood, or traditional, I'm always dancing and learning! Something that inspires me to be more involved with the needs of my community is the realization that not everyone is as fortunate as me.
From homelessness to animals without homes, there are so many issues around us and it is important to step outside of one's personal bubble and take a look at the world around us.
For the Youth Board this year, I hope to inspire more participation and ideas from Youth Board members.
Tarika Kahlon, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Youth Board Treasurer | Hi, my name is Tarika Kahlon and I will be a senior at Oak Ridge High School! In addition to serving as Treasurer of the Youth Board, in the upcoming year I will also be the Vice President of the Oak Ridge Inspire Club and the ASPIRE Outfitters Committee Chair. I have been involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference since 8th grade, where I volunteered at a couple of tutoring opportunities at White Rock Village. However, I started becoming heavily involved in Hands4Hope in 9th grade, where I volunteered at every possible outreach I could!
One of my strengths has been team building. It is what has allowed me to work with and lead other youth to successfully make projects happen, as well as foster an enjoyable environment. Outside of Hands4Hope, some of my hobbies are painting, reading, baking, and hanging out with friends!
My inspiration to help fulfill unmet needs in my community began from witnessing the struggles that people locally face, which drew my focus from looking only to global concerns to wanting to support those around me.
My hope for the Youth Board is to continue being able to plan large-scale projects and come up with creative ideas to fundraise!
Chloe Deiss, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Youth Board Secretary | Hi, my name is Chloe Deiss and I will be a junior at Union Mine High School. I have been in Hands4Hope -Youth Making A Difference since 8th grade at Markham Middle School. Currently, I am a participant in the Hands4Hope Club, but next year I will be President of the club at Union Mine High School and Youth Board Secretary.
A strength of mine would be good communication skills. It has helped me clearly get my ideas through to others as well as listen to theirs. It has also helped me become closer to other members of the club. Some hobbies of mine include cooking and baking, gardening, and hanging out with my two younger brothers. What inspires me to help fill unmet needs in my community is actually a person, to be honest.
My Great Grandmother is my biggest inspiration and always has been. She is very selfless and is always there for everyone. She was always helping people through her church and doing other things as well. I wanted to help people too so I joined Hands4Hope.
My hope and goal for this year is to make a difference in our community and help as many people as we can.
Eadora Hormozi, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Youth Board Public Relations Coordinator | Hi, I am Eadora Hormozi and I am going to be a senior at Folsom High School. I have been a part of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference since my freshman year. In the fall I will be the Vice President of the Folsom High Club in addition to serving on the Youth Board as the Public Relations Coordinator.
One of my top five Strengths that has been strengthened through Hands4Hope is Communication. Growing this strength helps me feel more confident talking to my peers, mentors and other organizations. Some of my hobbies include cooking, playing spike ball, volleyball and watching the sunset with my friends.
My inspiration to help fill unmet needs in my community is to make a positive impact in the community around us and give people hope that anything is possible with dedication.
My hope for the Youth Board this year is to get out into the community and work hand in hand to meet whatever needs are present.
Jennifer Cole, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Folsom Community Engagement Ambassador | Hi, I’m Jennifer Cole and I’m going to be a senior at Vista Del Lago High School. I’ve volunteered with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference since elementary school, but started being part of Hands4Hope’s committees and clubs in 9th grade. I am the Vista Del Lago Hands4Hope Club President for the coming year and a Community Engagement Ambassador for Folsom.
One of my Strengths is Restorative and this helps me solve problems that arise and disputes between peers. In my free time, I like to watch movies, read, and play music.
I believe that everyone should have an equal chance in life, and that volunteering helps level the playing field somewhat, and that this is especially important in my community.
I hope that the Youth Board can continue supporting the local community and that Hands4Hope can expand more into the Folsom area.
Ian Hunt, 2022-23 Hands4Hope El Dorado Hills Community Engagement Ambassador | Hi, I am Ian Hunt and I will be a senior at Oak Ridge High School. I have been involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference for the past six years. In addition to being the El Dorado Hills Community Engagement Ambassador, I’ll also serve as the Fall Festival Games and Activities Chair.
One of my strengths I’ve discovered throughout Hands4Hope leadership is that I work well under pressure. Some hobbies I have outside of Hands4Hope are mountain biking, camping, and swimming.
For me, my inspiration to help fill unmet needs in my community is knowing that by doing this we are making the world a better place.
My hopes and goals for the Hands4Hope Youth Board this year are to find causes to support that our area needs the most.
Jayce Kaldunski, 2022-23 Hands4Hope Placerville Community Engagement Ambassador | Hey there, my name is Jayce Kaldunski and I will be a senior at El Dorado High School. I have been a part of Hands4Hope-Youth Making A Difference for two years now and have loved every second of it!
One of my top five Strengths is Ideation, which helps in finding unique and creative ways to serve our community!
One of my big motivators in helping our community is the personal connections you make along the way.
My goal this year as the Placerville Ambassador is to find new and engaging ways to bring together different groups in our area to help serve our community in unique ways!