Youth Champions Raises $200K at Los Angeles Gala as Community Backs Its Next Generation
Written by Ethan M. Stone
Youth Champions raised more than $200,000 in a single evening at its annual "Launching Your Legacy" gala, a number the Los Angeles nonprofit's leaders say reflects a city increasingly willing to put resources behind its young people.
For Executive Director Michelle Durand, the figure is less about the total than about what it represents.
"It represents a room full of people saying," "We believe in these young people, and we're willing to put real resources behind them," Durand said.
That belief is the entire premise of Youth Champions, which connects LA students to mentorship, leadership development, and paid learning experiences. Many of the students the organization serves have the talent but not the access.
"For a lot of our students, talent has never been the issue. Access has. Stability has," Durand said.
A model built on paying students
What sets Youth Champions apart from other youth nonprofits is a simple, unusual decision: it pays students to participate. Stipends are tied to each student's level of involvement, a structure designed to remove the trade-off many young people face between personal growth and real-life responsibilities.
"We pay students a stipend based on their level of participation because we respect their time, their circumstances, and the reality many of them are living in," said Jack Cline, the organization's co-founder and chair.
A student who wants to join an after-school program or attend a workshop often cannot, Cline said, because they need to work, help their family, or care for siblings. The stipend changes that math.
"Paying students removes that barrier. It tells them," "Your growth has value. Your time has value. You belong in rooms where people are preparing for their future," he said.
The result, according to Cline, is a shift in how students see themselves.
"What we've seen is that compensation creates dignity," he said. "As they begin to "learn to earn," they start seeing themselves not as kids receiving charity, but as young professionals being invested in."
What legacy means at 16
The gala's name, "Launching Your Legacy," carries a particular weight for students who have never had anyone invest in them. Durand said the word can feel like it belongs to someone else, reserved for people with money, connections, or a family name that already opens doors.Then the framing starts to change. Students get paid for their time. They meet mentors who remember their names. They hear from professionals who came from places like theirs. They begin to understand that legacy is not only what you leave behind decades later, but what you start building the moment you believe your life can have direction.
The change tends to show up in small ways first.
"We see that shift in small ways first. A student starts speaking up. They show up early. They ask better questions," Durand said. Students begin talking about college, careers, business ideas, and ways they want to support their families.
"It's the moment a young person starts to understand," "My future is not already decided for me," she said.
What involvement makes possible
For LA residents looking to get involved as donors, volunteers, speakers, or partners, Cline said the impact is immediate and concrete. A donation can fund a student's stipend. A volunteer can become the first adult outside school or family to consistently encourage them. A speaker can introduce a career path a student never knew existed."Sometimes people underestimate what one conversation, one introduction, or one act of support can do," Cline said.
What's next
Youth Champions plans to serve more students, deepen its programming, and strengthen partnerships in the year ahead. Cline said the goal is to build a pipeline of young leaders who understand their potential and are ready to contribute to their communities.He wants the city to feel a sense of ownership in that work.
"These are our young people. Their success belongs to all of us who are showing up and supporting them," he said.
