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United Way of Greater Kansas City honored three CommUNITY Volunteers of the Year — two adults and one youth. One adult winner contributed more than 1,000 volunteer hours and helped open seven transitional housing homes.
Mbalenhle Mkhatshwa, a 20-year-old psychology student, teaches ballet to young aspiring dancers in Tembisa township, creating access to formal dance training for children who would otherwise have none.
As the largest World Cup in history approaches with 48 teams across Mexico, Canada, and the US, the Play Collective initiative will fund community sports organizations reaching 3.6 million youth annually.
Buenos Aires' free youth orchestra program, which provides instruments, training, and mentorship to children in underserved neighborhoods, celebrated its 10,000th graduate with a sold-out concert at the iconic Teatro Colón.
The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation has launched professional leagues in eight Asian countries, backed by a $120 million sponsorship deal that will fund player salaries, accessible training facilities, and youth development programs.
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge's foundation has completed its 150th school running track in Kenya, providing 50,000 young athletes with professional training surfaces and coaching programs that are producing the next generation of distance runners.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation's Dream Team youth program will reach 17,000 children across 156 locations in 2026, a 13% jump over last year, with a new scholarship fund and expanded coaching network.
Youth leaders Cayla Boehm and Maelyn Garcia have spent over three years mobilizing hundreds of young volunteers to provide weekly grocery deliveries to families across northern Illinois and free tutoring to students in need.
Quilen Blackwell was named CNN's 2025 Hero of the Year for his nonprofit Southside Blooms, which transforms vacant lots in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood into flower farms. The "farm-to-vase" operation employs 25 at-risk youth aged 16-25 and ships flowers nationwide, with a second location opening in 2026.
The Waves of Change initiative has taught 50,000 young people to surf while providing mentorship and education, dramatically reducing youth crime in participating areas.
A program providing free sports equipment and coaching to underserved youth has expanded to 500 cities, giving 2 million children access to organized athletics.
Youth sports leagues and community athletic programs are experiencing their highest enrollment numbers in decades, signaling a renewed interest in organized sports.
After the devastating Palisades fire destroyed their theater, a youth theater group in Los Angeles returned to the stage with a production of Crazy for You, showing remarkable resilience.
