(Stark and Carroll Counties, OH) December 2, 2020 – United Way of Greater Stark County’s Young Leaders Society (YLS) Pen Pal Project connects high school seniors who are pursuing a college education with young professionals in our community.
“It is important for us to provide a simple, yet effective solution for seniors and young professionals to connect and share experiences,” says YLS Steering Committee member Brett Pinson. “We are excited to inspire and learn from each other, encourage continuous learning, give back to our community through mentorship, and create a positive difference in students’ lives.”
Any Stark or Carroll County high school senior can sign up by December 15. They will be matched with a young leader based on their choice of college, major or general interests. Pen Pal students are encouraged to ask young leaders any questions they have regarding college and career planning, campus life, class advice or extracurricular involvement.
YLS also has open enrollment for young professionals who would like to be mentors. The Pen Pal Project was developed to show community support for students and provide encouragement and inspiration from professionals that went through similar situations themselves, not too long ago. As a pen pal, young professionals communicate with a student ahead of their first fall semester at college and begin building a strong foundation of peer mentorship.
“Young Leaders Society is always looking for new ways to support students in our community,” says Laura Prengaman, Assistant Director of Campaign at United Way. “With this project, we want to show the next generation of college students that they have a community rooting for them and their success in school!”
For more information regarding Young Leaders Society, contact Laura Prengaman, Assistant Director of Campaign at 330-491-9953 or email [email protected].
About Young Leaders Society
United Way’s Young Leaders Society is a group of passionate young professionals who come together to educate, engage and inspire individuals across Greater Stark County. They harness their time and talents through mentorship, fundraising and volunteerism to activate education initiatives and build a better community. Education sets the foundation for the future, and it is the area where they believe they can make the greatest impact. As young leaders, their personal and professional success would not have been possible without support from mentors, teachers and advocates who helped them along the way. Now they’re paying it forward for the next generation. More information is available at uwstark.org/young-leaders-society.
About United Way of Greater Stark County
United Way of Greater Stark County fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. We win by living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. By mobilizing the best resources. And by inspiring individuals to join the fight against their community’s most daunting social crisis. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our communities by leading in the development of solutions to critical social issues in the areas of health, education and financial stability. In order to live better, we must live United. For more information about United Way of Greater Stark County visit uwstark.org. Offices are at 401 Market Avenue North, Suite 300, Canton, Ohio 44702. (330) 491-0445.