Young Philanthropists: Where Teens Learn to Give With Purpose

Picture this: a group of high schoolers sits around a table, the conversation getting louder, more passionate. They're not arguing about a group project or planning a party. They're deciding where thousands of dollars should go: which food bank, which shelter, which cause or organization halfway around the world deserves their support, and why. This is the final session of Young Philanthropists, and it's where everything the teens have learned over the past month comes together in one real, high-stakes decision.

Young Philanthropists is a four-session program for teens in grades 9–12, running Sundays, October 11 through November 1, from 1–4 p.m. The first session meets at Heritage Pointe; the remaining three are held at the Merage JCC.

At the J, we know that Philanthropy isn't something you can fully learn from a worksheet it has to be practiced. So that's exactly what this program does. Over four weeks, participants:

• Visit local nonprofit agencies across Orange County to see their work firsthand
• Hear directly from guest speakers representing national and international organizations
• Take part in hands-on philanthropic projects
• Learn what it actually takes to give well; not just generously, but thoughtfully

Woven through every session is the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. It's not taught as an abstract concept here. It's practiced, session by session, until it becomes something the teens carry with them.

Here's what makes this program different from a typical volunteer opportunity: the money is real, and the decision is entirely theirs.

Each participant contributes $54, and a generous anonymous donor adds a substantial grant on top of that. By the final session, the group has to agree, together, on how to allocate it. There's no answer key. Just a room full of teens weighing needs, values, and impact, and learning what it feels like to make that call as a team.

It's thoughtful. It’s intentional. And it's the kind of experience that sticks with people long after the last session ends.

Beyond the impact they make in the community, participants leave with:

• Up to 12 hours of documented community service
• Real leadership and decision-making experience for their college resume
• A stronger sense of what they value and why
• New friendships with Jewish teens from across Orange County

Session dates:

• Sunday, October 11, 1–4 p.m. at Heritage Pointe
• Sunday, October 18, 1–4 p.m. at the J
• Sunday, October 25, 1–4 p.m. at the J
• Sunday, November 1, 1–4 p.m. at the J

If your teen is ready to lead, connect, and see the real impact they can have, have them join Young Philanthropists today!!! This is where that journey starts.

Learn more about Young Philanthropists

Learn more about the Merage JCC