Youth Volunteer Corps,(YVC), is a non-profit service organization operating throughout the United States and Canada that was created to introduce, encourage, and support the spirit of volunteerism in youth ages 11 to 18 through consistent, well-organized volunteer opportunities. It began in 1987 as a single organization in Kansas City, Missouri, sponsored by the Heart of America United Way and was funded by numerous public and private sources. Since then YVC has grown to dozens of affiliated sites in the United States and Canada, sponsored locally by diverse community-based organizations such as Volunteer Centers, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Camp Fire, United Way, City Parks & Recreation, and school districts. Funding is provided by foundations, corporations, individuals, United Way, and both the local and federal government.

Mission statement and goals

Mission: “We create volunteer opportunities to address community needs and to inspire youth for a lifetime commitment to service.” The stated goals of YVC are: Examples of projects include:

Fundamental components

YVC is a membership organization where affiliates (or local YVC sites), are provided with training, fundraising opportunities, support and programming. The program consists of two fundamental components: Summer Component: Youth volunteer on extended projects throughout the summer, allowing for the opportunity to see larger outcomes and accomplishments. Youth are a part of a team supervised by trained adult Team Leaders where they learn teamwork, appreciation for diversity and civic responsibility. School-Year Component: Youth serve as teams during the school year service projects after school and on weekends. Additionally, YVC program directors, team leaders and staff work with teachers to design and implement age-appropriate service projects that tie school curriculum to community service.

History

As part of his college senior thesis project research in 1985, YVC President David Battey interviewed leaders in the newly forming youth service field. He found that while service opportunities were sporadically available through schools, churches and synagogues, a broad-based community organization offering challenging, organized service opportunities to youth of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds was not consistently available. Developing a framework for such an organization, Battey returned to his hometown of Kansas City and established the Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City under the sponsorship of Heart of America United Way and with funding from public and private sources.