The Team Kids Youth Council is made up of outstanding Orange County high school volunteers whose commitment to helping others dates back to the 3rd and 4th grade. In the past 6 years, these students have committed thousands of hours to service and leadership as advocates in the areas of homelessness, hunger, tolerance, health, safety, and the environment. Working alongside police, firefighters, and city leaders, these students have helped create the Team Kids Challenge, a month-long school-based service learning program which has inspired more than 16,000 elementary students to work collaboratively to help others.
Members of the Team Kids Youth Council have honed their leadership skills by engaging and mentoring younger volunteers in highly successful service learning projects to help others. In 2001, they raised more than $35,000 to help a young boy travel to the Mayo Clinic for heart surgery. Following Hurricane Katrina, it was the Team Kids Youth Council that stepped up to help host a city-wide fundraiser called LemonAID to help children affected by Katrina. They engaged more than 1,200 children in selling lemonade throughout the city, and raised $10,550.
Currently, in addition to planning the Team Kids annual fall fundraiser, Imagine, the Youth Council is planning a project to raise money to bring educational opportunities to children in Mexico City.
The dedication and leadership of these compassionate young students has helped shape the direction of Team Kids and secured the success of Team Kids’ programs. On October 21, 2007, at the TK Imagine event, they will receive the Presidential Youth Service Award, a national honor bestowed upon youth who demonstrate exceptional community service leadership and commitment.
Youth Council Members
Leslie Alvarado
Franchesco Apollonio
Keiko Arzouman
Carly Dahl
Ali Freed
Emily Freed
Ryan Hudash
Kelly Marshall
Renny Niebuhr
Michelle Petrillo
Conor Pierce
Ellie Pouran
Annie Walmsley
Youth Council Alumni
Jordan Blue
Mathew Copley
Sasha Glassar
Jonathan Hudash
Lauren Hudash
Caitlin Kelly
Kim McFarland
Lang Pierce
Hannah Pourang
Jenna Walmsley
Team Kids Adult Council
Chris Butcher
Jenifer Espinosa
Victor Espinosa
Mike Hammel
Nestor Herrera
Greg May
Taryn Podlas
