At a time when young people are increasingly looking for meaningful ways to contribute to their communities, The Allstate Foundation serves as a beacon for a strategic way forward: service.
The Power of Service
52% of young people say serving their communities has positively impacted their preparation for a future career, and youth who serve report having stronger workforce skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and public speaking. 79% also say this act of giving helps them build a connection to community, offering a powerful antidote to the loneliness epidemic.
This data comes from The Power of Youth Service, a recent, US-based, nationally representative study of more than 3,000 people ages 12-25 that was co-led by The Allstate Foundation and Gallup. One of the most encouraging findings is that service is already a part of many young people’s lives, with 82% of youth reporting participation in some form of service. Plus, when the activities are youth led, the benefits increase, leading to three outcomes: career readiness, connection, and resilience.
Today, as we celebrate United Nation’s International Youth Day, which “recognize[s] young people as essential partners in building a more just and sustainable world,” Pyxera Global and its strategic partner, Common Impact, are highlighting this important study. We collaborate with The Allstate Foundation on its skills-based volunteerism initiatives and celebrate its comprehensive approach to empowering young people. Focusing on youth ages 5-15, The Allstate Foundation embraces three strategies:
- Engaging youth with service opportunities.
- Equipping youth with resources (i.e. funds, knowledge) that enable them to serve independently.
- Preparing adults with resources that help them support and mobilize youth service.
Investing in Service
The Allstate Foundation has also made a major financial commitment through its Research-to-Impact Initiative, a $15 million investment over two years designed to expand the exact area it studied – youth-led service. The funding is shared by seven of the largest youth-serving organizations in the United States: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Achievement USA, National 4-H Council, National Principals Association, National PTA, and YMCA of the USA. Collectively, these organizations reach more than 30 million young people across the country, reach that incorporates both urban and rural areas and across social-economic divides.
The goal is very clear. The Allstate Foundation is committed to moving the needle on youth service even more – through sharing insightful research, doing its own work, and funding the capacity of other expert organizations, who are working together in a “shared learning community that can identify and scale what works.” What’s more, this community is being advised by young changemakers, ensuring that youth voices help shape the future of youth service.
For wisdom on what youth are saying about the power of service and recommendations for how to better tap into its transformative power, check out the The Power of Youth Service study and join Pyxera Global, Common Impact and The Allstate Foundation in building the future through service.
