YMCA Of South Palm Beach County Wins $22,500 Teen Leadership Grant

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The YMCA of South Palm Beach County has landed a $22,500 grant from YMCA of the USA through its 2026 Leaders Club Service Enhancement Grant program, and the money will go toward expanding leadership and service opportunities for young people in the area.

The funding pays for two Teen Achievers Summits and one Teen Mental Health Summit in 2027. Teens will hear from mentors and speakers, dig into issues that matter to them and team up on community service projects. The mental health summit is meant to give young people a safe place to talk about mental wellness, build resilience and pick up skills for handling life’s challenges.

The Y wants to engage 27 Leaders Club participants, log more than 4,000 youth volunteer hours and complete seven youth-led service projects. Fifteen teens will get defined leadership roles, and hundreds of community members and volunteers are expected to take part.

“Our teens have so much to offer, and sometimes all they need is someone to believe in them and give them the opportunity to lead,” said Bryan Hunt, senior branch executive director. “This grant will allow us to create more opportunities for teens to step up, give back, and make a real difference in their community. We’re excited to see what they accomplish.”